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Funeral Attendants: Job Description
Perform a 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.
What Tasks Do Funeral Attendants Do?
Typical responsibilities of funeral attendants span:
- Greet people at the funeral home.
- Perform a variety of tasks during funerals to assist funeral directors and to ensure that services run smoothly and as planned.
- Close caskets at appropriate point in services.
- Direct or escort mourners to parlors or chapels in which wakes or funerals are being held.
- Place caskets in parlors or chapels prior to wakes or funerals.
- Offer assistance to mourners as they enter or exit limousines.
- Clean funeral parlors or chapels.
- Arrange floral offerings or lights around caskets.
What Funeral Attendants Need to Know
Successful funeral attendants rely on a mix of skills and domain knowledge.
Key Skills
The abilities that matter most in this role, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:
Knowledge Areas
Types of Funeral Attendants Jobs
This career also goes by job titles like:
- Cemetery Services Specialist
- Funeral Assistant
- Funeral Associate
- Funeral Attendant
- Funeral Director
- Funeral Greeter
- Funeral Home Assistant
- Funeral Home Associate
Employment and Demand
The U.S. employs around 42,394 funeral attendants working in the United States today. Demand is forecast to decline by -4.0% over the projection horizon.
Salary for Funeral Attendants
| Statistic | Value |
|---|---|
| Annual median | $61,550 |
| Hourly median | $29.59 |
| 10th percentile | $43,955 |
| 25th percentile | $52,752 |
| 75th percentile | $70,347 |
| 90th percentile | $79,145 |
Wages vary widely based on experience, location, and industry.
How Much Do Funeral Attendants Make in Different U.S. States?
| State | Annual median salary |
|---|---|
| New Hampshire | $53,420 |
| New Jersey | $45,290 |
| Delaware | $45,140 |
| Massachusetts | $43,980 |
| Connecticut | $42,730 |
| Oregon | $39,760 |
| California | $38,960 |
| Vermont | $38,860 |
| Minnesota | $38,550 |
| Washington | $38,480 |
| Utah | $38,360 |
| Colorado | $38,340 |
| Iowa | $38,260 |
| Rhode Island | $38,110 |
| New York | $37,900 |
| Nevada | $37,810 |
| Maine | $37,790 |
| Missouri | $37,410 |
| Maryland | $35,690 |
| Wisconsin | $35,610 |
| Idaho | $35,610 |
| North Dakota | $35,610 |
| Montana | $35,410 |
| Virginia | $34,400 |
| Pennsylvania | $34,370 |
| Indiana | $34,330 |
| Arkansas | $34,150 |
| Arizona | $34,060 |
| Hawaii | $33,780 |
| North Carolina | $33,650 |
| New Mexico | $33,570 |
| Florida | $33,520 |
| Illinois | $32,880 |
| South Dakota | $31,830 |
| Wyoming | $31,510 |
| Nebraska | $31,510 |
| Ohio | $31,430 |
| Georgia | $30,770 |
| South Carolina | $30,650 |
| Oklahoma | $30,330 |
| Kansas | $30,010 |
| Michigan | $29,940 |
| Louisiana | $29,730 |
| Texas | $29,620 |
| Alabama | $29,260 |
| West Virginia | $28,880 |
| Tennessee | $28,840 |
| Mississippi | $28,620 |
| Kentucky | $28,150 |
| Puerto Rico | $21,210 |
Pay by U.S. Region
Compensation for funeral attendants differ across the country. These regions lead on median pay:
| Region | Median annual wage | Share of U.S. jobs | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|
| New England | $42,846 | 5.0% | 1.12 |
| Far Western US | $38,906 | 5.9% | 0.40 |
| Middle Atlantic | $37,572 | 14.6% | 1.06 |
| Rocky Mountains | $36,465 | 2.1% | 0.76 |
| Plains States | $35,866 | 8.8% | 1.36 |
| Great Lakes | $32,279 | 19.4% | 1.46 |
| Southeast | $31,552 | 32.7% | 1.49 |
| Southwest | $30,432 | 9.9% | 0.94 |
Top Metro Areas
| Metro area | State | Median annual wage | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Manchester-Nashua, NH | NH | $56,700 | 30 |
| Atlantic City-Hammonton, NJ | NJ | $51,230 | 40 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | CA | $47,320 | 80 |
| Bridgeport-Stamford-Danbury, CT | CT | $44,680 | 90 |
| Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | MA | $44,630 | 400 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | CA | $44,240 | 180 |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | NY | $43,350 | 1,250 |
| Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford, CT | CT | $42,730 | 150 |
Which Industries Hire Funeral Attendants
The largest employers of funeral attendants work in these industries:
| Industry | Employment | Median annual wage |
|---|---|---|
| Other Services (except Public Administration) | 30,300 | $34,610 |
| Management of Companies and Enterprises | 30 | $44,190 |
The table below shows some of the most common industries where those employed in this career field work.
Tools and Technology
- Spreadsheet software: Microsoft Excel (hot technology)
- Office suite software: Microsoft Office software (hot technology)
- Word processing software: Microsoft Word (hot technology)
Work Environment
The work environment for funeral attendants is shaped by the following characteristics:
- Face-to-Face Discussions with Individuals and Within Teams
- Work With or Contribute to a Work Group or Team
- Contact With Others
- Importance of Being Exact or Accurate
- Deal With External Customers or the Public in General
How to Become Funeral Attendants
Most funeral attendants positions require a high school diploma or equivalent as the typical entry-level education. The role falls in Some Preparation Needed (Job Zone 2), indicating the level of preparation typically expected.
Other Careers to Consider
Similar Occupations
- Funeral Home Managers (Primary-Short)
- Coroners (Supplemental)
- Home Health Aides (Primary-Short)
- Personal Care Aides (Primary-Long)
- Nursing Assistants (Supplemental)
- Orderlies (Primary-Long)
- First-Line Supervisors of Housekeeping and Janitorial Workers (Supplemental)
- Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners (Supplemental)
Sources
Data on this page comes from the following authoritative sources:
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics — Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) for employment and wage data by state and industry.
- BLS Employment Projections for total employment and growth forecasts.
- O*NET (Occupational Information Network) for skills, knowledge, tasks, work activities, work context, technology, and education-zone data.
SOC code: 39-4021.00 (Funeral Attendants).
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