39 Series · SOC 39-4031

Morticians, Undertakers, and Funeral Arrangers Salary

National pay, percentile range, growth outlook, and state-by-state detail from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS survey (May 2025).

$55,010
Median / year
+10.5%
2024→2025
$88,620
Top 10% earn
+3.1%
Growth '24–'34
25,100
Estimated US jobs

Morticians, Undertakers, and Funeral Arrangers earn a median of $55,010 per year.

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS survey, the median annual wage is $55,010, based on the most recent survey of employers. Reported pay ranges from $33,350 (10th percentile) to $88,620 (90th percentile) nationally, across roughly 25,100 estimated jobs in covered establishments. The highest published state median in this ranking is Delaware ($81,530).

39 Series · Source: BLS OEWS Compare with another job →
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The pay verdict

Morticians, Undertakers, and Funeral Arrangers earn a median of $55,010, putting them below the typical US occupation and higher than 40% of the 825 occupations with a published BLS median. Within Personal Care and Service, it ranks #4 of 32 by median pay. Employment is projected to grow 3.1% by 2034.

$55,010
Median annual wage
Top 60%
of 825 US occupations with published wages
#4 of 32
in Personal Care and Service
2.7×
90th-to-10th pay spread

Highest-paying state: Delaware at $81,530. Typical entry-level education: Associate's degree.

Observed pay change

What changed, BLS OEWS 2019–2025

May 2019 → May 2025
  • The published national median for Morticians, Undertakers, and Funeral Arrangers moved from $54,150 in May 2019 to $55,010 in May 2025 (+1.6%).
  • Across the 749 occupations priced in both releases under SOC-2018, the median occupation changed +24.5%.
  • Morticians, Undertakers, and Funeral Arrangers sits -22.9 pp behind that median, nominal dollars, no price deflator applied.

Morticians, Undertakers, and Funeral Arrangers (SOC 39-4031) has a national median of $55,010 per year in the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics May 2025 release. The published 10th-to-90th-percentile boundaries run from $33,350 to $88,620, and the published mean is $58,160. Those summary statistics describe the estimated distribution; their difference alone does not identify its cause. OEWS estimates 25,100 jobs in covered establishments nationally. WageDex has published rows for 49 state or territory areas and 194 metropolitan or nonmetropolitan wage areas. The published national median moved from $49,800 in the May 2024 OEWS release to $55,010 in May 2025, a rise of $5,210 (+10.5%). This is a change between two BLS survey estimates, not an inflation-adjusted same-worker pay raise.

BLS Employment Projections forecast a +3.1% change in employment from 2024 to 2034, which we classify as about as fast as average relative to the all-occupations baseline of 3.1%. About 3,200 openings are projected per year from growth, occupational transfers, and labor-force exits. BLS assigns Associate's degree as typical education needed for entry, and BLS classifies its typical on-the-job preparation as long-term on-the-job training. BLS does not publish a separate occupation-specific fatality and injury rate for this role in the current release. The safety panel below shows its broad Personal Care and Service Occupations SOC-group context and is not an occupation-level measurement or ranking.

Geographic variation matters as much as the headline median. Delaware pays the highest state median at $81,530, which is +48% above the national figure. The highest published metropolitan-area median in this ranking is Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN at $81,440. The observed difference does not identify its cause. Pair the national median with the state and metropolitan-area rows below while keeping the geography and statistic consistent. OEWS includes tips, commissions, incentive pay, and production bonuses, but not employer benefits, overtime premiums, stock compensation, or nonproduction bonuses. See our methodology for the sourcing and calculation details.

BLS OEWS May 2025 25,100 jobs Median $55,010/yr

Median Salary

$55,010

per year

Median Hourly

$26.45/hr

per hour

Mean Salary

$58,160

average

Employment

25,100

jobs nationwide

How does this pay compare nationally?

