Post job

What is a licensed funeral director and embalmer and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025
3 min read
Quoted expert
Dr. Jzyk Ennis Ph.D.
There is more than meets the eye when it comes to being a licensed funeral director and embalmer. For example, did you know that they make an average of $18.56 an hour? That's $38,615 a year! Between 2018 and 2028, the career is expected to grow 8% and produce 5,300 job opportunities across the U.S.

What general advice would you give to a licensed funeral director and embalmer?

Dr. Jzyk Ennis Ph.D.Dr. Jzyk Ennis Ph.D. LinkedIn profile

President, American Board of Funeral Service Education (ABFSE)

The COVID-19 pandemic has certainly been an interesting time for all of education. To the specific question about employment forecasts, there is a significant need for licensed funeral service professionals across the United States. Before the pandemic, there are many areas that cannot find licensed help to fill the employment vacancies created by those who are retiring. Data for 2020 will not be collected and analyzed until 2021.

At this time, we have no reason to believe that the number of new enrollees and graduates in our ABFSE accredited programs will be significantly impacted by the pandemic in 2020. What we do as funeral professionals, and the job function of graduates in 2020 (and beyond), has not really changed due to the pandemic. We still care for the living by taking care of the dead. We always teach (and businesses should practice) universal precautions by wearing personal protective equipment when in contact with decedents. We teach our students to treat every decedent as if they had an infectious disease to protect their own health. While no research has been conducted, I do believe that funeral service professionals are more at-risk in the pandemic with contact they may have with the living rather than the dead.

In summary, the outlook for licensed funeral service professionals is strong. The basic job function of our graduates is the same as before the pandemic, and the American Board of Funeral Service accredited funeral service education programs continue to prepare graduates for licensed funeral service practice during this pandemic and beyond.
ScoreLicensed Funeral Director And EmbalmerUS Average
Salary
3.0

Avg. Salary $38,615

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability level
8.6

Growth rate 8%

Growth rate 0.3%

Diversity
3.9
Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 0.20%

Asian 1.74%

Black or African American 12.70%

Hispanic or Latino 6.28%

Unknown 2.54%

White 76.54%

Gender

female 42.07%

male 57.93%

Age - 50
Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%

Asian 7.00%

Black or African American 14.00%

Hispanic or Latino 19.00%

White 57.00%

Gender

female 47.00%

male 53.00%

Age - 50
Stress level
8.6

Stress level is very high

7.1 - high

Complexity level
7.2

Complexity level is challenging

7 - challenging

Work life balance
1.3

Work life balance is very poor

6.4 - fair

Key steps to become a licensed funeral director and embalmer

  1. Explore licensed funeral director and embalmer education requirements

    Most common licensed funeral director and embalmer degrees

    Associate

    54.0 %

    Bachelor's

    32.7 %

    Diploma

    5.4 %
  2. Start to develop specific licensed funeral director and embalmer skills

    SkillsPercentages
    Removals37.99%
    Client Families14.64%
    Funeral Arrangements10.50%
    Funeral Services8.81%
    Memorial Services6.88%
  3. Complete relevant licensed funeral director and embalmer training and internships

    Accountants spend an average of Less than 1 month on post-employment, on-the-job training. New licensed funeral directors and embalmer learn the skills and techniques required for their job and employer during this time. The chart below shows how long it takes to gain competency as a licensed funeral director and embalmer based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real licensed funeral director and embalmer resumes.
  4. Obtain the necessary licensing

    Becoming a licensed licensed funeral director and embalmer usually doesn't require a college degree. However, you don't need to pass an exam to become a licensed licensed funeral director and embalmer in most of states. 41 states require licensed funeral directors and embalmer to have license for their work. You can see the list of states below.
    StateEducationExamLicense url
    Alabama--Licensed Funeral Director
    MarylandDegree requiredBoth state and third-party exams requiredFUNERAL DIRECTOR
    ArkansasDegree requiredThird-party exam requiredFuneral Director
    CaliforniaDegree requiredState exam requiredFuneral Director
    Connecticut--Funeral Director
  5. Research licensed funeral director and embalmer duties and responsibilities

    • Manage subordinates, facilities and MSDS files.
    • Certify crematory operator; participate on removals; and assist on calling hours and funerals.
    • Manage subordinates, facilities and MSDS files.
  6. Prepare your licensed funeral director and embalmer resume

    When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your licensed funeral director and embalmer resume.

    You can use Zippia's AI resume builder to make the resume writing process easier while also making sure that you include key information that hiring managers expect to see on a licensed funeral director and embalmer resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.

    Choose from 10+ customizable licensed funeral director and embalmer resume templates

    Build a professional licensed funeral director and embalmer resume in minutes. Browse through our resume examples to identify the best way to word your resume. Then choose from 10+ resume templates to create your licensed funeral director and embalmer resume.
    Licensed Funeral Director And Embalmer Resume
    Licensed Funeral Director And Embalmer Resume
    Licensed Funeral Director And Embalmer Resume
    Licensed Funeral Director And Embalmer Resume
    Licensed Funeral Director And Embalmer Resume
    Licensed Funeral Director And Embalmer Resume
    Licensed Funeral Director And Embalmer Resume
    Licensed Funeral Director And Embalmer Resume
    Licensed Funeral Director And Embalmer Resume
  7. Apply for licensed funeral director and embalmer jobs

    Now it's time to start searching for a licensed funeral director and embalmer job. Consider the tips below for a successful job search:

    1. Browse job boards for relevant postings
    2. Consult your professional network
    3. Reach out to companies you're interested in working for directly
    4. Watch out for job scams

How did you land your first licensed funeral director and embalmer job

Zippi

Are you a licensed funeral director and embalmer?

Share your story for a free salary report.

Average licensed funeral director and embalmer salary

The average licensed funeral director and embalmer salary in the United States is $38,615 per year or $19 per hour. Licensed funeral director and embalmer salaries range between $27,000 and $53,000 per year.

Average licensed funeral director and embalmer salary
$38,615 Yearly
$18.56 hourly

What am I worth?

salary-calculator

How do licensed funeral directors and embalmer rate their job?

Working as a licensed funeral director and embalmer? Share your experience anonymously.
Overall rating*
Career growth
Work/Life balance
Pay/Salary

Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Research Team
Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.

Browse personal care and attendants jobs