If you’ve searched “how much do morticians make,” you’ve probably seen wildly different numbers — $40K on one site, $80K on another. Both can be technically correct. The difference comes down to what each source is measuring.
This guide uses data from six independent sources — including the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), PayScale, Glassdoor, and Indeed — to give you the most complete picture of mortician pay in 2024.
Bottom line up front: Most working morticians earn between $45,000 and $60,000 per year. The BLS median is $49,800. With experience and bonuses, total compensation can reach $70,000–$80,000+.
But that national number hides a 2.2x gap: the highest-paying state (Delaware, $80,290) pays more than double the lowest (Arkansas, $35,970). Where you work matters more than how long you’ve worked. → See all 50 states ranked
What the Data Actually Shows: 6 Sources Compared
The single biggest source of confusion is that different sites measure different things. Here’s every major source side by side:
| Source | Figure | Sample | What It Measures |
|---|---|---|---|
| BLS OEWS (2024) | $49,800 median | 25,700 employed | Employer survey — base wages only |
| BLS OEWS (2024) | $56,340 mean | Same | Mean skewed by high earners |
| PayScale (2025) | $55,670 avg | 111 self-reported | Base pay + some total comp |
| Indeed (2026) | $66,159 avg | 1,100+ job posts | Job postings — uses “Funeral Director” title |
| Glassdoor (2025) | $80,146 median | 37 self-reported | Base + bonus + commission (ML-modeled) |
| Salary.com (2026) | $39,531 avg | Employer model | Recruiter-side pricing, systematically low |
Why the gap? BLS counts base wages from employer payroll records. Glassdoor’s $80K includes bonuses and profit-sharing, and its ML model amplifies high-end outliers from just 37 responses. Indeed uses the broader “Funeral Director” title, which includes managers. Salary.com reflects what employers offer, not what workers earn.
The most reliable number for most people: BLS $49,800 median for base pay. Add $5,000–$15,000 in bonuses and profit-sharing for total compensation closer to $55,000–$65,000.
Full BLS Salary Distribution (P10 to P90)
The BLS publishes the complete wage distribution — not just the median. This tells you where you might land based on your situation:
| Percentile | Hourly | Annual | Who This Represents |
|---|---|---|---|
| P10 | $15.13 | $31,470 | Entry-level, low-wage states |
| P25 | $18.49 | $38,470 | Early career |
| Median (P50) | $23.94 | $49,800 | Typical working mortician |
| Mean | $27.09 | $56,340 | Average (pulled up by high earners) |
| P75 | $32.28 | $67,140 | Experienced, higher-wage states |
| P90 | $41.32 | $85,940 | Senior, management-track, top states |
The mean ($56,340) is 13% higher than the median ($49,800), which tells you the distribution is right-skewed — a smaller group of high earners pulls the average up. The middle 50% of morticians earn between $38,470 and $67,140.
How Experience Affects Your Salary
Experience has a significant impact on total compensation — but mostly through bonuses and profit-sharing, not base wages.
PayScale Data (Total Compensation)
| Experience | Estimated Total Pay | vs. Average |
|---|---|---|
| Less than 1 year | $48,796 | −12% |
| 1–4 years | $51,456 | −8% |
| 5–9 years | $53,443 | −4% |
| 10–19 years | $62,907 | +13% |
| 20+ years | $71,814 | +29% |
From entry-level to 20+ years, total pay increases by 47%. However, Salary.com’s base wage data shows only a 3% increase in base salary across the same range — meaning the real gains come from bonuses, profit-sharing, and ownership stakes, not salary bumps.
Practical implication: If you’re negotiating, focus on bonus structures and profit-sharing arrangements, not just base salary.
What Makes Up a Mortician’s Total Pay
Understanding the components helps you evaluate job offers accurately.
PayScale Breakdown
| Component | Range |
|---|---|
| Base salary | $40,000 – $77,000 |
| Annual bonus | $502 – $10,000 |
| Profit sharing | $527 – $3,000 |
| Total compensation | $37,000 – $79,000 |
Glassdoor Breakdown
| Component | Range |
|---|---|
| Base salary | $45,000 – $72,000 |
| Additional pay (bonus/commission) | $17,000 – $32,000 |
| Total compensation | $62,395 – $104,545 |
Note: Glassdoor’s additional pay range is unusually high due to its small sample size (37 responses) and ML modeling. Treat it as an upper-bound estimate, not a typical figure.
Mortician vs. Related Funeral Service Roles
Mortician is one of several roles in funeral service. Here’s how the pay compares:
| Role | Median Salary | Employed (2024) |
|---|---|---|
| Morticians / Undertakers | $49,800 | 27,500 |
| Funeral Home Managers | $76,830 | 32,100 |
| All Funeral Service Workers | $59,420 | 59,600 |
| All U.S. Occupations | $49,500 | — |
The biggest takeaway: Funeral Home Managers earn 54% more than morticians. If you’re planning a long-term career in funeral service, the management track is the clearest path to significantly higher pay.
Morticians earn almost exactly the national median for all occupations ($49,500), which means the pay is average — not exceptional, but not low either.
Salary by State: The Biggest Factor in Your Pay
Where you work matters more than almost anything else. The gap between the highest and lowest-paying states is 2.2x.
