Embalmer salary
BLS occupation: Embalmers · Personal care and service · data for May 2025
How much does an embalmer make?
- The median embalmer salary in the US is $58,780 a year ($28.26 an hour): half of the 3,890 embalmers BLS counts earn more and half earn less. The average (mean) is $58,390.
- The middle half earn between $48,010 and $66,130. The lowest-paid 10% earn less than $38,310 and the top 10% more than $77,570.
- That is 15% more than the median for all US workers ($50,980).
- Ohio pays embalmers the most (median $71,550), followed by Pennsylvania ($69,950) and North Carolina ($68,550). Iowa pays the least ($39,490).
- After adjusting for prices, the pay goes furthest in Ohio, where the median is worth $77,123 in typical US prices, then Missouri and North Carolina.
- In 1 of the 19 metro areas with data, the median embalmer salary is enough to rent a typical home without spending more than 30% of income on rent.
- BLS projects the number of embalmers to grow 0.7% from 2025 to 2035 (all jobs: 3.5%), with about 700 openings a year. The typical entry education is an associate's degree.
official From BLS's survey of employers: what embalmers are actually paid, not job ads or self-reports. Adjusted figures are derived. How we calculate.
How does your pay compare?
Embalmer salary range
Half of embalmers earn between $48,010 and $66,130 a year
Yearly pay at each point of the range, US, May 2025. For comparison, the median for all US jobs is $50,980.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025.
Show the numbers
| Yearly pay | |
|---|---|
| Lowest 10% earn under | $38,310 |
| Lowest 25% earn under | $48,010 |
| Median | $58,780 |
| Top 25% earn over | $66,130 |
| Top 10% earn over | $77,570 |
Embalmer salary by state
Ohio pays embalmers the most; Iowa the least
Median yearly pay by state compared with the US median ($58,780), May 2025. Blue = higher pay.
- 20%+ below US
- 10–20% below
- 3–10% below
- Within 3%
- 3–10% above
- 10–20% above
- 20%+ above US
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS May 2025.
Show the numbers
| State | Median pay |
|---|---|
| Ohio | $71,550 median |
| Pennsylvania | $69,950 median |
| North Carolina | $68,550 median |
| Missouri | $66,490 median |
| Virginia | $63,810 median |
| Kansas | $63,160 median |
| Indiana | $62,400 median |
| South Carolina | $61,820 median |
| Illinois | $61,730 median |
| Rhode Island | $60,310 median |
| Florida | $60,170 median |
| California | $60,060 median |
| Mississippi | $58,900 median |
| Arkansas | $58,250 median |
| Texas | $57,350 median |
| Oregon | $57,170 median |
| Colorado | $57,100 median |
| Tennessee | $55,170 median |
| Georgia | $55,000 median |
| Louisiana | $54,890 median |
| Massachusetts | $54,320 median |
| West Virginia | $54,060 median |
| Alabama | $53,080 median |
| Washington | $50,610 median |
| Kentucky | $49,860 median |
| Oklahoma | $49,120 median |
| New Mexico | $45,340 median |
| Iowa | $39,490 median |
Where embalmer pay goes furthest
A salary buys more where prices are low. We divide each state's median by its price level from the Bureau of Economic Analysis, so every figure is in typical US prices. derived
Embalmers' pay goes furthest in Ohio once prices are counted
Median pay ÷ the state's price level (BEA, 2024; US = 100), shown in typical US prices. Top 10 states.
US median
Source: BLS OEWS May 2025; BEA Regional Price Parities 2024. Our calculation.
