There are a lot of misunderstandings regarding the persons we entrust with the care of our loved ones who have passed away.
Despite the fact that the death positivity movement has begun to transform how society views death, it remains a taboo issue.
Our collective fear of death is so strong that people can see those who labor in close contact with the dead as if they were the bodies themselves.
It is indeed a tough job, and you might wonder how much do morticians make for all these tough things they do. We will answer that question in this article.
Summary
| Guide | How Much Do Morticians Make? |
|---|---|
| Average Income | $58,000 annually |
| Highest Income | $90,000annually |
| Education Qualification | Degree or certification in funeral care or mortuary science |
| Training | Needed |
Who are Morticians?
A mortician is in charge of all elements of funerals for the deceased and their families.
Traditionally, morticians were exclusively responsible for preparing the body for burial.
However, since funeral homes have become more compact, most modern morticians now deal with the deceased’s friends and family members and prepare and manage funerals.
Morticians are now commonly referred to as funeral directors since their function has grown.
While responsibilities vary depending on the size of the funeral home, most morticians have comparable responsibilities.
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How Much Do Morticians Make?
Their Salary varies depending on their amount of experience, geography, and employer.
Morticians who work for large funeral homes are often paid more than those who work for smaller funeral firms.
The most common salary and the average salary for morticians in the United States is around $58,000 annually, which is pretty high compared to other professions.
1. How Much Do Morticians Make in an Hour?
Morticians make a minimum of $14.07 per hour and a maximum of $40.90 per hour.
2. How Much Do Morticians Make in a Month?
Morticians make a minimum of $2,814 per month and a maximum of $8,180 per month.
3. How Much Do Morticians Make in a Year?
Morticians make a minimum of $48,694 a year and a maximum of $85,144 a year.
Highest Salary of Morticians In 2023
When you are a mortician, many aspects determine your salary, and it also determines how high your salary can go.
If you are working in a small town and at a small place, your salary might not go as high as a normal mortician in a big city.
However, overall, mortician salaries could go as high as $90,000 annually.
This could increase with the experience you have or how many people come to you for their needs.
Is being a Mortician Good or Bad?
Funeral homes are where morticians spend the majority of their time, where they prepare bodies and conduct funeral rites.
They may also perform funeral services at places of worship, private homes, cemeteries, and other significant locations for the departed or their loved ones.
They could even accompany the remains to cemeteries or crematoria.
As they attempt to provide services to several customers in a timely manner, they frequently work long shifts during the week and on weekends.
It might be a tough job to both handle dead bodies and work long hours, so this profession is not for everyone, and it might not be a good option to be indulged in this for too long.
How to Become a Mortician?
Here’s how you can become a Mortician
- If you are interested in becoming a mortician, you should study biology, chemistry, and business in high school.
- To become a Mortician, you must be at least 21 and have a degree or certification in funeral care or mortuary science.
- An associate’s degree from the American Board of Funeral Service Education is necessary for aspiring morticians (ABFSE).
- Post-education, you must also finish a training program before you graduate.
- You need to have the technical and interpersonal abilities to provide peace to families and friends as they say their final goodbyes to loved ones.
- Once you are done with your training and education, you can start applying for jobs.
Pros and Cons of Being A Mortician
Pros
- Competitive salary
- Minimal educational requirements
- Job security
- Get to work indoors mostly
Cons
- Emotionally draining
- Risk of infection
- Low social standing
- Poor work-life balance
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How Many Hours Do Morticians Work?
Morticians have irregular work hours and even work during weekends, holidays, and evenings as and when their demand may arise. They typically work for more than 40 hours and have a poor work-life balance.
What is the Starting Pay of Morticians?
The starting pay of Morticians is $14.07 per hour or $2,814 per month. The pay in this field is decent, and with time you can make as much as $85,144 a year.
Morticians Training Programs
Many prospective morticians begin their studies with part-time or summer work at funeral homes before graduating.
Students can learn how funerals arrange and handle funerals, as well as how to prepare bodies, by working in these jobs.
An internship or apprenticeship is an important aspect of a mortician’s education.
You can complete these training programs while you’re still in school or after you’ve graduated.
Aspiring morticians work closely under the supervision of certified morticians or funeral directors during these training programs.
Mortician apprenticeships and internships often run for one to three years.
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Conclusion
As you can see, being a mortician is not hard, but working as one might be mentally challenging because of the work environment and what you do in general.
If you think you can handle being around dead bodies all the time, being a mortician could be a good idea for you.
FAQ
How much do morticians make when they first start?
Just like any other profession, morticians make the base salary when they first start.
How much do morticians make in their training?
Morticians do not make anything during their training if they are studying.
However, if you are getting your training at your workplace, you might get some salary depending on your employer.
How much do morticians make after a decade of experience?
Once you have at least a decade of experience, it is possible that you will be in the top 10%.
Shefali Jain is a Content Writer & Editor at USWorkforce.org
After completing her graduation in hospitality, Shefali decided to follow her passion and started writing. Shefali has been writing for two years now and contributes to our website as a skilled editor and content writer with strong research skills. Writing product and service reviews, biographies, and book reviews are some of her key areas, among many others in which she specializes. In her time at the organization, she has written and edited content on a range of topics, including employment law, human resources, and business management.
ARTICLE SOURCES
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- https://www.bls.gov/ooh/personal-care-and-service/funeral-service-occupations.htm#:~:text=Morticians%20and%20funeral%20arrangers%20(also,a%20representative%20of%20the%20cemetery.[↩]
- https://www.indeed.com/career-advice/pay-salary/how-much-do-morticians-make[↩]
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