A funeral home typically requires several different types of workers to run the facility. Typical staff includes the funeral director, who is also called an undertaker or a mortician, mortuary beauticians and sometimes office staff, depending on the size of the funeral home. The facility is responsible for all aspects of handling funerals and burials. The funeral home completes all necessary paperwork and arrangements for the family of the deceased. Duties may include embalming, cremation, services, grave preparation and burial.
Average Salary
Salaries of funeral home staff have a wide range due to the specific job function held, the amount of experience a person has and the size of the funeral home. The U. S. Bureau of Labor Statistics states that the average salary is $23,880. This average includes staff that performs various duties such as helping setup the viewing with the casket, chairs and flowers or assisting mourners.
Embalmer Salary
An embalmer performs handles the deceased body in accordance with legal guidelines. The embalmer replaces bodily fluid with a chemical solution to preserve the body for viewing. The embalming process protects against disease by disinfecting the body. The average salary of an embalmer is $41,180 per year as of 2009. Embalmers can also act in the capacity of the funeral director.
Director's Salary
A funeral director is typically the person in charge of the funeral home. He may perform duties such as preparing the body and working with family to prepare arrangements. The director arranges viewings, the funeral service and graveside services. According the U. S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the average salary for a funeral director in May 2008 was $52,210. The high-end of the salary range is $92,940 a year and the lower end was $29,910. The higher salaries are usually earned by directors in larger cities.
Mortuary Beautician
A mortuary beautician prepares the deceased for cremation or a viewing service. Some of her duties include styling hair, providing manicures, applying makeup and helping with dressing the deceased. She may also have responsibilities of helping restore features that were damaged in cases where the deceased was in an accident. According to Salary Expert, the position pays from the upper $20,000's to low $30,000's a year as of 2011.
