How to become a Funeral Attendant
Official title: Funeral Attendants
Also called: Funeral Assistant, Funeral Associate, Funeral Attendant, Funeral Director, Funeral Greeter, Funeral Home Assistant, Funeral Home Associate, Funeral Home Attendant
Perform a variety of tasks during funeral, such as placing casket in parlor or chapel prior to service, arranging floral offerings or lights around casket, directing or escorting mourners, closing casket, and issuing and storing funeral equipment.
Main tasks
- Greet people at the funeral home.
- Perform a variety of tasks during funerals to assist funeral directors and to ensure that services run smoothly and as planned.
- Close caskets at appropriate point in services.
- Direct or escort mourners to parlors or chapels in which wakes or funerals are being held.
- Place caskets in parlors or chapels prior to wakes or funerals.
- Offer assistance to mourners as they enter or exit limousines.
- Clean funeral parlors or chapels.
- Arrange floral offerings or lights around caskets.
How to become one
Typical education to start: High school diploma or equivalent
Ways in
- Licence: A licence is required in 13 states.
Pay · Outlook · AI and this job
- Median pay: $35,680 a year The middle half earn $30,380 to $42,870.
- About 31,300 people work in this job now, and about 32,100 are projected by 2035. (+2.6%)
- People already use generative AI for some of this work. Microsoft Research rates its AI applicability as medium.
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Questions people ask
How much does a Funeral Attendant earn in the US?
Median full-time pay is $35,680 a year (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics). The middle half earn $30,380 to $42,870.
Is a Funeral Attendant a growing career in the US?
Yes. Employment is projected to grow 3% by 2035, from about 31,300 to about 32,100 people (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics).
Do you need a degree to become a Funeral Attendant?
Not always. 28% of people in this job hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Will AI change the work of a Funeral Attendant?
People already use generative AI for some of this work. Microsoft Research rates its AI applicability as medium.
Sources
- Microsoft Research: Working with AI: AI applicability by occupation (2025-12-22 (built on O*NET 29.0)), CC BY 4.0, retrieved 2026-10-03
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Employment Projections (2025-35 (released 2026-08-27)), Public domain (BLS), retrieved 2026-10-03
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (May 2025), Public domain (BLS), retrieved 2026-10-03
Updated 2026-10-03
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.