How much does an embalmers make?

The median embalmers salary in the United States is $58,780 per year ($28.26/hour). Salaries range from $38,310 (10th percentile) to $77,570 (90th percentile). There are 3,890 embalmers jobs in the U.S. Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS.

Which state pays embalmerss the most?

The highest paying state for embalmerss is Ohio at $71,550 median salary.

Is embalmers a good career?

Embalmers employment is projected to grow 1.3% from 2024 to 2034 (slower than average). There are approximately 600 job openings per year. Typical education required: Associate's degree.

What interview questions are asked for embalmers roles?

Common embalmers interview questions include: "Walk me through your typical arterial embalming setup.", "How do you handle a case with severe trauma?", "Describe a difficult case you're proud of.". Interview format at top employers ranges from behavioral panels (STAR method) to technical case rounds — for example Service Corporation International (SCI / Dignity Memorial) typically uses 2-3 rounds over 2-4 weeks.

What is the career ladder for embalmerss?

The typical embalmers career ladder: Apprentice Embalmer (0-2 yrs, $32-48k) → Licensed Embalmer / Funeral Director (2-8 yrs, $52-78k) → Sr Embalmer / Restorative Specialist (6-15 yrs, $72-105k) → Prep-Room Supervisor / Independent Trade Embalmer / Firm Owner (12+ yrs, $95-165k+ (top independent trade $135-235k)).

What certifications should embalmerss get?

Top-ROI certifications for embalmerss: AAS Mortuary Science (ABFSE-accredited) ($15-40k tuition depending on program); State embalmer license ($100-500 exam + application); National Board Exam (NBE) — Sciences and Arts ($495 per section).

How do you negotiate a embalmers salary?

Anchor on documented market data (BLS median $58,780, p75 $66,130), specific outcomes you've delivered, and the specific band for your years of experience. Given 6 years of embalming experience, dual FD/embalmer license, restorative specialty on 25+ trauma cases annually, and clean OSHA compliance, my target for a Sr Embalmer / Trade Embalmer role at your firm is $85-95k b...

Embalmers Salary

The median embalmers salary in the United States is $58,780 per year ($28.26/hour). Salaries range from $38,310 at the entry level to $77,570+ for the top 10% of earners. There are 3,890 embalmers jobs nationwide. Employment is projected to grow 1.3% through 2034.

Last updated: June 2026 · Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

Also known asEmbalmer

Median Salary

$58,780

per year

Hourly Rate

$28.26

per hour

Employment

3,890

jobs in the U.S.

Salary Distribution

10th percentile

$38,310

25th percentile

$48,010

Median

$58,780

75th percentile

$66,130

90th percentile

$77,570

Job Growth (2024-2034)

+1.3%

Slower than average

Annual Openings

600

jobs/year (growth + replacements)

Education Required

Associate's degree

Training Needed

Long-term on-the-job training

Embalmers Career Guide

Interview questions, resume templates, and a career ladder written specifically for embalmerss.

Embalmers prepare human remains for viewing, funeral service, and burial through arterial embalming, cavity work, restorative art, dressing, casketing, and cosmetics. Entry embalmers earn $38-52k; established licensed embalmers earn $55-78k; senior embalmers and prep-room supervisors at large funeral homes earn $72-95k; embalmers with restorative-art specialty at major markets or trade-embalming services in top-25 metros reach $85-115k+ (top independent trade embalmers with strong reputations $115-165k). Most embalmers are also licensed funeral directors; the dual credential unlocks higher compensation. Union scale at Service Corporation International (SCI) and Dignity Memorial locations sets a market baseline.

Core Skills Hiring Managers Screen For

Arterial embalming and preservation

Perform arterial injection via femoral, carotid, or axillary access. Understand vascular anatomy, distribution patterns, and adjustments for edema, dehydration, jaundice, or trauma. Select proper chemical index and pre-injection.

Cavity embalming and aspirating

Trocar work: aspirate thoracic, abdominal, and pelvic cavities, then inject cavity chemical. Understand hollow-viscera cases (autopsy, organ donation) that require specialized approach.

Restorative art

Wax, hairpiece, and cosmetic reconstruction after trauma or surgical intervention. Feature-setting, mouth closure (needle-injector or barbed wire), and eye caps. The most artistic and highest-paid embalming specialty.

Autopsy and organ-donation cases

Reassemble the deceased after autopsy or donation. Suture chest, abdomen, and cranium. Manage extensive incisions with proper sealing to prevent leakage.

Dressing, casketing, and cosmetic application

Position remains in casket, dress in family-provided clothing, apply cosmetics matched to the family's preferred appearance (often from photos). Attention to skin tone, lip color, and general expression.

