Also called: Mortician, Undertaker, Funeral Arranger
Arranges funerals, handles paperwork and legal permits, and guides families through decisions after a death.
He meets a family to plan a service, writes the obituary with them, files the death certificate, and directs a funeral in the afternoon, guiding the procession to the cemetery.
BLS median $49,800 (May 2024); licensed directors in busy firms earn more.
Associate's degree (2-year), about 3 years after high school. Associate's (or bachelor's) degree in mortuary science, a 1-2 year apprenticeship, and a state funeral director and/or embalmer license.
Ways in: 2-year college, Apprenticeship, Certification. Training cost: Under $15k.
Majors to look at: Mortuary Science.
Growing about average (about 4% over 10 years). BLS funeral service projection, 2024-34.
Low risk for 10 years. Software handles death certificates and planning forms; comforting families and running services stays deeply human.
Classes: Biology, Psychology, Business.
Official data: O*NET occupation 39-4031.
Career Universe is an early version. Pay, training and AI-risk figures are estimates to start your own research, not verified facts. The research was written with AI research assistants, checked by validation scripts and spot-checked by hand. Check anything important with schools, employers and official sources. How the numbers work.