Funeral Attendants
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.
Also called: Cemetery Services Specialist, Funeral Assistant, Funeral Associate, Funeral Attendant, Funeral Director, Funeral Greeter
Median pay
$35,680
per year, U.S.
Pay range (10th–90th)
$28,070 – $48,460
People employed
31,090
Holland code
RCS
Realistic · Conventional · Social
Updated October 2026 · Data: O*NET 31.0 and BLS OEWS May 2025 · How we match careers
Is this career right for you?
These are the things that stand out in this job compared with other U.S. jobs (O*NET 31.0 work context). Answer honestly.
- 1.Do you want variety, with new tasks often?
- 2.Are you comfortable following clear instructions?
- 3.Do you want to stay at 40 hours a week or less?
- 4.Are you OK with hours that change?
- 5.Do you prefer doing your own work rather than directing others?
The hard parts
- Tight deadlines are common
Funeral Attendants pay by state
Highest-paying states
Annual median pay by state (48 states with published data). Source: BLS OEWS May 2025.
What funeral attendants do
- 01Embalm, dress, cosmeticize, and casket the deceased.
- 02Prepare obituaries for newspapers.
- 03Obtain burial permits and register deaths.
- 04Transport the deceased to the funeral home.
- 05Obtain doctors' signatures on death certificate and complete other paperwork, such as insurance claims forms.
- 06Greet people at the funeral home.
Skills that matter most
- Active Listening
- Speaking
- Monitoring
- Reading Comprehension
- Critical Thinking
- Writing
Knowledge
- Customer and Personal Service
- English Language
- Administrative
- Transportation
- Computers and Electronics
Work styles that stand out
- Dependability
- Attention to Detail
- Integrity
- Cooperation
- Self-Control
Education and first steps
Share of workers by required education, as reported to O*NET.
How people get started
- Usually needs a high school diploma (O*NET Job Zone 2).
- Related work experience: none.
- On-the-job training: anything beyond short demonstration, up to and including 1 month.
Most common answers from O*NET 31.0 Education, Training and Experience.
Interest fit (Holland code)
O*NET occupational interest scores, scale 1–7. Take the Free Career Test to compare with your own.
Career changes
Change from funeral attendants
- Baggage Porters and Bellhops83% · +4%
- Orderlies81% · +7%
- Parking Attendants80% · −1%
- Ushers, Lobby Attendants, and Ticket Takers79% · −8%
- Couriers and Messengers76% · +10%
Change into funeral attendants
Jobs whose skills carry over best (skill match, their median pay).
- Parking Attendants80% · $35,150
- Baggage Porters and Bellhops79% · $37,080
- Couriers and Messengers76% · $39,200
- Locker Room, Coatroom, and Dressing Room Attendants75% · $36,300
- Orderlies74% · $38,290