How to become a Mortician, Undertaker or Funeral Arranger
Official title: Morticians, Undertakers, and Funeral Arrangers
Also called: Funeral Arrangement Director, Funeral Arranger, Funeral Counselor, Funeral Director, Funeral Family Service Assistant, Funeral Location Manager, Funeral Prearrangement Counselor, Licensed Funeral Director, Licensed Mortician, Mortician
Perform various tasks to arrange and direct individual funeral services, such as coordinating transportation of body to mortuary, interviewing family or other authorized person to arrange details, selecting pallbearers, aiding with the selection of officials for religious rites, and providing transportation for mourners.
Main tasks
- Oversee the preparation and care of the remains of people who have died.
- Obtain information needed to complete legal documents, such as death certificates or burial permits.
- Perform embalming duties, as necessary.
- Consult with families or friends of the deceased to arrange funeral details, such as obituary notice wording, casket selection, or plans for services.
- Remove deceased remains from place of death.
- Contact cemeteries to schedule the opening and closing of graves.
- Plan, schedule, or coordinate funerals, burials, or cremations, arranging details such as floral delivery or the time and place of services.
- Close caskets and lead funeral corteges to churches or burial sites.
How to become one
An associate's degree in funeral service or mortuary science is the education typically required to become a funeral service worker. Most employers and state licensing laws require applicants to be 21 years old, have at least 2 years of formal postsecondary education, have supervised training, and pass a state licensing exam.
Typical education to start: Associate's degree
Read the full guide from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
Ways in
- Certificate or associate's degree: Associate's degree. Programs such as Funeral Service and Mortuary Science, General; Funeral Direction/Service; Funeral Service and Mortuary Science, Other
- Licence: A licence is required in 45 states.
Pay · Outlook · AI and this job
- Median pay: $55,010 a year The middle half earn $42,430 to $72,010.
- About 26,700 people work in this job now, and about 27,500 are projected by 2035. (+3%)
- People use generative AI for relatively little of this work so far. Microsoft Research rates its AI applicability as low.
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Questions people ask
How do I become a Mortician, Undertaker or Funeral Arranger?
An associate's degree in funeral service or mortuary science is the education typically required to become a funeral service worker. Most employers and state licensing laws require applicants to be 21 years old, have at least 2 years of formal postsecondary education, have supervised training, and pass a state licensing exam.
How much does a Mortician, Undertaker or Funeral Arranger earn in the US?
Median full-time pay is $55,010 a year (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics). The middle half earn $42,430 to $72,010.
Is a Mortician, Undertaker or Funeral Arranger a growing career in the US?
Yes. Employment is projected to grow 3% by 2035, from about 26,700 to about 27,500 people (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics).
Do you need a degree to become a Mortician, Undertaker or Funeral Arranger?
Not always. 39% of people in this job hold a bachelor's degree or higher. Ways in include: Associate's degree.
Will AI change the work of a Mortician, Undertaker or Funeral Arranger?
People use generative AI for relatively little of this work so far. Microsoft Research rates its AI applicability as low.
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 Outlook Handbook (2025-35 edition (published 2026-08-27)), Public domain (BLS); photographs excluded, 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.