How much does a funeral attendant make?
The median funeral attendant in the United States earns $35,680 per year, about $17.16 an hour. That is the midpoint of the profession: half of all funeral attendants earn more, and half earn less.
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025. SOC code 39-4021.
Funeral attendant salary range
Pay for funeral attendants spans a wide band. The lowest paid 10 percent earn under $28,070 a year, while the highest paid 10 percent take home more than $48,460. The average (mean) wage of $37,190 runs a bit higher than the median, which is normal for jobs where a group of top earners pulls the average up.
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $28,070 | $13.50 | Lowest paid |
| 25th percentile | $30,380 | $14.61 | |
| Median (50th) | $35,680 | $17.16 | Midpoint |
| 75th percentile | $42,870 | $20.61 | |
| 90th percentile | $48,460 | $23.30 | Highest paid |
Figures are national wage estimates for funeral attendants (SOC 39-4021), U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS, May 2025.
Funeral attendant salary by state
Where you work changes the paycheck. Funeral attendants earn the most in New Hampshire at $55,850 a year, and the least in Kentucky at $29,160. The table below lists every state with published data, ranked by median annual salary.
| State | Median annual | Employed |
|---|---|---|
| New Hampshire | $55,850 | 120 |
| Rhode Island | $53,580 | 190 |
| Nevada | $51,980 | 100 |
| Delaware | $46,720 | 110 |
| Massachusetts | $46,280 | 1,090 |
| Connecticut | $45,800 | 520 |
| Minnesota | $43,910 | 400 |
| New York | $42,210 | 1,450 |
| Colorado | $41,710 | 160 |
| Washington | $41,600 | 160 |
| Utah | $41,130 | 270 |
| Vermont | $40,800 | 30 |
| Oregon | $40,350 | 70 |
| Iowa | $40,060 | 460 |
| Maine | $39,330 | 220 |
| Missouri | $39,270 | 620 |
| Maryland | $39,020 | 670 |
| California | $38,700 | 1,790 |
| New Jersey | $37,240 | 540 |
| South Dakota | $37,170 | 120 |
| Montana | $37,080 | 110 |
| Pennsylvania | $36,300 | 1,930 |
| Wisconsin | $36,030 | 500 |
| Illinois | $35,690 | 730 |
| Ohio | $35,640 | 1,720 |
| Arizona | $35,450 | 420 |
| Michigan | $35,380 | 1,460 |
| Virginia | $35,010 | 1,450 |
| North Dakota | $34,980 | 130 |
| North Carolina | $34,940 | 1,610 |
| New Mexico | $34,890 | 170 |
| Indiana | $34,420 | 1,080 |
| Idaho | $33,280 | 70 |
| Wyoming | $32,950 | 60 |
| Arkansas | $31,630 | 140 |
| West Virginia | $31,410 | 350 |
| Kansas | $30,720 | 330 |
| Texas | $30,560 | 2,150 |
| Georgia | $30,530 | 1,070 |
| Mississippi | $30,530 | 280 |
| Oklahoma | $30,530 | 510 |
| Louisiana | $30,370 | 560 |
| Alabama | $30,310 | 550 |
| Florida | $30,210 | 1,700 |
| Nebraska | $30,170 | 270 |
| South Carolina | $29,880 | 930 |
| Tennessee | $29,600 | 1,090 |
| Kentucky | $29,160 | 560 |
State median wages for funeral attendants (SOC 39-4021), U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS state files, May 2025. States where the BLS does not publish a median are not shown.
Job outlook for funeral attendants
The BLS projects employment of funeral attendants to grow 2.6% from 2025 to 2035. That is about as fast as the 3.5% average for all occupations. That works out to roughly 31,300 jobs in 2025 moving toward 32,100 by 2035.
Across the decade, the BLS expects about 5,400 openings a year for funeral attendants. Most come from the need to replace workers who move to other jobs or leave the workforce, on top of any new positions from growth.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections program, 2025-35 (Table 1.2, Occupational projections and worker characteristics).
How to become a funeral attendant
The typical entry-level education for funeral attendants is a high school diploma or equivalent, according to the BLS. New hires typically complete short-term on-the-job training to reach full competency.
A four-year college degree is usually not required to start, which makes this one of the jobs you can enter without a bachelor's degree. See more high paying jobs without a degree .
Education, training, and experience data: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections program.
What affects how much a funeral attendant earns
Employer, clientele, region, and in many cases tips shape pay. Established professionals in affluent, high cost areas earn near the top of the range.
Location is one of the clearest factors. The gap between the top paying state (New Hampshire, $55,850) and the lowest (Kentucky, $29,160) shows how much geography alone can move the number, before experience or specialization.
About 31,090 people work as funeral attendants in the United States. At $35,680 a year, the job pays below the $50,980 median for all U.S. jobs.
Funeral attendant salary FAQ
How much does a funeral attendant make an hour?
The median hourly wage for a funeral attendant is $17.16. The middle half of funeral attendants earn between $14.61 and $20.61 per hour.
What is the highest funeral attendant salary?
The highest paid 10 percent of funeral attendants earn more than $48,460 per year. Top earners usually have the most experience and work in the best paying regions and industries.
How much does a funeral attendant make a year?
The median annual salary for a funeral attendant is $35,680. The average (mean) wage of $37,190 runs a bit higher than the median, which is normal for jobs where a group of top earners pulls the average up.
Is being a funeral attendant a well paid job?
At $35,680 a year, a funeral attendant earns below the $50,980 median for all U.S. jobs. About 31,090 people work as funeral attendants in the United States.
Which state pays funeral attendants the most?
New Hampshire has the highest median salary for funeral attendants at $55,850 a year. Rhode Island ($53,580) and Nevada ($51,980) follow. State medians come from the BLS OEWS state files, May 2025.
Is being a funeral attendant a good career?
Employment of funeral attendants is projected to grow 2.6% from 2025 to 2035, about as fast as the 3.5% average for all occupations. The BLS projects about 5,400 openings each year, from growth and from workers leaving the occupation.
Do you need a degree to become a funeral attendant?
No. The BLS lists the typical entry-level education for funeral attendants as a high school diploma or equivalent, so a four-year degree is usually not required to start.
Related salaries
See more in Personal Care & Service salaries or browse the highest paying jobs in the U.S.