Show the numbers
| Worth, in US prices | |
|---|---|
| Ohio | $77,123 |
| Missouri | $73,213 |
| North Carolina | $72,673 |
| Pennsylvania | $71,691 |
| Kansas | $70,125 |
| Mississippi | $67,738 |
| Arkansas | $67,003 |
| Indiana | $66,860 |
| South Carolina | $65,942 |
| Virginia | $63,113 |
Embalmer pay in every state
| State | Median a year | Hourly | Lowest 10% | Top 10% | Employed | After cost of living |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ohio | $71,550 | $34.40 | $50,550 | $84,420 | 80 | $77,123 |
| Pennsylvania | $69,950 | $33.63 | $41,250 | $72,060 | 50 | $71,691 |
| North Carolina | $68,550 | $32.96 | $42,540 | $87,650 | 70 | $72,673 |
| Missouri | $66,490 | $31.97 | $39,940 | $76,640 | 160 | $73,213 |
| Virginia | $63,810 | $30.68 | $44,280 | $74,310 | 120 | $63,113 |
| Kansas | $63,160 | $30.37 | $38,540 | $108,350 | 120 | $70,125 |
| Indiana | $62,400 | $30.00 | $61,270 | $65,440 | – | $66,860 |
| South Carolina | $61,820 | $29.72 | $47,240 | $76,140 | 140 | $65,942 |
| Illinois | $61,730 | $29.68 | $56,490 | $75,780 | 60 | $61,756 |
| Rhode Island | $60,310 | $29.00 | $53,570 | $66,410 | 40 | $58,966 |
| Florida | $60,170 | $28.93 | $32,190 | $64,470 | 300 | $58,184 |
| California | $60,060 | $28.88 | $47,310 | $80,590 | 520 | $54,245 |
| Mississippi | $58,900 | $28.32 | $50,780 | $76,800 | 40 | $67,738 |
| Arkansas | $58,250 | $28.00 | $27,880 | $88,790 | 90 | $67,003 |
| Texas | $57,350 | $27.57 | $38,960 | $66,960 | 680 | $59,089 |
| Oregon | $57,170 | $27.49 | $45,670 | $73,390 | 70 | $55,311 |
| Colorado | $57,100 | $27.45 | $42,700 | $81,450 | 70 | $55,409 |
| Tennessee | $55,170 | $26.52 | $39,840 | $77,180 | 180 | $60,052 |
| Georgia | $55,000 | $26.44 | $40,310 | $73,640 | 50 | $57,117 |
| Louisiana | $54,890 | $26.39 | $16,940 | $88,610 | 150 | $62,229 |
| Massachusetts | $54,320 | $26.12 | $38,720 | $75,300 | 100 | $51,363 |
| West Virginia | $54,060 | $25.99 | $32,990 | $76,870 | 50 | $60,404 |
| Alabama | $53,080 | $25.52 | $20,800 | $86,900 | 90 | $59,759 |
| Washington | $50,610 | $24.33 | $39,600 | $88,900 | 40 | $47,293 |
| Kentucky | $49,860 | $23.97 | $30,440 | $70,150 | 280 | $55,302 |
| Oklahoma | $49,120 | $23.62 | $37,080 | $55,850 | 90 | $55,918 |
| New Mexico | $45,340 | $21.80 | $38,080 | $47,030 | 30 | $49,169 |
| Iowa | $39,490 | $18.99 | $31,810 | $78,420 | – | $44,997 |
BLS does not publish pay for embalmers in 23 states (too few workers to estimate reliably). After cost of living = median ÷ (BEA price level ÷ 100).
Embalmer salary by city
Metro areas where BLS publishes embalmer pay: 19 of 387. Rent share = typical rent (September 2026, Zillow) × 12 ÷ the median salary; under 30% is affordable by the usual rule.