Chemistry and formaldehyde safety

OSHA formaldehyde standard (29 CFR 1910.1048) requires monitoring, PPE, and exposure records. Understand cavity, arterial, and supplemental chemicals and their compatibility.

State licensing and regulatory compliance

Every state has distinct licensing (usually mortuary science degree + apprenticeship + exam). Understand permits, transit permits, death certificates, and cross-jurisdictional shipping requirements.

How to Become a Embalmers

1
Complete an ABFSE-accredited mortuary science program (AAS, 2 years)
Programs at community colleges and mortuary science schools (Cypress College, Worsham, Pittsburgh Institute). Some offer BS for advanced study or funeral home management path.
2
Complete a state-required apprenticeship (typically 1-2 years, 50-100 cases)
Apprentice under a licensed embalmer/funeral director at a funeral home. Casework mixes routine and complex; documented under state board oversight.
3
Pass the NBE (National Board Exam) plus state licensing exam
Two sections: Sciences and Arts. States add their own law and practice sections. Reciprocity varies significantly by state.
4
Take a first job at a funeral home or trade-embalming service
$38-55k. Funeral homes offer stability plus family-facing exposure. Trade-embalming services handle high volume across multiple firms — good for skill development and specialization.
5
Advance to Sr Embalmer, Prep-Room Supervisor, or Independent Trade Embalmer
$75-165k+. Sr embalmers own restorative and complex cases. Prep-room supervisors run high-volume operations. Independent trade embalmers with reputation charge $250-600+ per case and serve multiple firms.

Career Progression

Apprentice Embalmer

0-2 yrs$32-48k

•Assist licensed embalmer on all casework
•Complete required case count for state licensing
•Learn PPE, safety, and prep-room protocols
•Prepare for NBE and state boards

Next: Licensed embalmer at 1-2 years.

Licensed Embalmer / Funeral Director

2-8 yrs$52-78k

•Independent case work including arterial, cavity, and dressing
•Handle routine restorative work
•Documentation and regulatory compliance
•Family-facing conversations (identification, viewings)

Next: Sr Embalmer / Specialist at 6-12 years.

Sr Embalmer / Restorative Specialist

6-15 yrs$72-105k

•Complex restorative and trauma cases
•Own prep-room quality and mentorship
•Represent firm on autopsy and post-donation reconstructions
•Cross-train new apprentices

Next: Prep-Room Supervisor or Independent Trade at 12-18 years.

Prep-Room Supervisor / Independent Trade Embalmer / Firm Owner

12+ yrs$95-165k+ (top independent trade $135-235k)

•Run 15-40 case/week prep operation
•Manage embalmer staff and chemical inventory
•Represent firm in trade organization (NFDA, state association)
•For independent trade: manage relationships with 8-25 client firms

Next: Firm ownership, corporate operations at SCI/Dignity Memorial, or funeral director/embalmer training instructor.

Interview Questions & Answers

5 free questions below. Career Kit unlocks 13 total plus resume bullets for every level.

Q1. Walk me through your typical arterial embalming setup.technical

Confirm case details from the death certificate and family notes. Position, pack, and shave as needed. Feature-set (mouth closure via needle-injector, eye caps). Select injection point (right common carotid is my default for accessibility). Set index and volume per case condition — edema, dehydration, jaundice, or trauma all shift the formulation. Inject and monitor distribution. Aspirate and cavity-inject. Bathe, dry, and dress. Every step documented per firm and state requirements.

Q2. How do you handle a case with severe trauma?situational

Assess before touching anything: what needs restoration, what's realistic given viewing timeline, and what the family wants. Coordinate with the funeral director on family expectations. Wax and cosmetic work for facial reconstruction; hairpieces if needed. Some cases are closed-casket regardless of skill — communicate that reality to the family through the FD. Overpromising a viewing kills family trust and firm reputation.

Q3. Describe a difficult case you're proud of.behavioral

STAR: young man died in a motorcycle accident with facial trauma; family desperately wanted open casket. Wax and cosmetic reconstruction over 4 hours matching family photos. Careful lighting recommendations to the funeral director for the service. Family was able to say goodbye. That's the reason people go into this work.

Q4. How do you handle OSHA formaldehyde compliance?technical

PPE always (gloves, gown, face shield, respirator when using aldehyde-heavy cavity chemicals). Ventilation checked and functioning. Monitor exposure via annual air sampling per OSHA standard. Written hazard communication and refresher training annually. Documented safety officer visits. Formaldehyde is a known carcinogen; sloppy compliance ends careers and lives.

