Funeral Attendants Career, Salary and Skills
Funeral Attendants have a BLS-reported national median annual wage of $35,680 based on the 2025 OEWS dataset, with reported national employment of 31,090. Wage data is published for 167 locations.
Occupation description
Perform a variety of tasks during funeral, such as placing casket in parlor or chapel prior to service, arranging floral offerings or lights around casket, directing or escorting mourners, closing casket, and issuing and storing funeral equipment.
O*NET code
39-4021.00
Job zone
2
Typical education
High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED)
Experience
None
National salary and employment
Median annual
$35,680
Hourly median
$17.16
Employment
31,090
Data year
2025
National salary distribution
Top skills
| Skill | Importance | Level |
|---|---|---|
| Service Orientation | 3.25 | 3.12 |
| Social Perceptiveness | 3.25 | 3.25 |
| Active Listening | 3.12 | 3.12 |
| Speaking | 3.00 | 3.00 |
| Coordination | 3.00 | 3.00 |
| Monitoring | 3.00 | 3.00 |
| Reading Comprehension | 2.75 | 2.75 |
| Critical Thinking | 2.62 | 2.62 |
| Judgment and Decision Making | 2.38 | 2.38 |
| Time Management | 2.38 | 2.38 |
Typical tasks
- Perform a variety of tasks during funerals to assist funeral directors and to ensure that services run smoothly and as planned.
- Close caskets at appropriate point in services.
- Direct or escort mourners to parlors or chapels in which wakes or funerals are being held.
- Place caskets in parlors or chapels prior to wakes or funerals.
- Offer assistance to mourners as they enter or exit limousines.
- Clean funeral parlors or chapels.
- Arrange floral offerings or lights around caskets.
- Greet people at the funeral home.
Technology
- Bookkeeping software
- iCIMS Talent Cloud software
- Microsoft Excel
- Microsoft Office software
- Microsoft Word
Funeral Attendants salary by location
Areas with the highest reported employment for this occupation.
- Funeral Attendants Salary in TXMedian $30,560 · Employment 2,150
- Funeral Attendants Salary in PAMedian $36,300 · Employment 1,930
- Funeral Attendants Salary in CAMedian $38,700 · Employment 1,790
- Funeral Attendants Salary in OHMedian $35,640 · Employment 1,720
- Funeral Attendants Salary in FLMedian $30,210 · Employment 1,700
- Funeral Attendants Salary in NCMedian $34,940 · Employment 1,610
- Funeral Attendants Salary in MIMedian $35,380 · Employment 1,460
- Funeral Attendants Salary in VAMedian $35,010 · Employment 1,450
- Funeral Attendants Salary in NYMedian $42,210 · Employment 1,450
- Funeral Attendants Salary in New York, NYMedian $45,100 · Employment 1,190
- Funeral Attendants Salary in TNMedian $29,600 · Employment 1,090
- Funeral Attendants Salary in MAMedian $46,280 · Employment 1,090
Related careers
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- Baggage Porters and BellhopsNational median $37,080
- Stockers and Order FillersNational median $37,330
- Ambulance Drivers and Attendants, Except Emergency Medical TechniciansNational median $35,450
- Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and ExecutiveNational median $47,540
- Receptionists and Information ClerksNational median $38,010
- Nursing AssistantsNational median $42,260
- Maids and Housekeeping CleanersNational median $35,510
Career and skills data: O*NET 31.0 (onetcenter.org). Salary and employment data: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS, 2025 (bls.gov/oes). Figures are published survey estimates, not real-time market data.