Jobs Similar to Embalmers
The careers below use the most similar skills, knowledge and work activities to embalmers, according to O*NET 31.0. The closest are Animal Caretakers, Lifeguards, Ski Patrol, and Other Recreational Protective Service Workers and Animal Control Workers.
Embalmers: $58,780 median pay · usual preparation: Training or associate.
Updated October 2026 · Data: O*NET 31.0 and BLS OEWS May 2025 · How we match careers
The 20 most similar careers
| # | Career | Similarity | Median pay (vs. Embalmers) | Usual preparation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Animal Caretakers | 76% | $35,360−40% | High school |
| 2 | Lifeguards, Ski Patrol, and Other Recreational Protective Service Workers | 75% | $33,580−43% | High school |
| 3 | Animal Control Workers | 75% | $45,660−22% | High school |
| 4 | Veterinary Assistants and Laboratory Animal Caretakers | 75% | $38,150−35% | High school |
| 5 | Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses | 73% | $64,400+10% | Training or associate |
| 6 | Athletic Trainers | 73% | $62,520+6% | Graduate degree |
| 7 | Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers | 73% | $76,210+30% | Training or associate |
| 8 | Physical Therapist Aides | 73% | $35,240−40% | High school |
| 9 | Veterinary Technologists and Technicians | 72% | $47,380−19% | Training or associate |
| 10 | Funeral AttendantsSame group | 72% | $35,680−39% | High school |
| 11 | Phlebotomists | 72% | $45,230−23% | Training or associate |
| 12 | Orderlies | 72% | $38,290−35% | High school |
| 13 | Ambulance Drivers and Attendants, Except Emergency Medical Technicians | 71% | $35,450−40% | High school |
| 14 | Surgical Assistants | 71% | $66,800+14% | Training or associate |
| 15 | Nursing Assistants | 71% | $42,260−28% | Training or associate |
| 16 | Fish and Game Wardens | 71% | $74,060+26% | Training or associate |
| 17 | Transit and Railroad Police | 71% | $90,230+54% | Training or associate |
| 18 | Respiratory Therapists | 71% | $82,280+40% | Training or associate |
| 19 | Nuclear Medicine Technologists | 71% | $101,370+72% | Training or associate |
| 20 | Ophthalmic Medical Technologists | 71% | $50,290Broader BLS group · not compared | Training or associate |
- 1Animal Caretakers
76% similar · $35,360 (−40%) · High school
- 2Lifeguards, Ski Patrol, and Other Recreational Protective Service Workers
75% similar · $33,580 (−43%) · High school
- 3Animal Control Workers
75% similar · $45,660 (−22%) · High school
- 4Veterinary Assistants and Laboratory Animal Caretakers
75% similar · $38,150 (−35%) · High school
- 5Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses
73% similar · $64,400 (+10%) · Training or associate
- 6Athletic Trainers
73% similar · $62,520 (+6%) · Graduate degree
- 7Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers
73% similar · $76,210 (+30%) · Training or associate
- 8Physical Therapist Aides
73% similar · $35,240 (−40%) · High school
- 9Veterinary Technologists and Technicians
72% similar · $47,380 (−19%) · Training or associate
- 10Funeral Attendants
72% similar · $35,680 (−39%) · High school · Same group
- 11Phlebotomists
72% similar · $45,230 (−23%) · Training or associate
- 12Orderlies
72% similar · $38,290 (−35%) · High school
- 13Ambulance Drivers and Attendants, Except Emergency Medical Technicians
71% similar · $35,450 (−40%) · High school
- 14Surgical Assistants
71% similar · $66,800 (+14%) · Training or associate
- 15Nursing Assistants
71% similar · $42,260 (−28%) · Training or associate
- 16Fish and Game Wardens
71% similar · $74,060 (+26%) · Training or associate
- 17Transit and Railroad Police
71% similar · $90,230 (+54%) · Training or associate
- 18Respiratory Therapists
71% similar · $82,280 (+40%) · Training or associate
- 19Nuclear Medicine Technologists
71% similar · $101,370 (+72%) · Training or associate
- 20Ophthalmic Medical Technologists
71% similar · $50,290 (broader group) · Training or associate
Similarity: weighted correlation of O*NET 31.0 transferable skills (35%), knowledge (25%), work activities (15%) and interests (15%). Pay and schooling do not change it. Pay change compares BLS May 2025 national medians; careers with only a broader BLS group wage are not compared. “Same group”: the same BLS occupation group (SOC minor group). Methodology
Similar jobs that pay more
Only careers that usually need no more preparation than embalmers.
- Nuclear Medicine Technologists71% similar · $101,370 (+72%)
- Transit and Railroad Police71% similar · $90,230 (+54%)
- Respiratory Therapists71% similar · $82,280 (+40%)
- Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers73% similar · $76,210 (+30%)
- Fish and Game Wardens71% similar · $74,060 (+26%)
- Surgical Assistants71% similar · $66,800 (+14%)
Similar jobs that need less preparation
- Animal Caretakers76% similar · High school
- Lifeguards, Ski Patrol, and Other Recreational Protective Service Workers75% similar · High school
- Animal Control Workers75% similar · High school
- Veterinary Assistants and Laboratory Animal Caretakers75% similar · High school
- Physical Therapist Aides73% similar · High school
- Funeral Attendants72% similar · High school
Thinking of a career change?
Similar is not the same as a good next step. Our career-change list for embalmers also weighs pay drops and extra schooling, and puts jobs outside the field first.
Jobs that can lead here
Careers where embalmers is one of the best career-change matches (match score in brackets).
- Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses (73)
- Phlebotomists (72)
- Veterinary Technologists and Technicians (72)
- Animal Caretakers (71)
- Nursing Assistants (71)
- Ophthalmic Medical Technologists (71)
- Animal Control Workers (70)
- Lifeguards, Ski Patrol, and Other Recreational Protective Service Workers (70)
- Paramedics (70)
- Surgical Assistants (70)
Questions about jobs like embalmers
What jobs are most similar to embalmers?
By O*NET 31.0 data, the closest are Animal Caretakers (76% similar), Lifeguards, Ski Patrol, and Other Recreational Protective Service Workers (75% similar), Animal Control Workers (75% similar), Veterinary Assistants and Laboratory Animal Caretakers (75% similar) and Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses (73% similar).
Which jobs like embalmers pay more?
Among the 20 most similar careers, Nuclear Medicine Technologists ($101,370, +72%; usually training or an associate degree), Transit and Railroad Police ($90,230, +54%; usually training or an associate degree) and Respiratory Therapists ($82,280, +40%; usually training or an associate degree) have the highest BLS median pay compared with embalmers ($58,780). Without more preparation than embalmers usually need: Nuclear Medicine Technologists, Transit and Railroad Police and Respiratory Therapists.
How is the similarity percentage worked out?
We compare how important each transferable skill, knowledge area, work activity and interest area is in both jobs (O*NET 31.0 ratings) with a weighted correlation. 100% would mean the same profile. Unlike our career-change matches, pay and extra schooling do not lower the similarity on this page.