Q5. Where do you see your career in 5 years?closer

Sr Embalmer with restorative specialty, or moving toward independent trade embalming serving multiple firms. Long-term, I'd like to be a firm owner or corporate operations director. This is a craft where reputation compounds — invest in doing the hardest cases well and the career takes care of itself.

Resume Template — Licensed Embalmer / Funeral Director (2-8 yrs)

Copy these bullets into your resume as a starting point. Career Kit includes bullets for every level of the ladder.

Licensed Embalmer / Funeral Director (2-8 yrs)

▸Licensed embalmer at 320-call/year funeral home; personally embalm 180+ cases annually including 25+ restorative or trauma cases.
▸OSHA formaldehyde compliance record clean over 5 years; formaldehyde exposure well below action level.
▸State-licensed dual embalmer/funeral director; National Board Exam passed first attempt.
▸$68k base + on-call differential + benefits. Trained 2 apprentices to full licensure.

What Gets You Rejected

✗Sloppy restorative work — the profession's craft component and reputation driver.
✗Poor OSHA / formaldehyde compliance discipline.
✗Weak documentation on regulatory paperwork (death certificates, transit permits, chemical logs).
✗Cannot handle emotional demands of the work — high burnout and turnover risk.
✗History of complaints from families or funeral directors on case quality.
✗Won't take on-call rotation — funeral service is 24/7.
✗No plan to earn dual funeral director license in states where required.

Salary Negotiation Levers

✓Dual embalmer/funeral director license worth $6-15k premium.
✓Restorative specialty and reputation with local trade — commands premium at trade embalming.
✓Independent trade embalming pays $250-600 per case; a full book generates $115-215k.
✓On-call standby and callout differentials — negotiate the formula.
✓Continuing-ed budget ($1-2.5k/yr) for state CE and specialty courses (Dodge Chemical trade seminars, Fountain National Academy).
✓Signing bonus $3-15k common in short-staffed markets.
✓Housing or vehicle allowance at rural or on-call-heavy positions.
✓Tuition reimbursement for mortuary science BS or MS.

Embalmers Resume Review — $29

Personalized resume review from someone who has hired embalmerss. Purchase, email your resume to support@weblabra.com, and receive detailed written feedback within 7 days.

✓ Occupation-specific critique (not generic)
✓ Rewrite suggestions for weak bullets
✓ Missing skills / keywords flagged
✓ Formatting + ATS-readability feedback
✓ 7-day turnaround, 100% refund if we miss it

Embalmers Career Kit — $19

✓ All 13 interview questions with expert answers
✓ 6 real questions aggregated from Glassdoor, Blind, Reddit, LinkedIn
✓ Interview format intel for 6 top employers
✓ 3 copy-paste salary negotiation emails
✓ Resume bullets for every level of the career ladder
✓ 30–60–90 day plan for your first role
✓ Cover letter templates specific to this occupation
✓ Detailed salary negotiation script
✓ Ranked list of certifications with cost + ROI
✓ Downloadable PDF for offline access
✓ Instant access, no expiration, no subscription

✓ 7-day money-back guarantee — no questions asked

One-time purchase. 7-day refund guarantee.

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Embalmers Salary by State

Best Cities (cost-adjusted) →

Salary Map — Click a state for details

$39K

$72K■ No data

Top Paying States

Vertical line = national median. Click a state for full details.

State	Median	vs. National	Employment
Ohio	$71,550	+21.7%	80
Pennsylvania	$69,950	+19.0%	50
North Carolina	$68,550	+16.6%	70
Missouri	$66,490	+13.1%	160
Virginia	$63,810	+8.6%	120
Kansas	$63,160	+7.5%	120
Indiana	$62,400	+6.2%	0
South Carolina	$61,820	+5.2%	140
Illinois	$61,730	+5.0%	60
Rhode Island	$60,310	+2.6%	40

Showing 1–10 of 28

Embalmers Salary by Metro Area

Metro Area	Median	vs. National
Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV	$73,450	+25.0%
St. Louis, MO-IL	$63,130	+7.4%
Columbia, SC	$61,880	+5.3%
Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL	$61,680	+4.9%
Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA	$61,570	+4.7%
San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA	$60,890	+3.6%
Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL	$60,300	+2.6%
Providence-Warwick, RI-MA	$60,140	+2.3%
Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA	$58,930	+0.3%
Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX	$58,490	-0.5%

Showing 1–10 of 19

Data Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS). Data reflects the most recent annual survey.

How does this compare to pro athletes?

A embalmers earning $58,780/year would need 1014 years to match Stephen Curry's NBA salary, or 1089 yearsto match Patrick Mahomes' NFL contract.

See all sports & celebrity salaries →

📈 See how embalmers salaries have changed over the past decade.

View Embalmers salary trend (2011–2024) →