Embalmers
SOC code 39-4011 · O*NET-SOC 39-4011.00 · Medium preparation needed
Embalmers pay
U.S. national figures, May 2025 BLS survey · How we got this number
Median pay
$58,780
a year
Hourly
$28.26
per hour
The solid band is the middle 50% of workers; the bar spans the 10th to 90th percentile.
Average pay
$58,390
$28.07 per hour
Middle 50%
$48,010 – $66,130
25th to 75th percentile
Full spread
$38,310 – $77,570
10th to 90th percentile
People employed
3,890
nationwide
National U.S. figure, May 2025. Local pay can be higher or lower.
- 10th percentile
- $38,310
- $18.42/hr
- 25th percentile
- $48,010
- $23.08/hr
- Median percentile
- $58,780
- $28.26/hr
- 75th percentile
- $66,130
- $31.80/hr
- 90th percentile
- $77,570
- $37.29/hr
What does an embalmer do?
Prepare bodies for interment in conformity with legal requirements.
The tasks that matter most day to day
- Conform to laws of health and sanitation and ensure that legal requirements concerning embalming are met.
- Apply cosmetics to impart lifelike appearance to the deceased.
- Join lips, using needles and thread or wire.
- Close incisions, using needles and sutures.
- Incise stomach and abdominal walls and probe internal organs, using trocar, to withdraw blood and waste matter from organs.
- Clean and disinfect areas in which bodies are prepared and embalmed.
- Dress bodies and place them in caskets.
- Make incisions in arms or thighs and drain blood from circulatory system and replace it with embalming fluid, using pump.
How to become an embalmer
Most people in this role hold associate's degree or other 2-year degree — 86% of workers surveyed reported it as their level of education.
Preparation level: zone 3 — Medium preparation needed
- Education
- Most occupations in this zone require training in vocational schools, related on-the-job experience, or an associate's degree.
- Experience
- Previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is required for these occupations. For example, an electrician must have completed three or four years of apprenticeship or several years of vocational training, and often must have passed a licensing exam, in order to perform the job.
- Training
- Employees in these occupations usually need one or two years of training involving both on-the-job experience and informal training with experienced workers. A recognized apprenticeship program may be associated with these occupations.
Education reported by people doing this job
- Associate's Degree or other 2-year degree86%
- Bachelor's Degree14%
Common questions
How much does an embalmer earn?
The national median is $58,780 a year. The full range runs from $38,310 at the 10th percentile to $77,570 at the 90th — entry pay sits closer to the lower figure, and experience, licensing and specialisation move you up the range.
Can you become an embalmer without a degree?
Yes — this occupation sits in preparation zone 3, meaning the typical entry route is most occupations in this zone require training in vocational schools, related on-the-job experience, or an associate's degree. A four-year degree is not the standard requirement, though licensing or certification may still apply.
Skills and knowledge you need
Core skills
- Speaking3.9/5
- Active Listening3.8/5
- Writing3.1/5
- Critical Thinking3.1/5
- Reading Comprehension3.0/5
- Active Learning3.0/5
- Monitoring3.0/5
Knowledge areas
- Customer and Personal Service4.7/5
- Chemistry3.6/5
- Psychology3.6/5
- English Language3.5/5
- Law and Government3.4/5
- Biology3.2/5
- Administration and Management3.2/5
- Administrative3.1/5
Transferable strengths: Social Perceptiveness, Service Orientation, Time Management.