Where Morticians, Undertakers, and Funeral Arrangers pay sits nationally

Median annual wage vs. 825 detailed BLS occupations with a published median

$55,010 Bottom 40% higher than 40% of 825 US occupations

$0–$20,000: 0 US occupations (0%). Below this entry. $20,000–$40,000: 98 US occupations (12%). Below this entry. $40,000–$60,000: 298 US occupations (36%). This entry sits in this band. $60,000–$80,000: 209 US occupations (25%). Above this entry. $80,000–$100,000: 82 US occupations (10%). Above this entry. $100,000–$120,000: 58 US occupations (7%). Above this entry. $120,000–$140,000: 32 US occupations (4%). Above this entry. $140,000–$160,000: 14 US occupations (2%). Above this entry. $160,000–$180,000: 9 US occupations (1%). Above this entry. $180,000 and above: 25 US occupations (3%). Above this entry. This job $0 $180,000+ every BLS occupation, bucketed by value

Each bar is a $20K-wide band; taller bars hold more US occupations. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.

Read the chart as text · as of May 2025
Band Count Share
$0–$20,000 0 US occupations 0%
$20,000–$40,000 98 US occupations 12%
$40,000–$60,000 (this entry) 298 US occupations 36%
$60,000–$80,000 209 US occupations 25%
$80,000–$100,000 82 US occupations 10%
$100,000–$120,000 58 US occupations 7%
$120,000–$140,000 32 US occupations 4%
$140,000–$160,000 14 US occupations 2%
$160,000–$180,000 9 US occupations 1%
$180,000 and above 25 US occupations 3%

$55,010 · 40th percentile of 825 US occupations

Source U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS · May 2025

Does this job pay well and grow?

Each dot is a 39-series occupation, placed by projected 2024–2034 growth and median pay. The highlighted dot is Morticians, Undertakers, and Funeral Arrangers; the upper-right quadrant is the sweet spot (high pay + fast growth).

Among 24 39-series occupations with growth data, Morticians, Undertakers, and Funeral Arrangers sits on the slower-growing side at +3.1% growth and $55,010 median pay. Scatter plot of 24 data points. $30000$40000$50000$60000$70000 -5%0%5%10%15% Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) Median annual wage Childcare Workers - Projected growth 2024–2034 (%): -2.9% · Median annual wage: $34980Amusement and Recrea… - Projected growth 2024–2034 (%): 3.4% · Median annual wage: $32150Recreation Workers - Projected growth 2024–2034 (%): 4.1% · Median annual wage: $36560Exercise Trainers an… - Projected growth 2024–2034 (%): 11.9% · Median annual wage: $47160Hairdressers, Hairst… - Projected growth 2024–2034 (%): 5.6% · Median annual wage: $35790Animal Caretakers - Projected growth 2024–2034 (%): 12.1% · Median annual wage: $35360Manicurists and Pedi… - Projected growth 2024–2034 (%): 7% · Median annual wage: $35760Ushers, Lobby Attend… - Projected growth 2024–2034 (%): 1.2% · Median annual wage: $32910First-Line Superviso… - Projected growth 2024–2034 (%): 6.7% · Median annual wage: $48590First-Line Superviso… - Projected growth 2024–2034 (%): 6.3% · Median annual wage: $48560Residential Advisors - Projected growth 2024–2034 (%): 3.8% · Median annual wage: $42240Gambling Dealers - Projected growth 2024–2034 (%): -0.6% · Median annual wage: $34320Skincare Specialists - Projected growth 2024–2034 (%): 6.7% · Median annual wage: $45330Personal Care and Se… - Projected growth 2024–2034 (%): 6.4% · Median annual wage: $41600Tour and Travel Guides - Projected growth 2024–2034 (%): 8.1% · Median annual wage: $38120Concierges - Projected growth 2024–2034 (%): 2.3% · Median annual wage: $38950Funeral Attendants - Projected growth 2024–2034 (%): 3.1% · Median annual wage: $35680Baggage Porters and … - Projected growth 2024–2034 (%): -1.6% · Median annual wage: $37080First-Line Superviso… - Projected growth 2024–2034 (%): 2% · Median annual wage: $63820Morticians, Undertak… - Projected growth 2024–2034 (%): 3.1% · Median annual wage: $55010Animal Trainers - Projected growth 2024–2034 (%): 5.1% · Median annual wage: $39990Locker Room, Coatroo… - Projected growth 2024–2034 (%): 6.4% · Median annual wage: $36300Barbers - Projected growth 2024–2034 (%): 4.1% · Median annual wage: $38210Gambling Service Wor… - Projected growth 2024–2034 (%): -0.6% · Median annual wage: $36310
Among 24 39-series occupations with growth data, Morticians, Undertakers, and Funeral Arrangers sits on the slower-growing side at +3.1% growth and $55,010 median pay.
Read the chart as text
  • Childcare Workers: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) -2.9%, Median annual wage $34980
  • Amusement and Recrea…: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 3.4%, Median annual wage $32150
  • Recreation Workers: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 4.1%, Median annual wage $36560
  • Exercise Trainers an…: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 11.9%, Median annual wage $47160
  • Hairdressers, Hairst…: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 5.6%, Median annual wage $35790
  • Animal Caretakers: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 12.1%, Median annual wage $35360
  • Manicurists and Pedi…: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 7%, Median annual wage $35760
  • Ushers, Lobby Attend…: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 1.2%, Median annual wage $32910
  • First-Line Superviso…: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 6.7%, Median annual wage $48590
  • First-Line Superviso…: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 6.3%, Median annual wage $48560
  • Residential Advisors: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 3.8%, Median annual wage $42240
  • Gambling Dealers: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) -0.6%, Median annual wage $34320
  • Skincare Specialists: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 6.7%, Median annual wage $45330
  • Personal Care and Se…: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 6.4%, Median annual wage $41600
  • Tour and Travel Guides: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 8.1%, Median annual wage $38120
  • Concierges: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 2.3%, Median annual wage $38950
  • Funeral Attendants: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 3.1%, Median annual wage $35680
  • Baggage Porters and …: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) -1.6%, Median annual wage $37080
  • First-Line Superviso…: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 2%, Median annual wage $63820
  • Morticians, Undertak…: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 3.1%, Median annual wage $55010
  • Animal Trainers: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 5.1%, Median annual wage $39990
  • Locker Room, Coatroo…: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 6.4%, Median annual wage $36300
  • Barbers: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 4.1%, Median annual wage $38210
  • Gambling Service Wor…: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) -0.6%, Median annual wage $36310

