Funeral home workers help grieving families in their time of need. They take care of the funeral service, burial or cremation details after the death of a loved one. If you are interested in grief counseling or in the funeral services industry, becoming a funeral home worker may be an option for you. This is a job that requires a high degree of compassion, time management and interpersonal skills.

Funeral Home Worker Job Description

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, there are several different roles within the funeral home, including mortician, embalmer, funeral services manager and funeral director. Depending on their primary role, funeral home workers may work with the family of the deceased to remove their body and bring it to the funeral home. They also walk the family through the different funeral services options, in addition to offering comfort and counseling. Funeral home workers also prepare the body for burial or cremation, depending on the wishes of the deceased. In addition, they also deal with government authorities to file death certificates.

Planning a funeral, wake, burial and cremation is a difficult task, especially for grieving families. A funeral services manager helps families to plan these dates. For some clients who choose to plan their funeral before their death, a funeral home worker walks them through their options and services. A funeral director or mortician may also take on embalming bodies in order to prepare for the funeral service. They also deal with religious officials such as clergy for the burial ceremony.

Funeral Home Worker Education Requirements

In order to become a funeral home worker, you will need a degree in mortuary science or funeral services, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. It’s important to select a program that is approved by the American Board of Funeral Service Education (ABFSE). In addition to the degree, funeral home workers need to complete hands-on training and apprenticeship, which can last at least one to three years, under a licensed funeral director. They are also required to pass a national board exam in their field. Funeral home workers need to be licensed to work in their state and in Washington, D.C.

The median annual salary for a funeral service manager was $76,350 in May 2019, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. For morticians, undertakers and funeral directors, the median annual wage was $54,150 the same year. According to Indeed, a funeral home salary by hour is typically $12.90, which is 34 percent below the national average.

Funeral Home Worker Industry

The majority of funeral services workers are self-employed, while the majority of morticians, undertakers and funeral directors work in the death services industry. Most of the work they do happens within a funeral home, though they also may visit cemeteries, houses of worship and peoples' homes. Often, funeral home workers are faced with stressful timelines because they need to arrange funerals within a few days, and may also have to coordinate having multiple funerals on the same day. It’s common for funeral home employees to work evenings and weekends, in addition to weekdays, and the hours can be long and strenuous.

Funeral Home Worker Job Growth Trend