Morticians, Undertakers, and Funeral Arrangers

What the job really is

Perform various tasks to arrange and direct individual funeral services, such as coordinating transportation of body to mortuary, interviewing family or other authorized person to arrange details, selecting pallbearers, aiding with the selection of officials for religious rites, and providing transportation for mourners.

At a glance

• Sector: Personal Care & Service
• O*NET-SOC code: 39-4031
• O*NET job zone: 3 — medium preparation
• Work sample tasks on file: 12
• Tools and technologies listed: 12

What you actually do

Work sample tasks recorded for this occupation:

• Oversee the preparation and care of the remains of people who have died.
• Obtain information needed to complete legal documents, such as death certificates or burial permits.
• Perform embalming duties, as necessary.
• Consult with families or friends of the deceased to arrange funeral details, such as obituary notice wording, casket selection, or plans for services.
• Remove deceased remains from place of death.
• Contact cemeteries to schedule the opening and closing of graves.
• Plan, schedule, or coordinate funerals, burials, or cremations, arranging details such as floral delivery or the time and place of services.
• Close caskets and lead funeral corteges to churches or burial sites.
• Provide information on funeral service options, products, or merchandise, and maintain a casket display area.
• Offer counsel and comfort to bereaved families or friends.
• Direct preparations and shipment of bodies for out-of-state burial.
• Discuss and negotiate prearranged funerals with clients.

Tools and technology

Microsoft Access, Microsoft Excel, Microsoft Office software, Microsoft Outlook, Microsoft PowerPoint, Microsoft Word, Salesforce software, Adult trocars, Air brushes, Aneurysm needles, Angular forceps, Arm and hand positioners

What employers expect you to already be comfortable with.

Where this job leads

Related occupations — the usual moves up and sideways:

• Funeral Attendants
• Funeral Home Managers
• Embalmers
• Crematory Operators
• Home Health Aides
• Coroners
• Personal Care Aides
• First-Line Supervisors of Personal Service Workers

Getting in

O*NET assigns this occupation job zone 3 (medium preparation). The related occupations above are the realistic routes in and out.

Find openings

Browse the verified job sources directory, or explore more occupations.

Check this against the source

O*NET OnLine: Morticians, Undertakers, and Funeral Arrangers — the authoritative public-domain profile this page is derived from, including the full task list, reported skills and the wage estimates for your region.

Derived and rewritten from the public-domain O*NET database (U.S. Department of Labor / Employment and Training Administration). Figures are observations, not promises — always confirm salary, licensing and visa requirements with the employer and the relevant authority.