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS (wages, May 2025) and Employment Projections (2024–2034).

Job Outlook (2024–2034)

Projected Growth

+3.1%

About as fast as average

Annual Openings

3,200

per year (projected)

Employment Change

+800

27,500 (2024) → 28,400 (2034)

Typical Education

Associate's degree

On-the-Job Training

Long-term on-the-job training

Source: BLS Employment Projections, 2024–2034

Workplace Safety

All safety ratings →
Group

Personal Care and Service Occupations context

Broad SOC context, not an occupation grade

Fatality Rate

1.5/100K

Injury Rate

2/100

Danger Index

8.8/100

Source: BLS Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries (CFOI) & Survey of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses (SOII), 2023

Career Intelligence

Skills, knowledge, and tasks most important for Morticians, Undertakers, and Funeral Arrangers roles, ranked by importance. Source: O*NET.

Top Skills

Active Listening 4.1
Social Perceptiveness 4.1
Service Orientation 3.9
Speaking 3.8
Coordination 3.8
Time Management 3.4
Reading Comprehension 3.3
Writing 3.3
Critical Thinking 3.1
Persuasion 3.1

Knowledge Areas

Customer and Personal Service 4.7
English Language 3.8
Administrative 3.7
Administration and Management 3.6
Psychology 3.4
Personnel and Human Resources 3.2
Computers and Electronics 3.2
Sales and Marketing 3.1
Biology 3.1
Philosophy and Theology 3.1

Key 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.
  • Provide information on funeral service options, products, or merchandise, and maintain a casket display area.
  • Offer counsel and comfort to bereaved families or friends.

Source: O*NET Online, National Center for O*NET Development. Data represents typical importance ratings for this occupation.

