What Is a Mortician's Salary?

Morticians take care of the funeral planning so a family can properly grieve.

A mortician, also known as a funeral director, takes care of funeral arrangements for grieving families. A mortician's tasks range from embalming to transporting the body. If you are interested in becoming a mortician, you may want to know how much you can typically earn in the job.

Average Salary

The mean hourly wage for morticians was $29.04, and the mean annual wage, or average salary, was $60,390 as of May 2009, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Starting Salary

As of October 2010, morticians with less than one year of experience earned between $25,434 and $43,158, according to the PayScale website.

Employment

The death care services industry employed the largest number of morticians, at an average salary of $60,230 as of May 2009, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The other industry that employed large numbers of funeral directors was the federal executive branch, at an average salary of $70,190.

Top-Paying States

Among all states, Massachusetts had the highest average salary for morticians, at $82,780 as of May 2009, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Other states that offered high pay were New Jersey, $79,830; Rhode Island, $78,220; Delaware, $75,850; and New York, $73,800.

Job Outlook

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, national employment for funeral directors is expected to increase at a rate of 12 percent from 2008 through 2018. Job opportunities are projected to be good, especially for those with embalming experience.

References

• University of Regina: What Is the Difference Between Mean and Average?
• Bureau of Labor Statistics: Occupational Employment Statistics - Funeral Directors
• Bureau of Labor Statistics: Funeral Directors

Resources

• The National Funeral Directors Association
• The American Board of Funeral Service Education
• Bureau of Labor Statistics: Jobs in Weddings and Funerals