Highest-paying metro areas
- Washington, DC $73,450
- St. Louis, MO $63,130
- Columbia, SC $61,880
- Miami, FL $61,680
- Los Angeles, CA $61,570
- San Francisco, CA $60,890
- Tampa, FL $60,300
- Providence, RI $60,140
- Sacramento, CA $58,930
- Houston, TX $58,490
Where the pay goes furthest
- Washington, DC $67,457
- St. Louis, MO $66,391
- Columbia, SC $66,067
- Tampa, FL $59,768
- Houston, TX $59,303
- Nashville, TN $59,146
- Providence, RI $59,092
- Dallas, TX $56,717
- Sacramento, CA $55,245
- Portland, OR $55,179
All 19 metro areas
| Metro area | Median a year | Employed | After cost of living | Rent share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Washington, DC | $73,450 | 40 | $67,457 | 39% |
| St. Louis, MO | $63,130 | 60 | $66,391 | 27% |
| Columbia, SC | $61,880 | 30 | $66,067 | 30% |
| Miami, FL | $61,680 | 80 | $54,032 | 52% |
| Los Angeles, CA | $61,570 | 210 | $54,215 | 57% |
| San Francisco, CA | $60,890 | 70 | $52,667 | 68% |
| Tampa, FL | $60,300 | 50 | $59,768 | 40% |
| Providence, RI | $60,140 | 50 | $59,092 | 43% |
| Sacramento, CA | $58,930 | 30 | $55,245 | 46% |
| Houston, TX | $58,490 | 160 | $59,303 | 34% |
| Dallas, TX | $58,470 | 180 | $56,717 | 34% |
| Portland, OR | $58,170 | 40 | $55,179 | 37% |
| Nashville, TN | $56,980 | 50 | $59,146 | 38% |
| Riverside, CA | $55,380 | 40 | $52,028 | 55% |
| Atlanta, GA | $55,000 | 40 | $54,968 | 40% |
| San Diego, CA | $54,850 | 50 | $49,023 | 65% |
| Oklahoma City, OK | $49,120 | 40 | $54,331 | 34% |
| Louisville, KY | $45,740 | 80 | $49,144 | 35% |
| Denver, CO | $45,300 | 30 | $42,824 | 50% |
What the median embalmer salary pays per paycheck
| Period | Before taxes |
|---|---|
| Year | $58,780 |
| Month | $4,898 |
| Every two weeks | $2,261 |
| Week | $1,130 |
| Hour | $28.26 |
Gross pay, 52 weeks a year, 2,080 hours. Hourly to salary calculator.
Becoming an embalmer: education and job outlook
| Typical entry education | Associate's degree |
|---|---|
| Work experience needed | None |
| On-the-job training | Long-term on-the-job training |
| Projected change in jobs, 2025–35 | +0.7% (all jobs: +3.5%) |
| Openings a year (average) | 700 |
| Self-employed | % |
official BLS Employment Projections, 2025–35. Openings include workers who retire or change jobs.
Similar jobs
| Job | Median a year | Typical education |
|---|---|---|
| Hairstylist | $35,790 | Postsecondary certificate |
| Childcare worker | $34,980 | High school diploma |
| Esthetician | $45,330 | Postsecondary certificate |
| Personal trainer | $47,160 | High school diploma |
| Nail tech | $35,760 | Postsecondary certificate |
| Funeral director | $55,010 | Associate's degree |
Questions about embalmer pay
How much does an embalmer make an hour?
The median is $28.26 an hour. The lowest-paid 10% earn under $18.42 and the top 10% over $37.29.
How much does an embalmer make a month?
About $4,898 a month before taxes at the median salary of $58,780, or $2,261 every two weeks.
What state pays embalmers the most?
Ohio, with a median of $71,550. Pennsylvania ($69,950), North Carolina ($68,550), Missouri ($66,490) and Virginia ($63,810) follow.
Where do embalmers make the most after cost of living?
Ohio: its median of $71,550 is worth $77,123 at typical US prices. Missouri, North Carolina and Pennsylvania come next.
How much do entry-level embalmers make?
BLS does not report pay by experience. The lowest-paid 10% of embalmers earn under $38,310 a year, and the lowest-paid quarter under $48,010, which is a reasonable guide to starting pay.
What education do you need to become an embalmer?
BLS lists the typical entry-level education as an associate's degree. Work experience in a related job: none. On-the-job training: long-term on-the-job training.
Sources and limits
- Pay and employment: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation 39-4011 (Embalmers). Downloaded 2026-10-24.
- OEWS counts wage and salary workers at employers, including tips and commissions but not overtime pay, bonuses that are not tied to production, or benefits. It leaves out the self-employed. BLS does not publish figures above $239,200 a year or for states and metro areas with too few workers.
- Cost of living: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024 (US = 100). Rents: Zillow Observed Rent Index, September 2026; Data Provided by Zillow Group.
- Outlook and education: BLS Employment Projections, 2025–35.
- Pay is not broken down by experience, employer or specialty (for example, ER or pediatric nursing); BLS does not publish those splits.