Salary Range

Annual Salary Distribution

10th$33,350
25th$42,430
Median$55,010
75th$72,010
90th$88,620

Hourly Rate Distribution

10th$16.03
25th$20.40
Median$26.45
75th$34.62
90th$42.61

Morticians, Undertakers, and Funeral Arrangers pay history, 2015–2025

Published national median across 11 BLS OEWS releases. Nominal dollars, not inflation-adjusted.

$48,000$50,000$52,000$54,000$56,000 20152016201720182019202020212022202320242025 National median - 2015: $48,490National median - 2016: $50,090National median - 2017: $51,850National median - 2018: $52,650National median - 2019: $54,150National median - 2020: $54,100National median - 2021: $48,950National median - 2022: $51,570National median - 2023: $51,030National median - 2024: $49,800National median - 2025: $55,010$55,010
National median annual wage for Morticians, Undertakers, and Funeral Arrangers, May 2015 to May 2025 OEWS releases
Read the chart as text
Period National median
2015 $48,490
2016 $50,090
2017 $51,850
2018 $52,650
2019 $54,150
2020 $54,100
2021 $48,950
2022 $51,570
2023 $51,030
2024 $49,800
2025 $55,010

2015 median

$48,490

2025 median

$55,010

2019–2025 change (same SOC)

+$860 (+1.6%)

Avg/year (same SOC)

+0.3%

Published national median annual wage and estimated employment for Morticians, Undertakers, and Funeral Arrangers by OEWS release year
Release Median Change Estimated jobs
May 2015 $48,490 First banked release 25,470
May 2016 $50,090 +3.3% 25,850
May 2017 $51,850 +3.5% 25,460
May 2018 $52,650 +1.5% 25,740
May 2019 $54,150 Classification break 25,440
May 2020 $54,100 -0.1% 24,560
May 2021 $48,950 -9.5% 24,700
May 2022 $51,570 +5.4% 23,940
May 2023 $51,030 -1.0% 24,200
May 2024 $49,800 -2.4% 25,700
May 2025 $55,010 +10.5% 25,100

Across the 11 releases WageDex holds for this occupation, the published national median went from $48,490 in May 2015 to $55,010 in May 2025. Within the SOC-2018 classification (2019–2025), the like-for-like change averages +0.3% per year in nominal terms. Within the same SOC classification, estimated employment went from 25,440 in May 2019 to 25,100 in May 2025.

Each figure is a separate BLS survey estimate, so a change between releases reflects the estimated occupation-wide median in each year. It is not the raise any individual worker received, and it is not adjusted for inflation. Years where BLS did not publish an annual median for this occupation are omitted rather than filled in. This span also crosses a classification change: releases before May 2019 use the 2010 Standard Occupational Classification and later releases use the 2018 SOC, so figures either side of that boundary are not strictly like-for-like. Headline change rates on this page use only the same-classification subset.

Salary by State

View all 49 states →
# State Median Salary vs National
1 Delaware $81,530 +48% above national
2 Utah $72,800 +32% above national
3 Illinois $69,600 +27% above national
4 New Jersey $69,110 +26% above national
5 Nebraska $64,310 +17% above national
6 Iowa $63,700 +16% above national
7 Pennsylvania $63,580 +16% above national
8 New York $63,090 +15% above national
9 Massachusetts $62,120 +13% above national
10 Indiana $60,890 +11% above national
11 Maine $60,880 +11% above national
12 Colorado $60,850 +11% above national
13 North Carolina $60,730 +10% above national
14 Michigan $60,450 +10% above national
15 Idaho $60,250 +10% above national
16 North Dakota $59,760 +9% above national
17 Connecticut $59,710 +9% above national
18 Washington $59,700 +9% above national
19 Kansas $58,580 +6% above national
20 Wisconsin $58,250 +6% above national
21 Maryland $58,060 +6% above national
22 Ohio $57,800 +5% above national
23 New Hampshire $57,630 +5% above national
24 Wyoming $55,570 +1% above national
25 Rhode Island $55,420 +1% above national
26 California $50,750 8% below national
27 New Mexico $50,380 8% below national
28 Georgia $49,990 9% below national
29 Minnesota $49,760 10% below national
30 Vermont $48,740 11% below national
31 Oregon $48,630 12% below national
32 Florida $48,510 12% below national
33 Mississippi $48,350 12% below national
34 West Virginia $47,960 13% below national
35 South Dakota $47,840 13% below national
36 Oklahoma $47,780 13% below national
37 Louisiana $46,730 15% below national
38 Texas $46,630 15% below national
39 Hawaii $46,310 16% below national
40 Tennessee $46,180 16% below national
41 Alabama $44,930 18% below national
42 Nevada $43,940 20% below national
43 Montana $43,680 21% below national
44 Kentucky $43,320 21% below national
45 Missouri $42,940 22% below national
46 Arizona $41,870 24% below national
47 South Carolina $40,020 27% below national
48 Arkansas $36,120 34% below national
49 Puerto Rico $25,630 53% below national

