Funeral director salary
BLS occupation: Morticians, Undertakers, and Funeral Arrangers · also called undertaker · Personal care and service · data for May 2025
Median salary $55,010 a year, US
Median hourly pay $26.45 an hour
Middle half earn $42,430–$72,010 25th to 75th percentile
Funeral directors employed 25,100 +3.0% projected by 2035
How much does a funeral director make?
- The median funeral director salary in the US is $55,010 a year ($26.45 an hour): half of the 25,100 funeral directors BLS counts earn more and half earn less. The average (mean) is $58,160.
- The middle half earn between $42,430 and $72,010. The lowest-paid 10% earn less than $33,350 and the top 10% more than $88,620.
- That is 8% more than the median for all US workers ($50,980).
- Delaware pays funeral directors the most (median $81,530), followed by Utah ($72,800) and Illinois ($69,600). Arkansas pays the least ($36,120).
- After adjusting for prices, the pay goes furthest in Delaware, where the median is worth $81,687 in typical US prices, then Utah and Iowa.
- In 31 of the 129 metro areas with data, the median funeral director salary is enough to rent a typical home without spending more than 30% of income on rent.
- BLS projects the number of funeral directors to grow 3.0% from 2025 to 2035 (all jobs: 3.5%), with about 3,000 openings a year. The typical entry education is an associate's degree.
official From BLS's survey of employers: what funeral directors are actually paid, not job ads or self-reports. Adjusted figures are derived. How we calculate.
How does your pay compare?
Funeral director salary range
Half of funeral directors earn between $42,430 and $72,010 a year
Yearly pay at each point of the range, US, May 2025. For comparison, the median for all US jobs is $50,980.
Lowest 10% earn under Yearly pay: $33,350
Lowest 25% earn under Yearly pay: $42,430
Median Yearly pay: $55,010
Top 25% earn over Yearly pay: $72,010
Top 10% earn over Yearly pay: $88,620
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025.
Show the numbers
| Yearly pay | |
|---|---|
| Lowest 10% earn under | $33,350 |
| Lowest 25% earn under | $42,430 |
| Median | $55,010 |
| Top 25% earn over | $72,010 |
| Top 10% earn over | $88,620 |
Funeral director salary by state
Delaware pays funeral directors the most; Arkansas the least
Median yearly pay by state compared with the US median ($55,010), 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 |
|---|---|
| Delaware | $81,530 median |
| Utah | $72,800 median |
| Illinois | $69,600 median |
| New Jersey | $69,110 median |
| Nebraska | $64,310 median |
| Iowa | $63,700 median |
| Pennsylvania | $63,580 median |
| New York | $63,090 median |
| Massachusetts | $62,120 median |
| Indiana | $60,890 median |
| Maine | $60,880 median |
| Colorado | $60,850 median |
| North Carolina | $60,730 median |
| Michigan | $60,450 median |
| Idaho | $60,250 median |
| North Dakota | $59,760 median |
| Connecticut | $59,710 median |
| Washington | $59,700 median |
| Kansas | $58,580 median |
| Wisconsin | $58,250 median |
| Maryland | $58,060 median |
| Ohio | $57,800 median |
| New Hampshire | $57,630 median |
| Wyoming | $55,570 median |
| Rhode Island | $55,420 median |
| California | $50,750 median |
| New Mexico | $50,380 median |
| Georgia | $49,990 median |
| Minnesota | $49,760 median |
| Vermont | $48,740 median |
| Oregon | $48,630 median |
| Florida | $48,510 median |
| Mississippi | $48,350 median |
| West Virginia | $47,960 median |
| South Dakota | $47,840 median |
| Oklahoma | $47,780 median |
| Louisiana | $46,730 median |
| Texas | $46,630 median |
| Hawaii | $46,310 median |
| Tennessee | $46,180 median |
| Alabama | $44,930 median |
| Nevada | $43,940 median |
| Montana | $43,680 median |
| Kentucky | $43,320 median |
| Missouri | $42,940 median |
| Arizona | $41,870 median |
| South Carolina | $40,020 median |
| Arkansas | $36,120 median |
Where funeral director 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
