Morticians, Undertakers, and Funeral Arrangers
Morticians, Undertakers, and Funeral Arrangers (SOC 39-4031) earn a median $55,010 a year ($26.45 an hour) in the United States, with 25,100 employed as of May 2025; the highest-paying state is Delaware.
What morticians, undertakers, and funeral arrangers do
Morticians, undertakers, and funeral arrangers organize and direct individual funerals. They meet with the family or friends of the deceased to settle details such as the wording of the obituary, which casket to buy, and plans for the service. They collect the information needed for legal papers like death certificates and burial permits, and they contact cemeteries to schedule digging and closing of graves. They plan, schedule, and coordinate funerals, burials, or cremations, including arrangements like flower delivery and the time and place of services. They may choose pallbearers, help pick officials for religious rites, and arrange rides for mourners. Some bring the deceased from the place of death, supervise preparation and care of the remains, or embalm when needed, and they close caskets and lead the procession to a church or burial site. Funeral home managers are coded in 11-9171.
Typical entry: O*NET respondents most often report an associate degree as the usual education level (about 73 percent).
Also called: Arranger, Cemetery Manager, Certified Mortician, Embalmer, Funeral Arrangement Director.
National wage percentiles, May 2025
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||
| United States | Hourly | $16.03 | $20.40 | $26.45 | $34.62 | $42.61 | $27.96 | 25,100 |
| Annual | $33,350 | $42,430 | $55,010 | $72,010 | $88,620 | $58,160 | ||
Employment per 1,000 jobs and the location quotient are area measures; they appear in the state and metro tables below. To see what a wage in this range leaves after tax, use FastCalc's take-home pay calculator.
Where morticians, undertakers, and funeral arrangers earn and work most
Five highest-paying states
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| Delaware | Hourly | $28.48 | $36.79 | $39.20 | $44.93 | $59.47 | $40.46 | 80 | 0.16 | 0.99 |
| Annual | $59,240 | $76,520 | $81,530 | $93,460 | $123,700 | $84,160 | ||||
| Utah | Hourly | $21.13 | $24.73 | $35.00 | $42.60 | $48.55 | $34.00 | 240 | 0.14 | 0.86 |
| Annual | $43,960 | $51,440 | $72,800 | $88,610 | $100,980 | $70,730 | ||||
| Illinois | Hourly | $20.55 | $23.24 | $33.46 | $48.28 | $50.27 | $35.71 | 1,320 | 0.22 | 1.34 |
| Annual | $42,740 | $48,340 | $69,600 | $100,410 | $104,570 | $74,280 | ||||
| New Jersey | Hourly | $15.87 | $20.97 | $33.22 | $37.45 | $45.58 | $30.91 | 580 | 0.14 | 0.84 |
| Annual | $33,000 | $43,620 | $69,110 | $77,890 | $94,810 | $64,290 | ||||
| Nebraska | Hourly | $16.78 | $22.18 | $30.92 | $38.89 | $41.68 | $30.73 | 210 | 0.20 | 1.26 |
| Annual | $34,890 | $46,140 | $64,310 | $80,900 | $86,700 | $63,910 | ||||
Five states with the most jobs
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| California | Hourly | $17.80 | $21.31 | $24.40 | $29.49 | $37.43 | $26.99 | 2,240 | 0.12 | 0.76 |
| Annual | $37,030 | $44,320 | $50,750 | $61,340 | $77,850 | $56,130 | ||||
| Florida | Hourly | $14.70 | $17.41 | $23.32 | $30.70 | $37.39 | $25.87 | 1,510 | 0.15 | 0.94 |
| Annual | $30,580 | $36,220 | $48,510 | $63,860 | $77,770 | $53,820 | ||||
| Texas | Hourly | $11.60 | $15.88 | $22.42 | $27.89 | $29.84 | $21.92 | 1,500 | 0.11 | 0.66 |
| Annual | $24,120 | $33,030 | $46,630 | $58,000 | $62,070 | $45,600 | ||||
| Ohio | Hourly | $14.08 | $21.94 | $27.79 | $36.65 | $39.63 | $28.30 | 1,370 | 0.25 | 1.53 |
| Annual | $29,290 | $45,640 | $57,800 | $76,230 | $82,430 | $58,870 | ||||
| Illinois | Hourly | $20.55 | $23.24 | $33.46 | $48.28 | $50.27 | $35.71 | 1,320 | 0.22 | 1.34 |
| Annual | $42,740 | $48,340 | $69,600 | $100,410 | $104,570 | $74,280 | ||||
Five highest-paying metropolitan areas