Salary by Metro Area

View all 130 metro areas →
# Metro Area Median Salary vs National
1 Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN $81,440 +48% above national
2 Waterbury-Shelton, CT $78,280 +42% above national
3 Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD $75,470 +37% above national
4 Provo-Orem-Lehi, UT $74,780 +36% above national
5 Salt Lake City-Murray, UT $74,610 +36% above national
6 Ogden, UT $73,970 +34% above national
7 New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ $72,860 +32% above national
8 Stockton-Lodi, CA $70,830 +29% above national
9 Cedar Rapids, IA $70,280 +28% above national
10 Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA $70,100 +27% above national
11 Omaha, NE-IA $69,900 +27% above national
12 Reading, PA $66,470 +21% above national
13 Lancaster, PA $65,250 +19% above national
14 York-Hanover, PA $64,910 +18% above national
15 Harrisburg-Carlisle, PA $64,450 +17% above national
16 Durham-Chapel Hill, NC $63,450 +15% above national
17 San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA $63,160 +15% above national
18 Lincoln, NE $63,130 +15% above national
19 Grand Rapids-Wyoming-Kentwood, MI $63,010 +15% above national
20 Saginaw, MI $62,800 +14% above national
21 Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL $62,580 +14% above national
22 Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH $62,540 +14% above national
23 Pittsburgh, PA $62,450 +14% above national
24 Asheville, NC $62,380 +13% above national
25 Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI $62,190 +13% above national
26 Scranton--Wilkes-Barre, PA $62,040 +13% above national
27 Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY $61,940 +13% above national
28 Springfield, MA $61,640 +12% above national
29 Fort Wayne, IN $61,630 +12% above national
30 Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO $61,430 +12% above national
31 Winston-Salem, NC $61,030 +11% above national
32 Flint, MI $60,920 +11% above national
33 Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood, IN $60,900 +11% above national
34 Greensboro-High Point, NC $60,780 +10% above national
35 Lansing-East Lansing, MI $60,540 +10% above national
36 Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV $60,440 +10% above national
37 Boise City, ID $60,370 +10% above national
38 San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA $60,310 +10% above national
39 Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY $60,130 +9% above national
40 Yakima, WA $60,130 +9% above national
41 Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA $60,120 +9% above national
42 Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ $59,990 +9% above national
43 Rochester, NY $59,950 +9% above national
44 Oklahoma City, OK $59,940 +9% above national
45 Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford, CT $59,920 +9% above national
46 Lynchburg, VA $59,870 +9% above national
47 Columbus, OH $59,480 +8% above national
48 Richmond, VA $59,340 +8% above national
49 Colorado Springs, CO $58,690 +7% above national
50 Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN $58,510 +6% above national
51 Madison, WI $58,250 +6% above national
52 Akron, OH $58,090 +6% above national
53 Albuquerque, NM $58,090 +6% above national
54 Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC $58,070 +6% above national
55 Canton-Massillon, OH $57,770 +5% above national
56 Bridgeport-Stamford-Danbury, CT $57,740 +5% above national
57 Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI $57,650 +5% above national
58 Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD $57,520 +5% above national
59 Toledo, OH $57,500 +5% above national
60 Hagerstown-Martinsburg, MD-WV $57,260 +4% above national
61 Wichita, KS $56,710 +3% above national
62 Roanoke, VA $56,370 +2% above national
63 Cape Coral-Fort Myers, FL $56,210 +2% above national
64 Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA $55,660 +1% above national
65 Providence-Warwick, RI-MA $55,380 +1% above national
