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Mortician: pay, job outlook and how to become one

Updated October 23, 2026. Based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and O*NET data. Published by Humblebee.

$55,010median pay per year, or $26.45 an hour, May 2025[1]
  1. $33,350lowest 10% earn less
  2. $42,43025th percentile
  3. $55,010median
  4. $72,01075th percentile
  5. $88,620top 10% earn more
Middle half of workers in the inner band[6]Median for all US jobs, $50,980[2]

Morticians, undertakers and funeral arrangers had a median pay of $55,010 a year in May 2025, a bit above the $50,980 median for all occupations[1][2]. The usual route is an associate's degree, then supervised training and, in most states, a license[3][4][5].

Job growth, 2025–35
+3%[7]
Openings per year
3,000[8]
Typical entry education
Associate's degree[3]

How much do morticians make?

The median pay for morticians, undertakers and funeral arrangers was $55,010 a year, or $26.45 an hour[1]. Half of workers earned more and half earned less[1]. The average was $58,160 a year, or $27.96 an hour[9].

For all occupations in the US, the median was $50,980 a year[2]. The median for this job was higher[1][2].

Pay varies a lot between workers. The lowest-paid 10% earned less than $33,350 a year, and the highest-paid 10% earned more than $88,620[6]. A percentile is a boundary, and BLS publishes percentile wages, not a starting salary[10].

Measure Annual Hourly
10th percentile[6][11] $33,350 $16.03
25th percentile[6][11] $42,430 $20.40
Median[1] $55,010 $26.45
75th percentile[6][11] $72,010 $34.62
90th percentile[6][11] $88,620 $42.61

These figures cover workers paid a wage or salary. They leave out the self-employed, nonproduction bonuses and the cost of benefits such as health insurance[12].

Pay by state and city

Among the 48 states with published data, Delaware had the highest median at $81,530, but it had only 80 jobs[13]. Utah followed at $72,800 and Illinois at $69,600[13]. Arkansas had the lowest median, $36,120[13].

The states with the most jobs were California (2,240), Florida (1,510), Texas (1,500), Ohio (1,370) and Illinois (1,320)[14]. California's median was $50,750, Florida's was $48,510 and Texas's was $46,630[13].

Among metro areas with at least 100 jobs, Chicago-Naperville-Elgin had the highest median at $81,440, followed by Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington at $75,470 and Salt Lake City-Murray at $74,610[15].

The metro areas with the most jobs were New York-Newark-Jersey City (940 jobs, median $72,860), Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim (860 jobs, median $50,490) and Chicago-Naperville-Elgin (710 jobs, median $81,440)[16].

Show median pay in 48 states
StateMedian per yearJobs
Delaware[13]$81,53080
Utah$72,800240
Illinois$69,6001,320
New Jersey$69,110580
Nebraska$64,310210
Iowa$63,700640
Pennsylvania$63,580910
New York$63,0901,030
Massachusetts$62,120430
Indiana$60,890630
Maine$60,88080
Colorado$60,850320
North Carolina$60,7301,000
Michigan$60,450810
Idaho$60,250160
North Dakota$59,760110
Connecticut$59,710300
Washington$59,700400
Kansas$58,580230
Wisconsin$58,250580
Maryland$58,060500
Ohio$57,8001,370
New Hampshire$57,63080
Wyoming$55,57040
Rhode Island$55,42040
California$50,7502,240
New Mexico$50,380100
Georgia$49,990780
Minnesota$49,760500
Vermont$48,74040
Oregon$48,630220
Florida$48,5101,510
Mississippi$48,350320
West Virginia$47,960180
South Dakota$47,840200
Oklahoma$47,780380
Louisiana$46,730440
Texas$46,6301,500
Hawaii$46,310150
Tennessee$46,180550
Alabama$44,930420
Nevada$43,940280
Montana$43,680110
Kentucky$43,320470
Missouri$42,940790
Arizona$41,870360
South Carolina$40,020400
Arkansas$36,120360

How to become a mortician

The training details here come from a BLS profile of funeral service workers. That profile covers a wider group than morticians, undertakers and funeral arrangers[17].

1) Earn an associate's degree[3]. BLS lists an associate's degree as the typical entry education, with no related work experience needed[3]. The degree is in funeral service or mortuary science[18]. Most accredited programs are 2-year programs at community colleges, and some programs offer a bachelor's degree[19]. In an O*NET survey of 22 workers, 73% said an associate's degree or other 2-year degree is required, 15% said a high school diploma or equivalent and 11% said a bachelor's degree[20]. 2) Complete supervised training[4]. Training usually lasts 1 to 3 years under a licensed funeral director or manager[4]. It may be called an internship or an apprenticeship, and it can come before, during or after the degree[4]. BLS classes the job as needing long-term on-the-job training[3]. 3) Pass a board exam[21]. Applicants usually need to pass a state exam, a national board exam, or both[21]. 4) Get licensed[5]. Most states and Washington, DC, require a license, and Colorado offers a voluntary certification program instead[5]. Rules and exams differ by state[5]. Typical criteria are being 21 years old, finishing an accredited program, passing the exam and serving a 1 to 3 year internship[22][23][21][24].