Funeral directors' pay goes furthest in Delaware 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 | |
|---|---|
| Delaware | $81,687 |
| Utah | $73,637 |
| Iowa | $72,583 |
| Nebraska | $71,374 |
| Illinois | $69,629 |
| North Dakota | $67,177 |
| Indiana | $65,242 |
| Pennsylvania | $65,162 |
| Kansas | $65,040 |
| North Carolina | $64,383 |
Funeral director pay in every state
| State | Median a year | Hourly | Lowest 10% | Top 10% | Employed | After cost of living |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Delaware | $81,530 | $39.20 | $59,240 | $123,700 | 80 | $81,687 |
| Utah | $72,800 | $35.00 | $43,960 | $100,980 | 240 | $73,637 |
| Illinois | $69,600 | $33.46 | $42,740 | $104,570 | 1,320 | $69,629 |
| New Jersey | $69,110 | $33.23 | $33,000 | $94,810 | 580 | $63,517 |
| Nebraska | $64,310 | $30.92 | $34,890 | $86,700 | 210 | $71,374 |
| Iowa | $63,700 | $30.63 | $34,540 | $94,950 | 640 | $72,583 |
| Pennsylvania | $63,580 | $30.57 | $46,570 | $92,830 | 910 | $65,162 |
| New York | $63,090 | $30.33 | $46,780 | $94,990 | 1,030 | $58,459 |
| Massachusetts | $62,120 | $29.87 | $46,190 | $100,360 | 430 | $58,738 |
| Indiana | $60,890 | $29.27 | $31,680 | $96,390 | 630 | $65,242 |
| Maine | $60,880 | $29.27 | $34,650 | $95,580 | 80 | $62,731 |
| Colorado | $60,850 | $29.25 | $38,000 | $138,880 | 320 | $59,048 |
| North Carolina | $60,730 | $29.20 | $29,950 | $84,920 | 1,000 | $64,383 |
| Michigan | $60,450 | $29.06 | $37,440 | $87,340 | 810 | $62,827 |
| Idaho | $60,250 | $28.97 | $45,900 | $100,230 | 160 | $63,093 |
| North Dakota | $59,760 | $28.73 | $44,700 | $94,250 | 110 | $67,177 |
| Connecticut | $59,710 | $28.71 | $34,010 | $94,620 | 300 | $57,630 |
| Washington | $59,700 | $28.70 | $45,290 | $77,470 | 400 | $55,788 |
| Kansas | $58,580 | $28.16 | $32,150 | $79,990 | 230 | $65,040 |
| Wisconsin | $58,250 | $28.00 | $38,170 | $92,220 | 580 | $61,906 |
| Maryland | $58,060 | $27.91 | $36,330 | $100,330 | 500 | $55,317 |
| Ohio | $57,800 | $27.79 | $29,290 | $82,430 | 1,370 | $62,302 |
| New Hampshire | $57,630 | $27.71 | $46,850 | $121,720 | 80 | $55,326 |
| Wyoming | $55,570 | $26.72 | $33,970 | $90,320 | 40 | $59,952 |
| Rhode Island | $55,420 | $26.64 | $54,360 | $139,100 | 40 | $54,185 |
| California | $50,750 | $24.40 | $37,030 | $77,850 | 2,240 | $45,836 |
| New Mexico | $50,380 | $24.22 | $37,440 | $69,470 | 100 | $54,635 |
| Georgia | $49,990 | $24.03 | $35,810 | $78,290 | 780 | $51,914 |
| Minnesota | $49,760 | $23.92 | $37,440 | $104,770 | 500 | $50,456 |
| Vermont | $48,740 | $23.43 | $45,490 | $81,880 | 40 | $49,756 |
| Oregon | $48,630 | $23.38 | $35,640 | $78,000 | 220 | $47,049 |
| Florida | $48,510 | $23.32 | $30,580 | $77,770 | 1,510 | $46,909 |
| Mississippi | $48,350 | $23.25 | $26,360 | $60,570 | 320 | $55,605 |
| West Virginia | $47,960 | $23.06 | $31,340 | $59,970 | 180 | $53,588 |
| South Dakota | $47,840 | $23.00 | $43,780 | $78,940 | 200 | $54,004 |
| Oklahoma | $47,780 | $22.97 | $26,200 | $97,290 | 380 | $54,392 |
| Louisiana | $46,730 | $22.47 | $27,190 | $78,770 | 440 | $52,978 |
| Texas | $46,630 | $22.42 | $24,120 | $62,070 | 1,500 | $48,044 |
| Hawaii | $46,310 | $22.26 | $33,580 | $53,620 | 150 | $42,119 |
| Tennessee | $46,180 | $22.20 | $33,600 | $68,990 | 550 | $50,267 |
| Alabama | $44,930 | $21.60 | $30,660 | $61,440 | 420 | $50,584 |
| Nevada | $43,940 | $21.13 | $28,360 | $55,710 | 280 | $43,949 |
| Montana | $43,680 | $21.00 | $35,040 | $79,450 | 110 | $46,151 |
| Kentucky | $43,320 | $20.83 | $27,520 | $61,230 | 470 | $48,048 |
| Missouri | $42,940 | $20.64 | $28,600 | $86,700 | 790 | $47,282 |
| Arizona | $41,870 | $20.13 | $36,260 | $55,960 | 360 | $41,588 |
| South Carolina | $40,020 | $19.24 | $29,510 | $83,650 | 400 | $42,688 |
| Arkansas | $36,120 | $17.37 | $30,540 | $60,040 | 360 | $41,547 |
BLS does not publish pay for funeral directors in 3 states (too few workers to estimate reliably). After cost of living = median ÷ (BEA price level ÷ 100).
