How to become an undertaker, mortuary and crematorium assistant

Official title: Undertakers, mortuary and crematorium assistants

Also called: Undertaker, Funeral assistant, Mortuary assistant, Mortuary attendant, Mortuary technician, Crematorium operator, Crematorium assistant, Crematorium attendant, Undertaker's assistant, Crematorium technician, Assistant superintendent, Funeral director's assistant

Undertakers, mortuary and crematorium assistants make funeral arrangements for clients, prepare the deceased for burial or cremation, and supervise and assist the proceedings of funerals.

Main tasks

• Collects body of deceased and assists with the completion of necessary documents
• Interviews relative or representative of the deceased to discuss preparations for funeral
• Liaises with cemetery or crematorium authorities on behalf of client
• Washes and injects body with sterilising fluid to prevent deterioration prior to funeral, and applies cosmetics, wax and other materials to restore normal appearance
• Provides hearse and funeral cars and leads funeral procession
• Controls the operations of crematoriums and cemeteries and processes legal documentation

How to become one

There are no formal academic requirements although some employers require candidates to possess GCSEs/S grades. A full driving licence is often required. Training is provided on-the-job. Professional qualifications in funeral directing and embalming are available.

Ways in

• Apprenticeship (England): Funeral director (level 3). England. Typically 12 months. Skills England standard ST0584.
• Apprenticeship (England): Funeral team member (level 2). England. Typically 12 months. Skills England standard ST0594.

Pay · Outlook

• Median full-time pay: £30,894 a year The middle half earn £26,907 to null.
• About 34,500 people work in this job now, and about 37,800 are projected by 2035. (+9.6%)

Related jobs

• Nursing auxiliaries and assistants
• Ambulance staff (excluding paramedics)
• Dental nurses
• Houseparents and residential wardens
• Care workers and home carers
• Senior care workers

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Questions people ask

How do I become an undertaker, mortuary and crematorium assistant?

There are no formal academic requirements although some employers require candidates to possess GCSEs/S grades. A full driving licence is often required. Training is provided on-the-job. Professional qualifications in funeral directing and embalming are available.

How much does an undertaker, mortuary and crematorium assistant earn in the UK?

Median full-time pay is £30,894 a year (Office for National Statistics).

Is an undertaker, mortuary and crematorium assistant a growing career in the UK?

Yes. Employment is projected to grow 10% by 2035, from about 34,500 to about 37,800 people (Department for Education).

Do you need a degree to become an undertaker, mortuary and crematorium assistant?

Usually not. Only 24% of people in this job hold a bachelor's degree or higher. Ways in include: Funeral director (level 3).

Sources

• Office for National Statistics: Annual Population Survey: employment by occupation (April 2025 to March 2026), OGL v3.0, retrieved 2026-10-03
• Office for National Statistics: SOC 2020 Volume 1: structure and descriptions (2026-08-27 edition), OGL v3.0, retrieved 2026-10-03
• Department for Education: Skills Imperative 2035: employment projections by occupation (2021 to 2035 (Warwick IER / Cambridge Econometrics)), OGL v3.0, retrieved 2026-10-03
• Office for National Statistics: Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings, Table 14 (2025 provisional), OGL v3.0, retrieved 2026-10-03

Updated 2026-10-03