Life As a Funeral Attendant
Position Description 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.
A Day in the Life of a Funeral Attendant
- Arrange floral offerings or lights around caskets.
- Greet people at the funeral home.
- Embalm, dress, cosmeticize, and casket the deceased.
- Assist with cremations and the processing and packaging of cremated remains.
- Place caskets in parlors or chapels prior to wakes or funerals.
- Perform general maintenance tasks for funeral homes, such as maintaining equipment or caring for funeral grounds.
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What Skills Do You Need to Work as a Funeral Attendant?
When polled, Funeral Attendants say the following skills are most frequently used in their jobs:
Social Perceptiveness: Being aware of others’ reactions and understanding why they react as they do.
Service Orientation: Actively looking for ways to help people.
Speaking: Talking to others to convey information effectively.
Monitoring: Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
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.
Coordination: Adjusting actions in relation to others’ actions.
Related Job Titles for this Occupation:
- Funeral Greeter
- Crematory Operator
- Funeral Assistant
- Family Services Assistant (FSA)
- Funeral Attendant
Funeral Attendant Job Outlook
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. There will be an estimated 5,600 positions for Funeral Attendant per 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.
How Much Does a Funeral Attendant Make?
The salary for Funeral Attendants ranges between about $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 |
Tools & Technologies Used by Funeral Attendants
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 to Become a Funeral Attendant
What education or degrees do I need to become a Funeral Attendant?

How many years of work experience do I need?

Who Employs Funeral Attendants?

Below are examples of industries where Funeral Attendants work:

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Are you already one of the many Funeral Attendant in the United States? If you’re thinking about changing careers, these fields are worth exploring:
References:
More about our data sources and methodologies.
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