Funeral director salary by city
Metro areas where BLS publishes funeral director pay: 130 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
- Chicago, IL $81,440
- Waterbury, CT $78,280
- Philadelphia, PA $75,470
- Provo, UT $74,780
- Salt Lake City, UT $74,610
- Ogden, UT $73,970
- New York, NY $72,860
- Stockton, CA $70,830
- Cedar Rapids, IA $70,280
- Des Moines, IA $70,100
Where the pay goes furthest
- Cedar Rapids, IA $78,999
- Chicago, IL $78,614
- Waterbury, CT $78,454
- Des Moines, IA $76,444
- Provo, UT $76,126
- Omaha, NE $76,052
- Salt Lake City, UT $73,968
- Ogden, UT $73,713
- Philadelphia, PA $73,590
- Davenport, IA $70,252
All 130 metro areas
| Metro area | Median a year | Employed | After cost of living | Rent share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chicago, IL | $81,440 | 710 | $78,614 | 32% |
| Waterbury, CT | $78,280 | 60 | $78,454 | – |
| Philadelphia, PA | $75,470 | 330 | $73,590 | 30% |
| Provo, UT | $74,780 | 30 | $76,126 | 28% |
| Salt Lake City, UT | $74,610 | 110 | $73,968 | 26% |
| Ogden, UT | $73,970 | 40 | $73,713 | 26% |
| New York, NY | $72,860 | 940 | $64,728 | 58% |
| Stockton, CA | $70,830 | 40 | $67,400 | 41% |
| Cedar Rapids, IA | $70,280 | 60 | $78,999 | 21% |
| Des Moines, IA | $70,100 | 110 | $76,444 | 22% |
| Omaha, NE | $69,900 | 80 | $76,052 | 24% |
| Reading, PA | $66,470 | 30 | $68,483 | 28% |
| Lancaster, PA | $65,250 | 40 | $66,407 | 29% |
| York, PA | $64,910 | 40 | $67,615 | 26% |
| Harrisburg, PA | $64,450 | 40 | $65,332 | 28% |
| Durham, NC | $63,450 | 40 | $65,029 | 31% |
| San Jose, CA | $63,160 | 120 | $57,198 | 72% |
| Lincoln, NE | $63,130 | 30 | $68,934 | 24% |
| Grand Rapids, MI | $63,010 | 100 | $65,947 | 31% |
| Saginaw, MI | $62,800 | 40 | $69,094 | 20% |
| Davenport, IA | $62,580 | 50 | $70,252 | 19% |
| Boston, MA | $62,540 | 270 | $57,765 | 57% |
| Pittsburgh, PA | $62,450 | 240 | $65,965 | 28% |
| Asheville, NC | $62,380 | 80 | $64,638 | 33% |
| Detroit, MI | $62,190 | 290 | $62,005 | 29% |
| Scranton, PA | $62,040 | 60 | $66,313 | 26% |
| Albany, NY | $61,940 | 60 | $62,210 | 33% |
| Springfield, MA | $61,640 | 40 | $64,168 | 38% |
| Fort Wayne, IN | $61,630 | 30 | $66,575 | 25% |
| Denver, CO | $61,430 | 130 | $58,072 | 37% |
| Winston-Salem, NC | $61,030 | 80 | $66,306 | 30% |
| Flint, MI | $60,920 | 50 | $65,481 | 21% |
| Indianapolis, IN | $60,900 | 150 | $63,639 | 30% |
| Greensboro, NC | $60,780 | 80 | $65,450 | 28% |
