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Funeral Homes and Death Care Services
Service Corporation International, Carriage Services, StoneMor
Embalmers
Embalmers prepare bodies for viewing and burial by preserving tissue, restoring appearance, and handling the careful details that come with death care. The work is distinctive because it mixes technical preservation, cosmetic presentation, and family-facing service, and the main tradeoff is that the job is both emotionally demanding and highly regulated while the field itself grows slowly.
Also known as Licensed EmbalmerFuneral EmbalmerMortuary EmbalmerEmbalming TechnicianApprentice Embalmer
Median Salary
$56,280
Mean $57,520
U.S. Workforce
~3K
0.6K openings per year
10-Year Growth
+1.3%
3.6K to 3.7K
Entry Education
Associate's degree
+ None experience
What This Role Looks Like in Practice
Embalmers sits in the Healthcare category. In practical terms, this role combines day-to-day execution, cross-team coordination, and consistent decision-making under real business constraints.
U.S. employment is currently about ~3K workers, with a median annual pay of $56,280 and roughly 0.6K openings each year. Based on BLS projections, total employment is expected to grow from 3.6 K in 2024 to 3.7K in 2034.
Most hiring paths start with Associate's degree in mortuary science, and employers typically expect none of related experience. Many careers in this track begin around Funeral Service Assistant and can progress toward Funeral Home Manager. High-value skills usually include Family Communication & Arrangement Interviews, Active Listening During Family Consultations, and Embalming Instruments, Fluids & Preservation Methods, paired with soft skills such as Speaking, Active Listening, and Social Perceptiveness.
Core Responsibilities
- Prepare the body for viewing by washing, dressing, and applying makeup so the person looks natural and peaceful.
- Use embalming tools and preservation chemicals to slow decomposition and replace body fluids safely.
- Make sure the work follows health, sanitation, and licensing rules so the preparation is legally correct.
- Set up the viewing space by arranging the casket, flowers, seating, and procession details.
Keep exploring: more Healthcare careers or browse all job titles.
A Day in the Life
01 Prepare the body for viewing by washing, dressing, and applying makeup so the person looks natural and peaceful.
02 Use embalming tools and preservation chemicals to slow decomposition and replace body fluids safely.
03 Make sure the work follows health, sanitation, and licensing rules so the preparation is legally correct.
04 Set up the viewing space by arranging the casket, flowers, seating, and procession details.
05 Keep detailed records of the person being prepared, including clothing, valuables, and other items received with the body.
06 Work with funeral home staff on transfer, placement, and other logistics that have to be handled carefully and respectfully.
Industries That Hire
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Cremation and Memorial Services
Neptune Society, National Cremation Society, Dignity Memorial
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Medical Examiner and Coroner Offices
New York City Office of Chief Medical Examiner, Los Angeles County Department of Medical Examiner-Coroner, King County Medical Examiner's Office
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Funeral Supply and Casket Manufacturing
Matthews International, Batesville, Wilbert Funeral Services
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Mortuary Science Education
Cypress College, Pittsburgh Institute of Mortuary Science, American Academy McAllister Institute
Pros and Cons
Advantages
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The pay is fairly solid for a specialized role, with a mean annual wage of $57,520 and a median of $56,280 for work that usually starts with an associate's degree.
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The job uses a real technical craft, so people who get good at restoration, sanitation, and presentation can become the go-to person in a local funeral home.
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You do work that families can see immediately, which can make the job feel concrete and meaningful when a difficult situation is handled well.
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The role usually does not require prior work experience, so it can be a direct entry into a specialized career after school and training.
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Even with slow growth, there are still about 0.6K annual openings, so replacement hiring can create steady opportunities.
Challenges
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Growth is only 1.3% through 2034, so this is a slow-moving field rather than a path with lots of expansion.
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There are only about 3,420 jobs in the occupation, which makes the field small and can limit where you can live and how far you can advance without moving.
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The work can be emotionally draining because it involves death, grieving families, and a constant need to stay calm and respectful.
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It is physically and mentally exacting, with body handling, chemical exposure, strict sanitation rules, and detailed records all part of the job.
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A structural challenge is that more families are choosing direct cremation or simpler services, which can reduce demand for traditional embalming work over time.
Career Progression
Funeral Service Assistant
0-2 years
$32K-$40K
Supports transfers, set-up, and basic funeral home tasks while learning the flow of the business.
Embalmer Apprentice
1-3 years
$40K-$49K
Learns preservation methods, sanitation, and documentation under direct supervision.
Embalmer THIS ROLE
3-7 years
$52K-$61K
Handles routine embalming, cosmetic preparation, and records work independently, with the role's median pay sitting in this range.
Senior Embalmer / Restorative Art Lead
7-12 years
$62K-$76K
Takes on more complex restoration cases, trains junior staff, and helps manage quality standards.
Funeral Home Manager
10+ years
$78K-$95K
Oversees staffing, compliance, service quality, and day-to-day operations across the funeral home.
Education Paths
Associate's degree in mortuary science
The main entry point, held by 86.37% of workers in the education distribution, and usually paired with the hands-on training needed for licensure.
Bachelor's degree in mortuary science, biology, or a related field
An alternative route, held by 13.63% of workers in the education distribution, often used by people who want broader management or technical options later on.
State embalmer license plus long-term apprenticeship or on-the-job training
A realistic non-degree path in some states, especially for people who start in a funeral home and learn the technical work under supervision.
Key Skills
Technical
Family Communication & Arrangement Interviews 78%
Active Listening During Family Consultations 76%
Embalming Instruments, Fluids & Preservation Methods 68%
Restorative Cosmetics, Dressing & Presentation 66%
Funeral Compliance, Sanitation & Licensing Rules 64%
Death Care Records & Chain-of-Custody Documentation 62%
Soft Skills
SpeakingActive ListeningSocial PerceptivenessService OrientationCritical ThinkingTime Management Job Outlook and Trends
+1.3%
Projected growth (2024-2034)
0.6K
Annual job openings
Employment is projected to rise from 3.6K to 3.7 K over the next decade, representing 1.3% growth. Around 0.6 K openings per year include both newly created roles and replacement hiring from turnover.
Remote availability is currently Rare. Demand remains strongest where employers need practical domain knowledge plus modern workflow and data skills.