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | Hourly | $21.71 | $27.27 | $39.16 | $50.26 | $50.37 | $39.26 | 710 | 0.16 | 0.98 |
| Annual | $45,160 | $56,720 | $81,440 | $104,540 | $104,760 | $81,660 | ||||
| Waterbury-Shelton, CT | Hourly | $18.19 | $23.68 | $37.63 | $38.46 | $45.49 | $33.82 | 60 | 0.35 | 2.19 |
| Annual | $37,830 | $49,260 | $78,280 | $79,990 | $94,620 | $70,340 | ||||
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | Hourly | $17.02 | $26.81 | $36.28 | $39.44 | $45.43 | $33.49 | 330 | 0.12 | 0.72 |
| Annual | $35,400 | $55,760 | $75,470 | $82,040 | $94,490 | $69,650 | ||||
| Provo-Orem-Lehi, UT | Hourly | $22.56 | $28.07 | $35.95 | $45.72 | $46.78 | $35.10 | 30 | 0.10 | 0.62 |
| Annual | $46,920 | $58,390 | $74,780 | $95,110 | $97,290 | $73,000 | ||||
| Salt Lake City-Murray, UT | Hourly | $22.05 | $25.90 | $35.87 | $39.42 | $50.41 | $34.79 | 110 | 0.13 | 0.80 |
| Annual | $45,860 | $53,870 | $74,610 | $82,000 | $104,850 | $72,370 | ||||
Five metropolitan areas with the most jobs
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | Hourly | $20.97 | $26.73 | $35.03 | $38.52 | $45.74 | $33.95 | 940 | 0.10 | 0.61 |
| Annual | $43,620 | $55,600 | $72,860 | $80,120 | $95,140 | $70,620 | ||||
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | Hourly | $17.77 | $18.25 | $24.27 | $28.59 | $36.91 | $26.17 | 860 | 0.14 | 0.85 |
| Annual | $36,950 | $37,950 | $50,490 | $59,460 | $76,770 | $54,430 | ||||
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | Hourly | $21.71 | $27.27 | $39.16 | $50.26 | $50.37 | $39.26 | 710 | 0.16 | 0.98 |
| Annual | $45,160 | $56,720 | $81,440 | $104,540 | $104,760 | $81,660 | ||||
| Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL | Hourly | $16.48 | $17.40 | $23.65 | $31.85 | $38.48 | $26.34 | 400 | 0.14 | 0.89 |
| Annual | $34,280 | $36,180 | $49,190 | $66,250 | $80,050 | $54,790 | ||||
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | Hourly | $14.10 | $18.31 | $23.14 | $29.47 | $31.35 | $23.37 | 370 | 0.09 | 0.57 |
| Annual | $29,320 | $38,090 | $48,140 | $61,300 | $65,220 | $48,600 | ||||
Top industries employing morticians, undertakers, and funeral arrangers
Death Care Services employ 98.7% of morticians, undertakers, and funeral arrangers nationally (24,780 jobs) at a median $54,530 a year ($26.22 an hour), followed by Federal Executive Branch (OEWS Designation) (0.6%) and Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (0.1%).
| Industry | Employment | Share of occupation | Median annual | Median hourly |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Death Care Services NAICS 812200 | 24,780 | 98.7% | $54,530 | $26.22 |
| Federal Executive Branch (OEWS Designation) NAICS 999100 | 140 | 0.6% | $91,420 | $43.95 |
| Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools NAICS 611300 | 30 | 0.1% | $82,320 | $39.58 |
Share is the industry's employment over the occupation's national employment (25,100). Industries whose employment BLS withheld are not ranked.
Published medians, May 2021 to May 2025
BLS published a median annual wage of $48,950 for morticians, undertakers, and funeral arrangers in May 2021 and $55,010 in May 2025, with employment of 24,700 and 25,100.
| Release | Median annual | Median hourly | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 2021 | $48,950 | $23.53 | 24,700 |
| May 2022 | $51,570 | $24.79 | 23,940 |
| May 2023 | $51,030 | $24.53 | 24,200 |
| May 2024 | $49,800 | $23.94 | 25,700 |
| May 2025 | $55,010 | $26.45 | 25,100 |
BLS does not design OEWS as a time series: each release pools three years of samples, and occupational classifications, area definitions and estimation methods change between releases, so a difference between two releases is not a measure of change over time. The figures are shown as published, side by side, and nothing is computed from them. See how often OEWS is updated.