High school students can prepare with classes in biology, chemistry, business and public speaking[25]. Part-time or summer work in a funeral home can give early experience[26].

What morticians do

O*NET describes the work as arranging and directing individual funeral services[27]. Tasks include:

O*NET sample job titles include funeral director, funeral arranger and funeral counselor[29].

Where they work

This section also draws on the wider funeral service profile[17]. Funeral service workers typically work in a funeral home, and some also run a display room, a crematory or a cemetery[30]. Death care services employed 93% of funeral service workers in 2025[31]. Services themselves usually take place in a house of worship, a funeral home, or at a gravesite or crematory[32].

BLS calls the work often stressful. Workers arrange the details of a funeral within 24 to 72 hours of a death, and may handle several funerals in one day[30]. Most funeral service workers are employed full time, and some work more than 40 hours a week[33]. They are often on call, and evenings and weekends are common[33].

The work is not dangerous when safety and health rules are followed, though crematory workers face high heat and wear protective clothing[34].

About 5.2% of morticians, undertakers and funeral arrangers were self-employed in 2025[35].

Job outlook

BLS projects employment to grow 3% from 2025 to 2035, from about 26,700 to 27,500 jobs, a gain of 800[7]. For all occupations, the projected growth is 3.5%[36]. So growth for this job is projected to be slightly slower than the average.

BLS projects about 3,000 openings a year on average[8]. Openings include jobs that open when workers retire or move to other occupations, not only new jobs[8]. Each year, 3.8% of workers leave the labor force and 7.1% move to a different occupation[37].

The projection counts about 26,700 jobs, including the self-employed[7]. The wage survey counts about 25,100 wage and salary jobs and leaves out the self-employed[38].

Is it a good fit?

The facts show a job with pay above the all-occupation median and a wide range, from $33,350 at the 10th percentile to $88,620 at the 90th[1][6][2]. Entry takes an associate's degree and 1 to 3 years of supervised training, and most states require a license[3][4][5]. Work hours can be irregular, with on-call duty, and BLS calls the work often stressful[30][33]. Growth is projected at 3%, with about 3,000 openings a year[7][8]. The job may suit people who are comfortable with that schedule and with the training path.

Related occupations from O*NET, with BLS median pay and projected growth[39].

Frequently asked questions

How much does a mortician make an hour?
The median was $26.45 an hour in May 2025[1]. The lowest-paid 10% earned less than $16.03 an hour and the highest-paid 10% earned more than $42.61[11].
What degree do you need to be a mortician?
BLS lists an associate's degree as the typical entry education[3]. The degree is in funeral service or mortuary science[18].
How long does it take to become a mortician?
Most accredited programs are 2-year associate's programs[19]. Supervised training usually lasts 1 to 3 years and may be completed before, during or after the degree[4].
Is a mortician in demand?
BLS projects 3% growth from 2025 to 2035, against 3.5% for all occupations[7][36]. About 3,000 openings a year are projected[8].
What is the highest paying state for morticians?
Delaware had the highest median, $81,530, with 80 jobs[13]. Utah was next at $72,800 and Illinois third at $69,600[13].

