Embalmers: Salary, Job Description, How To Become One, and Quiz

Stan T.Career, Overview

Embalmers

Embalmers prepare bodies for interment in conformity with legal requirements.

Salary
$50220
Becoming One
Medium
Education
Associate's degree
Job Satisfaction
Job Growth

Personality
Interest Match



Job description

Embalmers prepare bodies for interment in conformity with legal requirements.

  • Dress bodies and place them in caskets.
  • Conform to laws of health and sanitation and ensure that legal requirements concerning embalming are met.
  • Close incisions, using needles and sutures.
  • Attach trocar to pump-tube, start pump, and repeat probing to force embalming fluid into organs.
Read more about what does an Embalmer really do at work and what is it like being and working as one.



Salary

Average salary
$46640 per year

Average hourly wage
$22 per hour


Embalmers with little to no experience tend to make between $25260 and $33970 while the more experienced ones can earn over $56740 per year.

Top 5 paying states Hourly Annual
NY $44 $91,760
OH $27 $56,010
MO $25 $52,810
OR $25 $51,960
CA $24 $50,280

One of the easiest ways to increase your salary as an Embalmer is to move to a higher paying state like NY. Right now, the highest paying states for Embalmers are NY, OH, MO, OR and CA.

However, a higher pay at NY doesn’t guarantee that you will make more because the living expenses at NY might be twice as high than where you are currently at now.

Three other factors that can increase your salary as an Embalmer is the degree you hold, the industry you work in, and lastly the company you work for.


Requirements

Recommended degree level
Associate’s degree

We asked other Embalmers what degree they had when they got the job and most of them said they had an Associate’s Degree followed by a Bachelor’s Degree.

Other than that, we also asked them what did they major in and here are the most popular majors that came up.

Funeral Service and Mortuary Science, General
Mortuary Science and Embalming/Embalmer
Read more about how to become an Embalmer and the degree, training and education you need.

Pros and Cons

Here are some of the pros and cons of being an Embalmer.

PROS
Suitable for people who likes practical and hands-on work
Suitable for people who wants to work in a supportive work environment
This career is perfect for people who love to work indoors.
It is not too difficult to get into this career. Previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is required for this career.
CONS
Not suitable for people who likes to work with designs
Salary is below average
Long working hours (More than 40 hours per week)
Demand for this career is declining

What is the job like

Job satisfaction
70%

Is this job meaningful
82%


70% of Embalmers said they were satisfied with their job and 82% said they feel like their job is making other people’s lives better.


Is this right for me

Best personality for this career
The Builders and The Organizers

You can read more about these career personality types here.

People who are suitable for this job tends to like work activities that include practical, hands-on problems and solutions. They like working with plants, animals, and real-world materials like wood, tools, and machinery..

They also like following set procedures and routines. They like working with data and details more than with ideas.



Learn more about Embalmers

Summary (You are here)
Job Description
Salary
Requirements
Quiz

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