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Life As a Funeral Attendant
Job Description & Duties Perform variety of tasks during funeral, such as placing casket in parlor or chapel prior to service; arranging floral offerings or lights around casket; directing or escorting mourners; closing casket; and issuing and storing funeral equipment.
List of Funeral Attendant Job Duties
- Meet with family members to plan the funeral.
- Obtain doctors’ signatures on death certificate and complete other paperwork, such as insurance claims forms.
- Assist with cremations and the processing and packaging of cremated remains.
- Manage funeral home finances, including receiving payments, making bank deposits, or performing general bookkeeping duties.
- Transport the deceased to the funeral home.
- Greet people at the funeral home.
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Funeral Attendant Skills
Below is a list of the skills most Funeral Attendants say are important on the job.
Social Perceptiveness: Being aware of others’ reactions and understanding why they react as they do.
Speaking: Talking to others to convey information effectively.
Service Orientation: Actively looking for ways to help people.
Active Listening: Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
Monitoring: Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
Coordination: Adjusting actions in relation to others’ actions.
Related Job Titles
- Funeral Assistant
- Attendant
- Funeral Home Associate
- Funeral Service Attendant
- Funeral Service Apprentice
Is There Going to be Demand for Funeral Attendants?
In the United States, there were 36,100 jobs for Funeral Attendant in 2016. New jobs are being produced at a rate of 2.5% which is below the national average. The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts 900 new jobs for Funeral Attendant by 2026. Due to new job openings and attrition, there will be an average of 5,600 job openings in this field each year.
The states with the most job growth for Funeral Attendant are New Jersey, Maine, and Colorado. Watch out if you plan on working in Kansas, Illinois, or New Mexico. These states have the worst job growth for this type of profession.
Do Funeral Attendants Make A Lot Of Money?
Funeral Attendants make between $18,900 and $40,860 a year.
Funeral Attendants who work in Rhode Island, Massachusetts, or Vermont, make the highest salaries.
How much do Funeral Attendants make in different U.S. states?
| State | Annual Mean Salary |
|---|---|
| Alabama | $24,170 |
| Arizona | $29,620 |
| Arkansas | $22,180 |
| California | $37,610 |
| Colorado | $30,400 |
| Connecticut | $33,010 |
| Delaware | $35,330 |
| Florida | $25,290 |
| Georgia | $25,860 |
| Hawaii | $26,430 |
| Idaho | $35,360 |
| Illinois | $27,000 |
| Indiana | $23,460 |
| Iowa | $28,880 |
| Kansas | $24,450 |
| Kentucky | $30,670 |
| Louisiana | $22,770 |
| Maine | $26,540 |
| Maryland | $30,400 |
| Massachusetts | $42,540 |
| Michigan | $28,710 |
| Minnesota | $31,990 |
| Mississippi | $25,720 |
| Missouri | $26,360 |
| Montana | $30,050 |
| Nebraska | $30,830 |
| Nevada | $32,110 |
| New Hampshire | $34,890 |
| New Jersey | $35,150 |
| New Mexico | $28,560 |
| New York | $30,910 |
| North Carolina | $27,440 |
| North Dakota | $28,960 |
| Ohio | $27,040 |
| Oklahoma | $23,330 |
| Oregon | $34,130 |
| Pennsylvania | $29,020 |
| Rhode Island | $43,370 |
| South Carolina | $24,100 |
| South Dakota | $26,910 |
| Tennessee | $27,220 |
| Texas | $26,810 |
| Utah | $26,320 |
| Vermont | $37,600 |
| Virginia | $27,310 |
| Washington | $33,910 |
| West Virginia | $25,800 |
| Wisconsin | $28,200 |
| Wyoming | $32,920 |
What Tools & Technology do Funeral Attendants Use?
Although they’re not necessarily needed for all jobs, the following technologies are used by many Funeral Attendants:
- Microsoft Excel
- Microsoft Word
- Bookkeeping software
How do I Become a Funeral Attendant?
What kind of Funeral Attendant requirements are there?
What work experience do I need to become a Funeral Attendant?
Who Employs Funeral Attendants?
The table below shows the approximate number of Funeral Attendants employed by various industries.
You May Also Be Interested In…
Those interested in being a Funeral Attendant may also be interested in:
Career changers with experience as a Funeral Attendant sometimes find work in one of the following fields:
References:
More about our data sources and methodologies.