When you first enter the funeral service (opens in a new window) industry, what you’ll make depends on a variety of factors, including your role, your experience, where you practice, and whether you eventually move into management or ownership.
What Funeral Service Professionals Earn
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (opens in a new window), the median annual wage for funeral service workers was $61,410 in May 2025. Morticians, undertakers, and funeral arrangers earned a median of $55,010. The lowest 10% earned less than $33,350, and the highest 10% earned more than $88,620.
Embalmers earned a mean annual salary of $58,390, according to Bureau of Labor Statistics data (opens in a new window). The National Funeral Directors Association (opens in a new window) reports complementary figures for licensed funeral directors. They earn an average of $60,550 per year, with the top 10% exceeding $72,600.
The educational foundation for these roles is a degree in funeral service (opens in a new window) that prepares graduates for the National Board Examination and state licensure.
How Experience and Specialization Move the Numbers
Entry-level professionals working as funeral attendants, who assist with visitations, services, and coordination, earned a median of $35,680 in 2025. That role often serves as a starting point in the field.
Licensed funeral directors with several years of experience can move into senior positions at larger firms or multi-location operations, where pay rises with added duties. Specializing in areas such as preneed planning or grief support coordination also can result in better compensation, since specialized expertise affects a firm’s reputation and client relationships.
A significant salary increase often comes with a move into management. Funeral home managers earned a median of $78,790 per year in 2025 with a mean of $92,840.
Ownership is another option, and income varies widely by location, volume, and business structure.
Where You Practice Matters
Compensation in funeral service varies by state. According to occupational employment data (opens in a new window) from May 2025, the annual mean wages for morticians, undertakers, and funeral arrangers in the highest-paying states exceed the national mean of $58,160 by a fairly wide margin.
| State | Annual Mean Wage |
|---|---|
| Delaware | $84,160 |
| Rhode Island | $79,510 |
| Illinois | $74,280 |
| New Hampshire | $72,360 |
| Utah | $70,730 |
| Colorado | $70,690 |
| New York | $68,640 |
| Pennsylvania | $66,810 |
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025
These figures are mean annual wages, so individual earnings vary based on experience, firm size, and whether the position is at an independent funeral home or a corporate operation. For prospective students weighing where to begin their careers, earning potential is worth factoring into the decision alongside each state’s specific licensure requirements.
Job Stability and Steady Demand
Approximately 5,600 jobs will open up for funeral service workers each year between 2025 and 2035, driven primarily by retirements and workforce turnover. The overall growth rate of 4% (opens in a new window) indicates a steady stream of annual openings.
The total funeral service workforce is roughly 61,500 professionals nationally. Compared to fields like healthcare or education, that is a relatively contained labor market, which means the annual openings represent a larger share of the total workforce. For graduates who hold a mortuary science degree and pass the National Board Examination, that ratio translates to consistent demand.
What the Numbers Don’t Capture
Many funeral service employers offer benefits packages that include health insurance, retirement contributions, continuing education stipends, and other perks. Some firms provide performance bonuses or profit-sharing tied to client satisfaction and volume.
Funeral service professionals hold a recognized standing in their communities, and the work carries a level of professional autonomy and responsibility that few careers offer. Research on funeral service professionals, including a 2021 study published in the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health (opens in a new window), found that the meaningfulness of the work serves as a significant counterbalance to the profession’s emotional demands.
A Career Worth Investing In
Founded in 1926, AAMI offers flexible scheduling, financial aid, and a curriculum designed to prepare graduates for the National Board Examination and the practical demands of the profession. Request information or start your application (opens in a new window) to find out how the program can work for you.