Facts and sources

  1. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median wage for Morticians, Undertakers, and Funeral Arrangers in the US was $55,010 per year and $26.45 per hour. Half of workers earned more and half earned less. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  2. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median annual wage for all occupations in the US was $50,980. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  3. BLS Employment Projections, typical path into Morticians, Undertakers, and Funeral Arrangers: education needed for entry: Associate's degree; work experience in a related occupation: None; typical on-the-job training: Long-term on-the-job training. BLS Employment Projections
  4. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Training. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  5. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Licenses, Certifications, and Registrations. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  6. BLS OEWS, May 2025, annual wage percentiles for Morticians, Undertakers, and Funeral Arrangers: 10th percentile $33,350, 25th percentile $42,430, 75th percentile $72,010, 90th percentile $88,620. The 10th percentile means 10% of workers earned less. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  7. BLS Employment Projections: employment of Morticians, Undertakers, and Funeral Arrangers is projected to grow 3% from 2025 to 2035, from about 26,700 to 27,500 jobs (a change of +800). These counts include self-employed workers. BLS Employment Projections
  8. BLS Employment Projections: about 3,000 openings for Morticians, Undertakers, and Funeral Arrangers are projected each year, on average, from 2025 to 2035. Openings include jobs that open when workers retire or move to other occupations, not only new jobs. BLS Employment Projections
  9. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the mean (average) wage for Morticians, Undertakers, and Funeral Arrangers was $58,160 per year and $27.96 per hour. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  10. BLS OEWS FAQ: a percentile wage is a boundary. The median (50th percentile) separates the highest-paid 50% from the lowest-paid 50% of workers in the occupation. OEWS publishes percentile wages, not a starting salary. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  11. BLS OEWS, May 2025, hourly wage percentiles for Morticians, Undertakers, and Funeral Arrangers: 10th percentile $16.03, 25th percentile $20.40, 75th percentile $34.62, 90th percentile $42.61. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  12. BLS OEWS FAQ: OEWS covers part-time and full-time workers paid a wage or salary. It does not cover the self-employed, owners and partners in unincorporated firms, household workers or unpaid family workers. OEWS wages do not include nonproduction bonuses or employer costs of benefits such as health insurance or retirement contributions. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  13. Median annual wage for Morticians, Undertakers, and Funeral Arrangers in every state with published data, May 2025 (table on this page). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  14. BLS OEWS, May 2025, states with the most Morticians, Undertakers, and Funeral Arrangers jobs: California 2,240; Florida 1,510; Texas 1,500; Ohio 1,370; Illinois 1,320. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  15. BLS OEWS, May 2025, metro areas with the highest median annual wage for Morticians, Undertakers, and Funeral Arrangers (areas with at least 100 jobs): Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN $81,440; Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD $75,470; Salt Lake City-Murray, UT $74,610; New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ $72,860; Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA $70,100; San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA $63,160; Grand Rapids-Wyoming-Kentwood, MI $63,010; Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH $62,540. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  16. BLS OEWS, May 2025, metro areas with the most Morticians, Undertakers, and Funeral Arrangers jobs: New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ 940 (median $72,860); Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA 860 (median $50,490); Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN 710 (median $81,440); Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL 400 (median $49,190); Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX 370 (median $48,140); Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA 340 (median $55,660). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  17. The BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook profile "Funeral Service Workers" covers Morticians, Undertakers, and Funeral Arrangers together with other related occupations, so its text describes the wider group. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  18. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  19. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Education. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  20. O*NET 39-4031.00 survey of workers (22 respondents), education level they say is required: Associate's Degree or other 2-year degree 73%, High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED) 15%, Bachelor's Degree 11% (levels under 5% not listed). O*NET OnLine
  21. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Licenses, Certifications, and Registrations. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  22. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Licenses, Certifications, and Registrations. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  23. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Licenses, Certifications, and Registrations. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  24. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Licenses, Certifications, and Registrations. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  25. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Education. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  26. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Education. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  27. O*NET description of Morticians, Undertakers, and Funeral Arrangers. O*NET OnLine
  28. O*NET task list for Morticians, Undertakers, and Funeral Arrangers. O*NET OnLine
  29. O*NET 39-4031.00 sample job titles reported by workers: Funeral Arrangement Director, Funeral Arranger, Funeral Counselor, Funeral Director, Funeral Family Service Assistant, Funeral Location Manager, Funeral Prearrangement Counselor, Licensed Funeral Director. O*NET OnLine
  30. Occupational Outlook Handbook, Work Environment. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  31. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook, largest employers of funeral service workers in 2025: Death care services 93%. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  32. Occupational Outlook Handbook, Work Environment. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  33. Occupational Outlook Handbook, Work Environment: Work Schedules. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  34. Occupational Outlook Handbook, Work Environment. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  35. BLS Employment Projections: 5.2% of Morticians, Undertakers, and Funeral Arrangers were self-employed in 2025. BLS Employment Projections
  36. BLS Employment Projections: employment in all occupations is projected to grow 3.5% from 2025 to 2035. BLS Employment Projections
  37. BLS Employment Projections, 2025-35 annual average for Morticians, Undertakers, and Funeral Arrangers: 3.8% of workers leave the labor force each year and 7.1% move to a different occupation. BLS Employment Projections
  38. BLS OEWS, May 2025: about 25,100 people were employed as Morticians, Undertakers, and Funeral Arrangers in the US (wage and salary jobs, not counting self-employed workers). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  39. Related occupations (O*NET) with BLS pay, growth and entry education. O*NET OnLine

Notes are for reading the data only. They are not facts and cannot be cited: use the wage_scope and percentile_meaning facts instead. OEWS employment (jobs in May 2025) and Employment Projections employment (2025, includes self-employed) are different measures and can differ. O*NET education shares come from a small survey of workers in the occupation, not from all workers. The Occupational Outlook Handbook text covers a wider group of occupations than this page.

This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. CareerFacts has modified all or some of this information. USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.