How much does an embalmer make?
a year · about $28 an hour
A typical embalmer in the United States makes $58,780 a year, about $28 an hour, about the same as a typical US worker (median, May 2025, US Bureau of Labor Statistics).
What do they do?
At a funeral home, an embalmer prepares and preserves a body with fluid and a pump, then uses cosmetics to create a natural appearance. They clean and disinfect the room and may dress the person and place them in a casket.
Did you know? Surprise: Embalmers use a pump to replace blood in the body's circulatory system with preserving fluid.
Is that a lot?
Compared with jobs you knowIf 100 people had this job
Most earn between $38,310 and $77,570How do you become one?
After high school, complete an accredited mortuary-science program; an associate degree is the usual route. State rules vary, but many require supervised training, exams, and a license, often with 21 as the minimum age.
School needed: Vocational school or a few years' experience
Good for people who like building and doing and keeping things organized
Why does pay differ?
In the US, experience, qualifications such as a license, and skills in complex restorative work can affect an embalmer’s pay. Pay can also differ by employer, location, and the hours or shifts worked.
Where does it pay most?
Highest in Ohio ($71,550), lowest in Iowa ($39,490).
See every state
Top 5 and bottom 3 states, typical (median) yearly pay.
Jobs like this
Data table and sources
| Lower earner (10th from bottom) | Typical person (median) | Higher earner (10th from top) | People in this job |
|---|---|---|---|
| $38,310 | $58,780 | $77,570 | about 4,000 |
| State | Typical person (median) | People in this job |
|---|---|---|
| Ohio | $71,550 | about 80 |
| Pennsylvania | $69,950 | about 50 |
| North Carolina | $68,550 | about 70 |
| Missouri | $66,490 | about 160 |
| Virginia | $63,810 | about 120 |
Official definition: Prepare bodies for interment in conformity with legal requirements.
Source: US Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS May 2025 (bls.gov); descriptions and related jobs from O*NET 31.0. Figures as of May 2025, full-time yearly pay (hourly × 2,080 hours). bls.gov/oes · O*NET OnLine
Pages used for the text
- www.bls.gov/ooh/personal-care-and-service/print/funeral-service-occupations.htm
- www.onetonline.org/link/details/39-4011.00
- www.bls.gov/careeroutlook/2015/article/wage-differences.htm
- llr.sc.gov/fs/pdf/FD-Embalmer-Application.pdf
- clements.umich.edu/exhibit/death-in-early-america/embalming
Data: US BLS OEWS, May 2025 · 1 USD = 150 JPY