FUNERAL DIRECTORS

Nature of the Work

Since the earliest of times, most peoples have held funeral ceremonies.  The dead have ritually been interred in pyramids, cremated on burning pyres, and sunk beneath the oceans' waves.  Even today, funeral practices and rites vary greatly among various cultures and religions.  Among the many diverse groups in the United States, funeral practices generally share some common elements: Removal of the remains of the deceased to a mortuary, preparation of the remains, performance of a ceremony that honors the deceased and addresses the spiritual needs of the living as well as the dead, and the burial or destruction of the remains.  To unburden themselves of arranging and directing these tasks, grieving families turn to funeral directors. Funeral directors are also called morticians or undertakers.

Training, Other Qualifications, and Advancement

Funeral directors must be licensed in all but one State, Colorado. Licensing laws vary from State to State, but most require applicants to be 21 years old, have a high school diploma, complete some college training in mortuary science, and serve an apprenticeship. After passing a State board licensing examination, new funeral directors may join the staff of a funeral home. Persons interested in a career as a funeral director should contact their state board for specific state requirements.

College programs in mortuary science usually last from 1 to 4 years, depending on the school.  There were 40 mortuary science programs accredited by the American Board of Funeral Service Education in 1992. 

Job Outlook

Employment of funeral directors and embalmers is expected to increase about as fast as the average for all occupations through the year 2005.  Employment opportunities are expected to be excellent, because the number of graduates in mortuary science is likely to continue to be less than the number of job openings in the field. Demand for funeral services will rise as the population grows, and with it the number of deaths.  The population is projected to become older because the number of persons age 55 and over is expected to increase significantly faster than the population as a whole.

Earnings

Salaries of funeral directors depend on the size of the establishment and the number of services performed.  A survey conducted by the National Funeral Directors Association found that the average salary, including bonus, for funeral directors who were owner/managers was $59,574 in 1991; mid-level managers averaged $41,393.  Embalmers had average salaries of $27,421, and apprentices averaged $17,489.

Additional information may be obtained by contacting the following organizations:

The National Funeral Directors Association, 11121 West Oklahoma Ave., Milwaukee, WI 53227.

National Selected Morticians, 1616 Central St., Evanston, IL 60201.

The American Board of Funeral Service Education, 14 Crestwood Rd., Cumberland, ME 04021.

The National Foundation of Funeral Service, 2250 East Devon Ave., Suite 250, Des Plaines, IL 60018.

