How to hire a morgue attendant

How to hire a morgue attendant, step by step

Here's a step-by-step morgue attendant hiring guide:

• Step 1: Identify your hiring needs
• Step 2: Create an ideal candidate profile
• Step 3: Make a budget
• Step 4: Write a morgue attendant job description
• Step 5: Post your job
• Step 6: Interview candidates
• Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new morgue attendant
• Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist

Post a morgue attendant job for free, promote it for a fee

Post free

1. Identify your hiring needs

   Before you post your morgue attendant job, you should take the time to determine what type of worker your business needs. While certain jobs definitely require a full-time employee, it's sometimes better to find a morgue attendant for hire on a part-time basis or as a contractor.

   Determine employee vs contractor status

   Is the person you're thinking of hiring a US citizen or green card holder?

   Yes

   No

   Hiring the perfect morgue attendant also involves considering the ideal background you'd like them to have. Depending on what industry or field they have experience in, they'll bring different skills to the job. It's also important to consider what levels of seniority and education the job requires and what kind of salary such a candidate would likely demand.

   The following list breaks down different types of morgue attendants and their corresponding salaries.

   Type of Morgue Attendant	Description	Hourly rate
   Morgue Attendant	Medical assistants complete administrative and clinical tasks in the offices of physicians, hospitals, and other healthcare facilities. Their duties vary with the location, specialty, and size of the practice.	$10-17
   MD	A Doctor of Medicine or MD is the designation of a person who completed medical education. Generally, MDs focus on the treatment of conditions in need of medication... Show more	$12-107
   Medical Internship	When it comes to a medical internship, one of the primary duties is to attend to the patients' needs while under a more experienced physician's supervision. During this period, the medical interns must rotate in various fields of specialties or departments for exposure... Show more	$15-37

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Funeral Homes
   • Death Certificates

   Responsibilities:

   • Operate POS cash register to manage cash, credit, and debit card transactions for sell items.
   • Experience with automate and manual staining of IHC, special stains and routine stains.
   • Transport the remains of patients who pass away at MUSC to the morgue facility.
   • Keep records on individual pet, including daily observations and information activities perform, meals sever, and medication administer.
   • Handle confidential materials and follow HIPPA regulations.

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in your morgue attendant job description is a great way to entice the best and brightest candidates. A morgue attendant salary can vary based on several factors:

   • Location. For example, morgue attendants' average salary in alabama is 50% less than in massachusetts.
   • Seniority. Entry-level morgue attendants earn 41% less than senior-level morgue attendants.
   • Certifications. A morgue attendant with a few certifications under their belt will likely demand a higher salary.
   • Company. Working for a prestigious company or an exciting start-up can make a huge difference in a morgue attendant's salary.

   Average morgue attendant salary

   $13.97hourly

   $29,054 yearly

   ---

   Entry-level morgue attendant salary

   $22,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 25, 2025

4. Writing a morgue attendant job description

   A morgue attendant job description should include a summary of the role, required skills, and a list of responsibilities. It's also good to include a salary range and the first name of the hiring manager. To help get you started, here's an example of a morgue attendant job description:

   Morgue attendant job description example

   Western Michigan University Homer Stryker M.D. School of Medicine is seeking full-time Night Morgue Attendants (12 hour shifts). Responsible for intake and release of decedents; answering phones; scheduling of organ/tissue procurement; preparation of tools and paperwork; performing diagnostic imaging activities using CT scanner and Lodox; requesting records, distributing slides for histology; completing inventory, stocking, and laundry for the Department of Pathology.
   Responsibilities Performs intake and release of decedents, facilitating this process with funeral homes/transport companies,
   and completion of necessary documentation, maintaining a legal chain of custody of each decedent. Performs diagnostic imaging activities (LODOX, CT scanner, etc.) on each decedent and body donor
   transported to WMed. Prepares for autopsies each morning by preparing bodies, setting up stations, creating histological cassettes
   and rulers using cassette printer, as well as folders and paperwork for each decedent requiring a postmortem
   examination. Answers and coordinates all internal and external phone calls regarding intake and release of decedents,
   WMed North cases, consultant examinations, private examinations, WMed body donations, etc. Assists in the Anatomy Laboratory to include: support with transfer of cadavers to anatomy laboratory and into
   storage, maintenance of cadavers and cleanliness of the anatomy lab. Assists with embalming process of all WMed body donors, including post-embalming clean-up. Assists in the Research Histology Laboratory to include: maintaining organization of all glass slides and
   paraffin blocks; ensuring proper accessioning and labeling of all tissue samples, including operation of slide
   and cassette printing equipment, prepares samples for shipment, including inventory procedures and
   generating shipping documentation; performs routine and non-routine activities involved in the preparation of
   slides for microscopic evaluation, as directed by Lead Histotechnologist. Assists investigations by obtaining medical records, checking content and accuracy of Medical Certificates of
   Death, reviewing each investigated case for accuracy, and assisting in the preparation of cremation permits for
   review by a medical examiner or deputy medical examiner. Scheduling and coordination of all organ/tissue procurement via communication with organ procurement
   organizations. Acquires knowledge of modern technology and policy/procedure revisions. Performs all procedures and documentation related to decedents sent to WMed for storage. Maintains inventory and stocking of supplies. Maintains cleanliness of walk-in coolers (forensic and anatomy), as well as inventory of all decedents located
   therein. Responsible for all laundry operations, including scrubs and the cleaning and preparation of all recycled
   rags/mops. Organizes workload to complete assignments within the requested period. Attends and actively participates in departmental meetings. Availability to work occasional overtime. Occasionally responsible for cleaning up bodily fluids from cadavers outside of department. All other duties as assigned. Qualifications High School Diploma/GED required; Associates or Bachelor's degree preferred. Exceptional time management skills required. Experience in customer service or medical specialty preferred.
   Radiology experience (LODOX/CT) preferred.
   Experience organizing and shipping samples preferred.
   Experience operating cassette and slide printing equipment a strong plus. OTHER SKILLS AND ABILITIES: Ability to work independently without direct supervision and make correct decisions based on training and experience. Demonstrate care and understanding in communicating with grieving indiviuals.
   Knowledge and proficiency with web-based applications and other software as required by the department. Ability to interpret, comprehend, and transmit complicated and detailed instructions accurately and efficiently. Ability to communicate effectively with others verbally and in writing. Knowledge and proficiency in grammar and spelling skills.
   Ability to understand and interpret written material, including technical material and instructions. Ability to recognize priorities in organization of workflow.
   Demonstrates strong organizational and time-management skills.
   Discretion, compassion, and exemplary attention to detail. Ability to operate automated standard office equipment such as multi-line phone system, copier, photography equipment, and more. About Western Michigan University Homer Stryker M.D. School of Medicine (WMed) We are committed to excellence and health equity through transformative medical education, high-quality, patient- and family-entered care, innovative research, and community partnerships within a just culture of diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging. Our vision is health equity for all in Southwest Michigan through innovation in the practice and study of medicine. The medical school is a collaboration of Western Michigan University and Kalamazoo's two teaching health systems, Ascension Borgess and Bronson Healthcare. The medical school is a private nonprofit corporation supported by private gifts, clinical revenues, research activities, tuition, and endowment income. Building upon a $100 million foundational gift in 2011, WMed is a recipient of the Empowering Futures Gift, a philanthropic commitment of $300 million to support the mission of the medical school. WMed contributes to the economic vitality of Southwest Michigan through the services we provide as well as the creation of 1,600 new jobs and an annual estimated economic impact of $353 million in Kalamazoo and Calhoun counties. WMed is fully accredited by the Liaison Committee on Medical Education and the Higher Learning Commission. The medical school offers a comprehensive, innovative four-year Doctor of Medicine degree program and two Master of Science degree programs in Biomedical Sciences and Medical Engineering. We train physicians in 10 residencies and five fellowships accredited by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education. To support our educational mission, we have Joint Accreditation for interprofessional continuing education, which incorporates accreditation by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education. WMed Health is the clinical practice of the medical school with more than 300 providers offering comprehensive primary care and specialty services in several locations throughout Kalamazoo, Portage, and Battle Creek. The Department of Pathology faculty serve as the Office of the Medical Examiner for counties throughout Michigan and northern Indiana. The W.E. Upjohn M.D. Campus located in downtown Kalamazoo serves as the primary educational facility with faculty and administrative offices, student study and social spaces, team-based learning halls, a state-of-the-art Simulation Center accredited by the Society for Simulation in Healthcare, basic science research labs, as well as toxicology and forensic pathology labs. WMed is building upon Kalamazoo's century-long foundation of drug discovery and medical device development with a strategic investment in clinical, laboratory, community, and educational research. The Center for Immunobiology, Center for Clinical Research, Research Histology Lab, Innovation Center, and Human Research Protection Program contribute to the medical school's advancement of knowledge through innovation and discovery. Western Michigan University Homer Stryker M.D. School of Medicine is an Equal Employment Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer of females, minorities, individuals with disabilities, and protected veterans, and actively strives to increase diversity within its community. We provide a drug- and tobacco-free workplace. EEO Minorities/Women/Disabled/Protected Veterans.