66 Cleveland, OH $54,510 1% below national
67 Huntington-Ashland, WV-KY-OH $52,660 4% below national
68 Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA $52,660 4% below national
69 Lubbock, TX $52,270 5% below national
70 Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI $52,090 5% below national
71 Lakeland-Winter Haven, FL $51,520 6% below national
72 Lake Charles, LA $51,380 7% below national
73 Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA $50,700 8% below national
74 Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford, FL $50,530 8% below national
75 Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA $50,490 8% below national
76 Gulfport-Biloxi, MS $50,080 9% below national
77 Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA $49,930 9% below national
78 Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX $49,880 9% below national
79 Augusta-Richmond County, GA-SC $49,610 10% below national
80 St. Louis, MO-IL $49,280 10% below national
81 Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL $49,190 11% below national
82 Tulsa, OK $49,180 11% below national
83 Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN $49,080 11% below national
84 San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA $49,070 11% below national
85 North Port-Bradenton-Sarasota, FL $48,940 11% below national
86 Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA $48,830 11% below national
87 Modesto, CA $48,650 12% below national
88 St. Cloud, MN $48,580 12% below national
89 Bakersfield-Delano, CA $48,540 12% below national
90 Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL $48,540 12% below national
91 Ocala, FL $48,480 12% below national
92 Youngstown-Warren, OH $48,350 12% below national
93 Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX $48,140 12% below national
94 Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN $48,140 12% below national
95 Columbia, SC $48,130 13% below national
96 Macon-Bibb County, GA $48,040 13% below national
97 Fresno, CA $48,010 13% below national
98 Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX $47,990 13% below national
99 Sioux Falls, SD-MN $47,990 13% below national
100 San Antonio-New Braunfels, TX $47,760 13% below national
101 Jacksonville, FL $47,620 13% below national
102 Duluth, MN-WI $47,200 14% below national
103 Beaumont-Port Arthur, TX $47,030 15% below national
104 Baton Rouge, LA $47,000 15% below national
105 Memphis, TN-MS-AR $46,970 15% below national
106 Jackson, MS $46,800 15% below national
107 Urban Honolulu, HI $46,310 16% below national
108 Kansas City, MO-KS $46,270 16% below national
109 Deltona-Daytona Beach-Ormond Beach, FL $46,240 16% below national
110 Columbus, GA-AL $46,210 16% below national
111 Chattanooga, TN-GA $46,200 16% below national
112 Odessa, TX $45,960 16% below national
113 Mobile, AL $45,880 17% below national
114 Reno, NV $45,780 17% below national
115 Port St. Lucie, FL $45,640 17% below national
116 Kingsport-Bristol, TN-VA $45,440 17% below national
117 Gainesville, FL $45,020 18% below national
118 Birmingham, AL $44,930 18% below national
119 Greenville-Anderson-Greer, SC $43,810 20% below national
120 Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ $43,330 21% below national
121 El Paso, TX $39,190 29% below national
122 Las Vegas-Henderson-North Las Vegas, NV $38,390 30% below national
123 Fayetteville-Springdale-Rogers, AR $38,200 31% below national
124 Tucson, AZ $38,050 31% below national
125 Charleston-North Charleston, SC $37,980 31% below national
126 Little Rock-North Little Rock-Conway, AR $36,120 34% below national
127 Spartanburg, SC $35,830 35% below national
128 Jefferson City, MO $35,450 36% below national
129 Springfield, MO $35,310 36% below national
130 Florence, SC $32,980 40% below national

Same SOC major group

Other detailed occupations in SOC major group 39 (Personal Care and Service Occupations) - category peers, not a pay match.

Showing 5 of 31 detailed occupations BLS assigns to this SOC major group.

