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Funeral Home Chains
Service Corporation International, Carriage Services, Park Lawn Corporation
Funeral Home Managers
Funeral home managers run both the people side and the business side of a funeral home. They meet with grieving families, handle legal paperwork, and supervise staff while keeping the operation organized and profitable. The job stands out because it demands calm, empathy, and strict attention to rules at the same time.
Also known as Funeral DirectorFuneral Home DirectorMortuary ManagerFuneral Service ManagerLicensed Funeral Director
Median Salary
$76,830
Mean $85,650
U.S. Workforce
~13K
2.6K openings per year
10-Year Growth
+4.1%
32.1K to 33.4K
Entry Education
Associate's degree
+ Less than 5 years experience
What This Role Looks Like in Practice
Funeral Home Managers sits in the Business 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 ~13K workers, with a median annual pay of $76,830 and roughly 2.6K openings each year. Based on BLS projections, total employment is expected to grow from 32.1 K in 2024 to 33.4K in 2034.
Most hiring paths start with Associate's degree in mortuary science or a related field, and employers typically expect less than 5 years of related experience. Many careers in this track begin around Funeral Assistant and can progress toward Owner or General Manager. High-value skills usually include State Death Certificates & Vital Records Processing, Funeral Home Case Management Software, and Staff Scheduling, Payroll & HR Systems, paired with soft skills such as Service Orientation, Active Listening, and Social Perceptiveness.
Core Responsibilities
- Meet with families to plan services, choose casket or urn options, and help write obituary details.
- Prepare and track official paperwork, including death certificates, inventory logs, and other required records.
- Supervise embalmers, attendants, clerks, and other staff so services are handled correctly.
- Oversee the building, office work, repairs, and other day-to-day operations of the funeral home.
Keep exploring: more Business careers or browse all job titles.
A Day in the Life
01 Meet with families to plan services, choose casket or urn options, and help write obituary details.
02 Prepare and track official paperwork, including death certificates, inventory logs, and other required records.
03 Supervise embalmers, attendants, clerks, and other staff so services are handled correctly.
04 Oversee the building, office work, repairs, and other day-to-day operations of the funeral home.
05 Review vendors and contractors to make sure their work is reliable and worth the cost.
06 Look at local business trends and market demand to help decide pricing, staffing, and service offerings.
Industries That Hire
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Cremation Services
Neptune Society, Dignity Memorial, Cremation Society of America
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Cemetery and Memorial Parks
Forest Lawn, Rose Hills Memorial Park, Everstory Partners
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Hospice and Bereavement Services
VITAS Healthcare, Gentiva, AccentCare
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Pet Loss and Memorial Services
Hartsdale Pet Crematory, Gateway Pet Memorial, Pet Meadow
Pros and Cons
Advantages
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Pay can be solid for a small-business management role, with a mean annual wage of $85,650 and a median of $76,830.
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Demand is relatively steady, with 2.6K annual openings projected and employment expected to grow 4.1% by 2034.
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The work mixes family service, operations, and leadership instead of being stuck in one narrow task all day.
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Workers can move into management with an associate's degree, less than 5 years of experience, and no formal on-the-job training requirement.
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The role gives you direct responsibility for how a business treats families during a difficult moment, which can make the work feel meaningful and concrete.
Challenges
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The job is emotionally draining because it centers on grief, urgent decisions, and families who are under pressure.
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Hours can be irregular, including evenings, weekends, and on-call situations when a death or service change happens suddenly.
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Growth is modest at 4.1%, so there are not a lot of new management seats opening up each year.
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The career ladder can be narrow unless you move into ownership or multi-location management, especially as larger chains consolidate local funeral homes.
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The work carries heavy paperwork and legal risk because mistakes on death certificates, records, or permits can cause serious delays and compliance problems.
Career Progression
Funeral Assistant
0-2 years
$28K-$38K
Supports the team with setup, transportation, paperwork, and basic family service tasks while learning the business.
Funeral Director
2-5 years
$45K-$65K
Meets with families, plans services, and handles the core coordination work behind each arrangement.
Funeral Home Manager THIS ROLE
5-10 years
$70K-$92K
Oversees staff, compliance, records, vendors, and the daily financial health of the funeral home.
Multi-Location Operations Manager
10-15 years
$92K-$120K
Manages more than one location, standardizes service quality, and watches budgets, staffing, and performance across sites.
Owner or General Manager
15+ years
$120K-$160K
Sets long-term strategy, controls major business decisions, and carries responsibility for growth, reputation, and profitability.
Education Paths
Associate's degree in mortuary science or a related field
The most common entry point, held by 49.85% of workers in the O*NET distribution.
High school diploma plus state licensure and experience
A less common route, used by 25.54% of workers, usually paired with licensing requirements and years of hands-on experience.
Post-secondary certificate in funeral service or mortuary science
Another alternative, held by 14.63% of workers, for people who want focused training without a full two-year degree.
State funeral director licensure and apprenticeship
A practical route for people who train in the field, meet state rules, and build experience before moving into management.
Key Skills
Technical
State Death Certificates & Vital Records Processing 84%
Funeral Home Case Management Software 82%
Staff Scheduling, Payroll & HR Systems 77%
Microsoft Excel, Inventory & Records Tracking 74%
Vendor Contracts, Purchasing & Cost Control 72%
Soft Skills
Service OrientationActive ListeningSocial PerceptivenessTime ManagementCritical ThinkingJudgment and Decision Making Job Outlook and Trends
+4.1%
Projected growth (2024-2034)
2.6K
Annual job openings
Employment is projected to rise from 32.1K to 33.4 K over the next decade, representing 4.1% growth. Around 2.6 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.