Explore This Path
Mortician
💰 Earn $44K-$61K
📚 Associate Degree
⏱️ 12–24 Month Training
📈 3% Job Growth
- Support families by organizing meaningful and personalized funeral services.
- Provide comfort and closure by handling essential legal and ceremonial tasks.
- Unique role combining compassion, organization, and attention to detail.
What Morticians DoPerform 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.
- Obtain information needed to complete legal documents, such as death certificates or burial permits.
- Consult with families or friends of the deceased to arrange funeral details, such as obituary notice wording, casket selection, or plans for services.
- Perform embalming duties, as necessary.
- Oversee the preparation and care of the remains of people who have died.
- Contact cemeteries to schedule the opening and closing of graves.
Morticians Education, Salary, and GrowthOnly you can decide how much you need to earn — but knowing what it actually costs to live in your area can help. The Family Budget Calculator can guide you.
Minimum EducationAssociate Degree
Career ProspectsGood (Increasing by 1-5%)
Training Time1 to 2 years
Job Openings3,000 Annually
Median earnings
California Median
$50,750
Most earn within this range
median ▾
$44K25th percentile
$61K75th percentile
National Median
$55,010
Most earn within this range
median ▾
$42K25th percentile
$72K75th percentile
Real Talk Reel
We've curated a playlist for you to get a glimpse into a day in the life of this career.
Is This Career Right For You?
YOU Like
- Influencing or leading others
- Relating with or serving others
- Using data or completing tasks
you value
- Accomplishing things
- Having freedom
- Personal relationships
you are skilled in
- Speaking
- Monitoring
- Critical Thinking
- Active Listening
- Social Perceptiveness
- Service Orientation
Go Deeper: Morticians Explained
MorticianExplore career pathways, key skills, and what each role has to offer.
How Do You Train for This Career?
Learn about the education and training paths that can lead to this career — and what to expect from each one.
Associate's DegreeAn associate's degree typically provides graduates with foundational knowledge and skills for entry-level jobs in the graduate's industry, or serves as a stepping stone towards further education.
🎓 College
⏱️ Finish in 2-3 years
Bachelor's DegreeA bachelor's degree typically results in increased knowledge about a variety of academic subjects, specialized knowledge in a focused field of study, and is considered the foundational qualification for many careers.
🎓 College
⏱️ Finish in 4-5+ years
ApprenticeshipAn apprenticeship typically offers a combination of hands-on training and classroom instruction, leading to practical skills, industry-specific knowledge, and the potential for long-term employment in a specific trade or profession.
🎓 Paid Work
⏱️ Finish in 2-5 years
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Updated April 2026. Data sourced from O*NET and Bureau of Labor Statistics.
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