Every state, by median wage
48 states and DC publish a row for this occupation. A linked state has its own page with the within-state metro table and comparison; the others appear here only.
| Rank | State | Median hourly | Median annual | 10th pct (annual) | 90th pct (annual) | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Delaware profile | $39.20 | $81,530 | $59,240 | $123,700 | 80 | 0.16 | 0.99 |
| 2 | Utah profile | $35.00 | $72,800 | $43,960 | $100,980 | 240 | 0.14 | 0.86 |
| 3 | Illinois profile | $33.46 | $69,600 | $42,740 | $104,570 | 1,320 | 0.22 | 1.34 |
| 4 | New Jersey profile | $33.22 | $69,110 | $33,000 | $94,810 | 580 | 0.14 | 0.84 |
| 5 | Nebraska profile | $30.92 | $64,310 | $34,890 | $86,700 | 210 | 0.20 | 1.26 |
| 6 | Iowa profile | $30.63 | $63,700 | $34,540 | $94,950 | 640 | 0.41 | 2.54 |
| 7 | Pennsylvania profile | $30.57 | $63,580 | $46,570 | $92,830 | 910 | 0.15 | 0.93 |
| 8 | New York profile | $30.33 | $63,090 | $46,780 | $94,990 | 1,030 | 0.11 | 0.66 |
| 9 | Massachusetts profile | $29.86 | $62,120 | $46,190 | $100,360 | 430 | 0.12 | 0.73 |
| 10 | Indiana profile | $29.27 | $60,890 | $31,680 | $96,390 | 630 | 0.20 | 1.23 |
| 11 | Maine profile | $29.27 | $60,880 | $34,650 | $95,580 | 80 | 0.13 | 0.81 |
| 12 | Colorado profile | $29.26 | $60,850 | $38,000 | $138,880 | 320 | 0.11 | 0.68 |
| 13 | North Carolina profile | $29.20 | $60,730 | $29,950 | $84,920 | 1,000 | 0.20 | 1.25 |
| 14 | Michigan profile | $29.06 | $60,450 | $37,440 | $87,340 | 810 | 0.19 | 1.15 |
| 15 | Idaho profile | $28.97 | $60,250 | $45,900 | $100,230 | 160 | 0.19 | 1.15 |
| 16 | North Dakota profile | $28.73 | $59,760 | $44,700 | $94,250 | 110 | 0.25 | 1.55 |
| 17 | Connecticut profile | $28.71 | $59,710 | $34,010 | $94,620 | 300 | 0.18 | 1.10 |
| 18 | Washington profile | $28.70 | $59,700 | $45,290 | $77,470 | 400 | 0.11 | 0.71 |
| 19 | Kansas profile | $28.16 | $58,580 | $32,150 | $79,990 | 230 | 0.16 | 0.98 |
| 20 | Wisconsin profile | $28.01 | $58,250 | $38,170 | $92,220 | 580 | 0.20 | 1.23 |
| 21 | Maryland profile | $27.92 | $58,060 | $36,330 | $100,330 | 500 | 0.18 | 1.13 |
| 22 | Ohio profile | $27.79 | $57,800 | $29,290 | $82,430 | 1,370 | 0.25 | 1.53 |
| 23 | New Hampshire profile | $27.71 | $57,630 | $46,850 | $121,720 | 80 | 0.12 | 0.73 |
| 24 | Wyoming profile | $26.71 | $55,570 | $33,970 | $90,320 | 40 | 0.13 | 0.78 |
| 25 | Rhode Island profile | $26.64 | $55,420 | $54,360 | $139,100 | 40 | 0.08 | 0.51 |
| 26 | California profile | $24.40 | $50,750 | $37,030 | $77,850 | 2,240 | 0.12 | 0.76 |
| 27 | New Mexico profile | $24.22 | $50,380 | $37,440 | $69,470 | 100 | 0.11 | 0.70 |
| 28 | Georgia profile | $24.03 | $49,990 | $35,810 | $78,290 | 780 | 0.16 | 0.99 |
| 29 | Minnesota profile | $23.92 | $49,760 | $37,440 | $104,770 | 500 | 0.17 | 1.05 |
| 30 | Vermont profile | $23.43 | $48,740 | $45,490 | $81,880 | 40 | 0.12 | 0.74 |
| 31 | Oregon profile | $23.38 | $48,630 | $35,640 | $78,000 | 220 | 0.11 | 0.68 |
| 32 | Florida profile | $23.32 | $48,510 | $30,580 | $77,770 | 1,510 | 0.15 | 0.94 |
| 33 | Mississippi profile | $23.24 | $48,350 | $26,360 | $60,570 | 320 | 0.28 | 1.71 |
| 34 | West Virginia profile | $23.06 | $47,960 | $31,340 | $59,970 | 180 | 0.26 | 1.59 |