Top 10 Highest-Paying States (BLS 2024)
| Rank | State | Median Salary | Jobs | Job Density (LQ) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Delaware | $80,290 | 90 | 1.18 |
| 2 | North Dakota | $76,720 | 100 | 1.40 |
| 3 | Minnesota | $76,490 | 520 | 1.07 |
| 4 | Nebraska | $65,310 | 220 | 1.28 |
| 5 | Maine | $63,790 | 70 | 0.65 |
| 6 | Iowa | $63,770 | 560 | 2.17 |
| 7 | New York | $62,590 | 1,390 | 0.87 |
| 8 | Idaho | $61,270 | 160 | 1.16 |
| 9 | Utah | $61,190 | 320 | 1.11 |
| 10 | New Hampshire | $61,000 | 100 | 0.85 |
Bottom 10 Lowest-Paying States (BLS 2024)
| Rank | State | Median Salary | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Arkansas | $35,970 | 340 |
| 2 | Texas | $36,760 | 1,530 |
| 3 | Arizona | $37,970 | 420 |
| 4 | Hawaii | $38,040 | 160 |
| 5 | Louisiana | $38,890 | 440 |
| 6 | South Carolina | $40,160 | 490 |
| 7 | Mississippi | $40,280 | 200 |
| 8 | New Jersey | $44,010 | 620 |
| 9 | Missouri | $44,830 | 790 |
| 10 | Tennessee | $44,670 | 690 |
Key insights from the state data:
- Delaware ($80,290) pays more than double Arkansas ($35,970)
- California has the most jobs (2,670) but pays below the national median ($47,170)
- New Jersey looks low at $44,010 median, but its mean is $59,010 and P90 reaches $110,950 — extreme salary spread
- Iowa has the highest job density (LQ 2.17) — mortician jobs are twice as concentrated there as the national average
- The high-paying states (Delaware, North Dakota, Minnesota) are not the ones most people expect
→ See the full 50-state salary breakdown with interactive data.
Who Works as a Mortician: Industry Demographics
Understanding who’s in the field helps set realistic expectations.
| Metric | Figure |
|---|---|
| Female | 70.6% |
| Male | 23.5% |
| Health insurance coverage | 76% |
| Dental insurance | 59% |
| Vision insurance | 41% |
| No benefits | 24% |
Funeral service is a female-majority profession — 70.6% of morticians are women, which is notable for a field that was historically male-dominated. About 1 in 4 workers has no employer-provided benefits, which is worth factoring into total compensation comparisons.
Work environment (BLS): 93% work in funeral service establishments, 5% are self-employed. Most are full-time, with irregular hours including evenings and weekends. On-call availability is standard.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is $49,800 really what most morticians make?
Yes — the BLS median of $49,800 is the most reliable single number for base wages. It comes from a survey of 25,700 employed morticians across the country. The middle 50% earn between $38,470 and $67,140.
Why does Glassdoor show $80,000?
Glassdoor’s figure ($80,146) includes base pay plus bonuses and commissions, and uses a machine learning model to estimate total compensation. It’s based on only 37 self-reported responses, which makes it statistically unreliable. The model tends to amplify high-end outliers.
Do morticians make more with experience?
Yes, significantly. PayScale data shows total compensation rises 47% from entry-level to 20+ years of experience ($48,796 → $71,814). Most of that gain comes from bonuses and profit-sharing rather than base salary increases.
What’s the difference between a mortician and a funeral director?
The titles are often used interchangeably, but technically a mortician focuses on body preparation (embalming, restoration), while a funeral director manages the overall service and family coordination. Many professionals do both. The BLS tracks them under the same SOC code (39-4031). Indeed’s $66,159 figure uses “Funeral Director” which may include some managers.
Can morticians earn six figures?
Yes, but it’s not common. The P90 nationally is $85,940. In top states like New Hampshire (P90: $119,150) and Minnesota (P90: $117,360), the top 10% earn over $115,000. Funeral Home Managers — the next career step — have a median of $76,830.
Is mortician a good career financially?
The pay is average — right at the national median of $49,500 for all occupations. The job outlook is stable (3% growth through 2034, ~5,800 openings per year). The financial case is strongest if you’re in a high-paying state, pursue management, or eventually own a funeral home.
Take the Next Step
Now you know the national picture. The Mortician Salary Toolkit gives you the state-level data and negotiation tools to act on it.
What’s included:
- Complete 50-state BLS data — every percentile (P10–P90), COL-adjusted real purchasing power, sortable Excel + CSV
- 6 word-for-word negotiation scripts and 3 email templates
- State comparison report for relocation decisions
One-time download, $24.99. See what’s included →
Data Sources
All salary figures in this article come from primary sources:
- BLS OEWS (May 2024) — Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, SOC 39-4031. The most reliable source for base wages. bls.gov/oes
- BLS OOH (2024–2034) — Occupational Outlook Handbook, job growth projections. bls.gov/ooh
- O*NET — Occupational skills, education requirements, and work context data.
- PayScale — Self-reported total compensation data (111 responses, accessed 2025).
- Indeed — Aggregated job posting salary data (1,100+ listings, accessed Feb 2026).
- Glassdoor — Self-reported + ML-modeled total compensation (37 responses, accessed 2025).
- Salary.com — Employer-side compensation modeling (accessed Feb 2026).
Data last reviewed: February 2026. BLS figures are from the May 2024 OEWS release.