Nationwide occupations with similar pay or employment scale

Two OEWS peer sets outside this SOC major group (Personal Care and Service Occupations). Same-category cards above stay inside the group; these neighborhoods are cross-group nearest neighbors on national median pay ($55,010 here) and reported employment (25,100 jobs here).

Peers are nearest-neighbor matches on BLS OEWS national median annual wage and reported employment. Employment peers exclude occupations already listed in the pay column so the two link sets stay distinct.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much do Morticians, Undertakers, and Funeral Arrangers make?
The median annual salary for Morticians, Undertakers, and Funeral Arrangers is $55,010 ($26.45/hour). The salary range spans from $33,350 at the 10th percentile to $88,620 at the 90th percentile.
Where does Morticians, Undertakers, and Funeral Arrangers pay rank nationally?
At a published national median of $55,010, Morticians, Undertakers, and Funeral Arrangers pay is higher than 40% of the 825 detailed occupations with a published BLS annual median in the May 2025 OEWS release. This compares occupation-level medians, not individual workers, job offers, or this occupation's own worker pay-percentile range.
What state pays Morticians, Undertakers, and Funeral Arrangers the most?
Delaware pays the highest median salary for Morticians, Undertakers, and Funeral Arrangers at $81,530/year, which is +48% above the national median.
What education do Morticians, Undertakers, and Funeral Arrangers need?
BLS assigns Morticians, Undertakers, and Funeral Arrangers to Associate's degree for typical education needed for entry. Typical on-the-job training assignment: Long-term on-the-job training.
Does BLS publish a safety rate for Morticians, Undertakers, and Funeral Arrangers?
BLS does not publish a separate occupation-specific fatality and injury rate for Morticians, Undertakers, and Funeral Arrangers in this release. WageDex shows the Personal Care and Service Occupations SOC-group rate only as broad context and does not rank it as this occupation's measured rate.
Is Morticians, Undertakers, and Funeral Arrangers a good career?
Employment for Morticians, Undertakers, and Funeral Arrangers is projected to grow 3.1% from 2024 to 2034, which is about as fast as average. About 3,200 openings are projected each year.
How does Morticians, Undertakers, and Funeral Arrangers pay vary by state?
Morticians, Undertakers, and Funeral Arrangers salaries vary significantly by state. The highest-paying state is Delaware at $81,530/year, while Puerto Rico pays the least at $25,630/year. BLS data covers 49 states and territories.
Which metro areas pay the most for Morticians, Undertakers, and Funeral Arrangers?
The highest published metropolitan-area median in this ranking is Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN at $81,440/year. BLS reports a median for 130 metropolitan areas for this occupation. The ranking does not establish why values differ.

What to do with this data

How to use Morticians, Undertakers, and Funeral Arrangers pay figures in a real decision

  • The 75th-percentile wage is about $72,010/year. Treat it as the upper-quartile market boundary, not an automatic target for experience alone; role scope, location, industry, credentials, performance, and employer context still need separate evidence. Salary calculator
  • Location moves pay significantly: Delaware leads at $81,530/year for this role. Weigh state pay against local cost of living before relocating or negotiating remote. Pay by state
  • Compare this occupation against similar roles before you decide, so you are reading the pay band in context rather than in isolation. Compare jobs

These are BLS survey estimates for the occupation, not a salary offer or a prediction for any individual. Your pay depends on experience, employer, exact role, and location.

Data as of May 2025. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).

Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 annual release. Employment projections from BLS Employment Projections program, 2024–2034. Data reflects cross-industry estimates for all ownership types.

These are survey estimates for the occupation, not a salary offer or a prediction for any individual. See how to use them.

Source data and WageDex calculations are identified in context on this page. Occupation wages use BLS OEWS May 2025; outlook uses BLS Employment Projections for 2024–2034; safety, skills, knowledge, and task panels identify their BLS or O*NET sources in context. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.

This page is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial or career advice. Actual pay for a specific role, employer, or offer may differ from these national/state figures, consult a qualified career counselor, recruiter, or financial advisor before making decisions based on this data.