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Mortician salary in California

Updated October 31, 2026. Based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data. Published by Humblebee.

$50,750median pay per year in California, or $24.40 an hour, May 2025[1]
  1. $37,030lowest 10% earn less
  2. $44,32025th percentile
  3. $50,750median
  4. $61,34075th percentile
  5. $77,850top 10% earn more
Middle half of workers in the inner band[2]US median for this job, $55,010[3]

The median pay for morticians in California was $50,750 a year in May 2025[1]. That was $4,260 lower than the US median[6].

Jobs in CA
2,240[4]
Rank by median pay
26 of 48[5]
Compared with US median
−7.7%[6]

How much do morticians make in California?

Morticians in California had a median pay of $50,750 a year, or $24.40 an hour[1]. Half of them earned more than that and half earned less. The average was higher at $56,130 a year[7]. Across the US, the median was $55,010, so California sat $4,260 (7.7%) below it[3][6]. California had the 26th highest median out of the 48 states with a published figure[5]. Across all jobs in the state, the median was $58,240, which is $7,490 above the mortician median[8][9].

The lowest-paid 10% of morticians in California earned less than $37,030, and the highest-paid 10% earned more than $77,850[2]. The middle half of pay ran from $44,320 to $61,340[2]. In hourly terms, the 10th percentile was $17.80 and the 90th was $37.43[10].

Pay differs by area. Among the eight metros listed with job counts, San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara had a median of $63,160 and San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont had $60,310[11]. Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim had about 860 jobs, with a median of $50,490[11]. Stockton-Lodi had the highest median of the 11 metros with a published figure, at $70,830[12]. These numbers count wage and salary workers only. The self-employed, business owners and partners are left out, and so are bonuses and the cost of benefits like health insurance[13].

California vs US pay

Pay for morticians in California next to the national figures[1][3].

CAUS
Median per year$50,750[1]$55,010[3]
Median per hour$24.40[1]$26.45[3]
Lowest 10% earn less than$37,030[2]$33,350[14]
Top 10% earn more than$77,850[2]$88,620[14]
Jobs2,240[4]25,100[3]

Pay by metro area in California

Metro areas in California with the most jobs for morticians, and the median pay in each[11].

Metro areaMedian per yearJobs
Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA[11]$50,490860
San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA$60,310250
Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA$48,830210
San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA$49,070210
Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA$50,700120
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA$63,160120
Fresno, CA$48,01070
Bakersfield-Delano, CA$48,54040

Pay in nearby states

Median pay for morticians in the states that border California, highest first[15].

StateMedian per yearJobs
Oregon[15]$48,630220
Nevada$43,940280
Arizona$41,870360

Median pay for morticians in every state

Job outlook and training

Across the US, jobs for morticians are projected to grow 3% from 2025 to 2035[16]. BLS does not publish this projection by state. The typical education for entry is: associate's degree[17].

How to become one: steps, training and duties

Frequently asked questions

How much does a mortician make in California?
The median was $50,750 a year in May 2025, and the average was $56,130[1][7]. The lowest-paid 10% earned less than $37,030 and the highest-paid 10% earned more than $77,850[2].
How much does a mortician make an hour in California?
The median was $24.40 an hour[1]. The 10th percentile was $17.80 and the 90th percentile was $37.43[10].
Which city in California pays morticians the most?
Stockton-Lodi had the highest median of the 11 metros with a published figure, at $70,830[12]. Among the eight metros listed with job counts, San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara led at $63,160[11].
Is California a good state for morticians?
California had the 26th highest median of 48 states, at $50,750[1][5]. That was $4,260 below the US median[6]. Of the bordering states, Oregon was at $48,630, Nevada at $43,940 and Arizona at $41,870[15].
What do you need to become a mortician in California?
This is a US figure, not a California one. Across the US, the typical entry education is an Associate's degree, with no related work experience and long-term on-the-job training[17].

Facts and sources

  1. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median wage for Morticians, Undertakers, and Funeral Arrangers in California was $50,750 per year and $24.40 per hour. Half of these workers earned more and half earned less. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  2. BLS OEWS, May 2025, annual wage percentiles for Morticians, Undertakers, and Funeral Arrangers in California: 10th percentile $37,030, 25th percentile $44,320, 75th percentile $61,340, 90th percentile $77,850. The 10th percentile means 10% of workers earned less, the 90th means 10% earned more. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  3. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median wage for Morticians, Undertakers, and Funeral Arrangers in the US as a whole was $55,010 per year and $26.45 per hour, with about 25,100 jobs nationwide. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  4. BLS OEWS, May 2025: about 2,240 people worked as Morticians, Undertakers, and Funeral Arrangers in California (wage and salary jobs, not counting self-employed workers). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  5. BLS OEWS, May 2025: California had the 26th highest median annual wage for Morticians, Undertakers, and Funeral Arrangers out of the 48 states with a published median. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  6. CareerFacts calculation from BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median annual wage for Morticians, Undertakers, and Funeral Arrangers in California ($50,750) was $4,260 (7.7%) lower than the US median ($55,010). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  7. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the mean (average) wage for Morticians, Undertakers, and Funeral Arrangers in California was $56,130 per year and $26.99 per hour. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  8. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median annual wage for all occupations in California was $58,240. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  9. CareerFacts calculation from BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median annual wage for Morticians, Undertakers, and Funeral Arrangers in California was $7,490 lower than the median for all occupations in the state ($58,240). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  10. BLS OEWS, May 2025, hourly wage percentiles for Morticians, Undertakers, and Funeral Arrangers in California: 10th percentile $17.80, 25th percentile $21.31, 75th percentile $29.49, 90th percentile $37.43. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  11. Metro areas with the most jobs in this occupation, with median annual wage, May 2025 (table on this page). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  12. BLS OEWS, May 2025: of the 11 metro areas in or partly in California with a published median for Morticians, Undertakers, and Funeral Arrangers, Stockton-Lodi, CA had the highest median annual wage, $70,830. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  13. 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
  14. BLS OEWS, May 2025, annual wage percentiles for Morticians, Undertakers, and Funeral Arrangers in the US: 10th percentile $33,350, 25th percentile $42,430, 75th percentile $72,010, 90th percentile $88,620. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  15. BLS OEWS, May 2025, median annual wage for Morticians, Undertakers, and Funeral Arrangers in states that border California (highest first): Oregon $48,630; Nevada $43,940; Arizona $41,870. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  16. BLS Employment Projections (US, not by state): employment of Morticians, Undertakers, and Funeral Arrangers is projected to grow 3% nationwide from 2025 to 2035, with about 3,000 openings a year on average. All occupations are projected to grow 3.5%. BLS Employment Projections
  17. BLS Employment Projections (US, not by state), 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

State figures cover only California. Job outlook and entry requirements are national (US) figures: BLS does not publish them by state in our sources. Figures labelled “CareerFacts calculation” are simple differences between the BLS numbers shown.