| 35 | South Dakota profile | $23.00 | $47,840 | $43,780 | $78,940 | 200 | 0.44 | 2.72 |
| 36 | Oklahoma profile | $22.97 | $47,780 | $26,200 | $97,290 | 380 | 0.22 | 1.37 |
| 37 | Louisiana profile | $22.47 | $46,730 | $27,190 | $78,770 | 440 | 0.23 | 1.40 |
| 38 | Texas profile | $22.42 | $46,630 | $24,120 | $62,070 | 1,500 | 0.11 | 0.66 |
| 39 | Hawaii profile | $22.27 | $46,310 | $33,580 | $53,620 | 150 | 0.25 | 1.52 |
| 40 | Tennessee profile | $22.20 | $46,180 | $33,600 | $68,990 | 550 | 0.17 | 1.04 |
| 41 | Alabama profile | $21.60 | $44,930 | $30,660 | $61,440 | 420 | 0.20 | 1.24 |
| 42 | Nevada profile | $21.13 | $43,940 | $28,360 | $55,710 | 280 | 0.18 | 1.12 |
| 43 | Montana profile | $21.00 | $43,680 | $35,040 | $79,450 | 110 | 0.22 | 1.37 |
| 44 | Kentucky profile | $20.83 | $43,320 | $27,520 | $61,230 | 470 | 0.23 | 1.44 |
| 45 | Missouri profile | $20.64 | $42,940 | $28,600 | $86,700 | 790 | 0.27 | 1.66 |
| 46 | Arizona profile | $20.13 | $41,870 | $36,260 | $55,960 | 360 | 0.11 | 0.70 |
| 47 | South Carolina profile | $19.24 | $40,020 | $29,510 | $83,650 | 400 | 0.17 | 1.07 |
| 48 | Arkansas profile | $17.37 | $36,120 | $30,540 | $60,040 | 360 | 0.27 | 1.69 |
Part of Personal Care and Service Occupations. Compare any area in the wage explorer.
Source and notes
Data: BLS OEWS May 2025, released 2026-05-15. Cross-industry estimates, all ownerships. BLS page: OEWS 39-4031 Morticians, Undertakers, and Funeral Arrangers.
- Annual wages assume 2,080 hours a year at the hourly rate; occupations BLS publishes on one basis only show an en dash (–) on the other.
- Employment is rounded to the nearest 10 by BLS. Where BLS withholds a cell, nothing is estimated in its place.
- Top industries: nat4d_M2025_dl.xlsx in oesm25in4.zip (BLS OEWS May 2025, national, 4-digit NAICS, cross-ownership). Employment is the industry's rounded total for this occupation; industries whose employment BLS withheld (**) are not ranked.
- Published medians: national_M2021_dl.xlsx to national_M2024_dl.xlsx in oesm21nat.zip to oesm24nat.zip (BLS OEWS May 2021 to May 2024, national, cross-industry, all ownerships) and the May 2025 spine. Each release is shown as published; nothing is computed between them.
Sources
- BLS Standard Occupational Classification 2018, definition of 39-4031, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- O*NET 30.1 Database, 39-4031.00, National Center for O*NET Development, USDOL/ETA (CC BY 4.0).
- OEWS May 2025 national industry-specific estimates, 4-digit NAICS (oesm25in4.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2021 national estimates (oesm21nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2022 national estimates (oesm22nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2023 national estimates (oesm23nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2024 national estimates (oesm24nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2025 national estimates (oesm25nat.zip), the site's data spine, US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
Includes information from O*NET 30.1 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration, used under the CC BY 4.0 license.
Description written 2026-10-17 in our own words from the sources above.