Funeral service managers: Salary, career path, job outlook, education and more

Funeral service managers oversee the general operations of a funeral home business. They perform a wide variety of duties, such as planning and allocating the resources of the funeral home, managing staff, and handling marketing and public relations.

Education Required
An associates degree in funeral service or mortuary science is the typical education requirement for all funeral service workers. Courses taken usually include those covering the topics of ethics, grief counseling, funeral service, and business law. All accredited programs also include courses in embalming and restorative techniques.
Training Required
Those studying to be funeral directors and morticians must complete training, usually lasting 1 to 3 years, under the direction of a licensed funeral director or manager. The training, sometimes called an internship or an apprenticeship, may be completed before, during, or after graduating from a 2-year funeral service or mortuary science program and passing a national board exam.
Job Outlook
The projected percent change in employment from 2016 to 2026: 5% (As fast as average)
(The average growth rate for all occupations is 7 percent.)
Licenses/Certifications
Most workers must be licensed in Washington, DC and every state in which they work, except Colorado, which offers a voluntary certification program. Although licensing laws and examinations vary by state, most applicants must meet the following criteria:
Median pay: How much do Funeral Service Workers make?
$54,830 Annual Salary
$26.36 per hour

Careers for Funeral Service Workers

  • Certified morticians
  • Funeral arrangement directors
  • Funeral arrangers
  • Funeral directors
  • Funeral directors and morticians
  • Funeral home directors
  • Funeral managers
  • Licensed funeral directors
  • Morticians
  • Undertakers

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