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   There are a few common ways to find morgue attendants for your business:

   • Promoting internally or recruiting from your existing workforce.
   • Ask for referrals from friends, family members, and current employees.
   • Attend job fairs at local colleges to meet candidates with the right educational background.
   • Use social media platforms like LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter to recruit passive job-seekers.

   Post your job online:

   • Post your morgue attendant job on Zippia to find and attract quality morgue attendant candidates.
   • Use niche websites such as healthcarejobsite, health jobs nationwide, hospitalcareers, medreps.com.
   • Post a job on free websites.

6. Interview candidates

   Your first interview with morgue attendant candidates should focus on their interest in the role and background experience. As the hiring process goes on, you can learn more about how they'd fit into the company culture in later rounds of interviews.

   It's also good to ask about candidates' unique skills and talents to see if they match your ideal candidate profile. If you think a candidate is good enough for the next step, you can move on to the technical interview.

   The right interview questions can help you assess a candidate's hard skills, behavioral intelligence, and soft skills.

7. Send a job offer and onboard your new morgue attendant

   Once you've decided on a perfect morgue attendant candidate, it's time to write an offer letter. In addition to salary, it should include benefits and perks available to the employee. Qualified candidates may be considered for other positions, so make sure your offer is competitive. Candidates may wish to negotiate. Once you've settled on the details, formalize your agreement with a contract.

   You should also follow up with applicants who don't get the job with an email letting them know that you've filled the position.

   To prepare for the new employee's start date, you can create an onboarding schedule and complete any necessary paperwork, such as employee action forms and onboarding documents like I-9 forms, benefits enrollment, and federal and state tax forms. Human Resources should also ensure that a new employee file is created.

8. Go through the hiring process checklist

   • Determine employee type (full-time, part-time, contractor, etc.)
   • Submit a job requisition form to the HR department
   • Define job responsibilities and requirements
   • Establish budget and timeline
   • Determine hiring decision makers for the role
   • Write job description
   • Post job on job boards, company website, etc.
   • Promote the job internally
   • Process applications through applicant tracking system
   • Review resumes and cover letters
   • Shortlist candidates for screening
   • Hold phone/virtual interview screening with first round of candidates
   • Conduct in-person interviews with top candidates from first round
   • Score candidates based on weighted criteria (e.g., experience, education, background, cultural fit, skill set, etc.)
   • Conduct background checks on top candidates
   • Check references of top candidates
   • Consult with HR and hiring decision makers on job offer specifics
   • Extend offer to top candidate(s)
   • Receive formal job offer acceptance and signed employment contract
   • Inform other candidates that the position has been filled
   • Set and communicate onboarding schedule to new hire(s)
   • Complete new hire paperwork (i9, benefits enrollment, tax forms, etc.)

   Sign up to download full list

   Sign up

How much does it cost to hire a morgue attendant?