| Lansing, MI | $60,540 | 30 | $63,732 | 26% |
| Washington, DC | $60,440 | 240 | $55,509 | 48% |
| Boise, ID | $60,370 | 50 | $61,357 | 38% |
| San Francisco, CA | $60,310 | 250 | $52,165 | 69% |
| Buffalo, NY | $60,130 | 90 | $62,737 | 29% |
| Yakima, WA | $60,130 | 40 | $62,934 | 27% |
| Seattle, WA | $60,120 | 180 | $54,097 | 45% |
| Allentown, PA | $59,990 | 60 | $60,009 | 37% |
| Rochester, NY | $59,950 | 70 | $61,782 | 31% |
| Oklahoma City, OK | $59,940 | 120 | $66,299 | 28% |
| Hartford, CT | $59,920 | 90 | $58,319 | 40% |
| Lynchburg, VA | $59,870 | 40 | $66,996 | 26% |
| Columbus, OH | $59,480 | 180 | $62,303 | 31% |
| Richmond, VA | $59,340 | 100 | $60,639 | 34% |
| Colorado Springs, CO | $58,690 | 40 | $58,278 | 36% |
| Cincinnati, OH | $58,510 | 200 | $61,351 | 31% |
| Madison, WI | $58,250 | 50 | $59,874 | 37% |
| Akron, OH | $58,090 | 50 | $62,215 | 27% |
| Albuquerque, NM | $58,090 | 40 | $60,798 | 31% |
| Charlotte, NC | $58,070 | 200 | $59,652 | 36% |
| Canton, OH | $57,770 | 40 | $64,615 | 24% |
| Bridgeport, CT | $57,740 | 70 | $54,031 | 60% |
| Milwaukee, WI | $57,650 | 150 | $59,472 | 32% |
| Baltimore, MD | $57,520 | 240 | $55,050 | 40% |
| Toledo, OH | $57,500 | 60 | $62,872 | 26% |
| Hagerstown, MD | $57,260 | 30 | $60,804 | 34% |
| Wichita, KS | $56,710 | 50 | $63,758 | 26% |
| Roanoke, VA | $56,370 | 80 | $60,213 | 30% |
| Cape Coral, FL | $56,210 | 40 | $54,920 | 39% |
| Atlanta, GA | $55,660 | 340 | $55,628 | 40% |
| Providence, RI | $55,380 | 90 | $54,415 | 47% |
| Cleveland, OH | $54,510 | 240 | $58,037 | 32% |
| Huntington, WV | $52,660 | 30 | $59,555 | 25% |
| Oxnard, CA | $52,660 | 30 | $47,641 | 67% |
| Lubbock, TX | $52,270 | 30 | $57,240 | 31% |
| Minneapolis, MN | $52,090 | 240 | $49,694 | 40% |
| Lakeland, FL | $51,520 | 40 | $53,036 | 42% |
| Lake Charles, LA | $51,380 | 40 | $59,847 | 32% |
| Sacramento, CA | $50,700 | 120 | $47,530 | 54% |
| Orlando, FL | $50,530 | 170 | $49,824 | 46% |
| Los Angeles, CA | $50,490 | 860 | $44,459 | 70% |
| Gulfport, MS | $50,080 | 40 | $55,641 | 34% |
| Portland, OR | $49,930 | 110 | $47,362 | 43% |
| Austin, TX | $49,880 | 60 | $50,864 | 39% |
| Augusta, GA | $49,610 | 50 | $53,981 | 35% |
| St. Louis, MO | $49,280 | 340 | $51,826 | 35% |
| Miami, FL | $49,190 | 400 | $43,091 | 65% |
| Tulsa, OK | $49,180 | 90 | $55,126 | 34% |
| Nashville, TN | $49,080 | 120 | $50,946 | 44% |
| San Diego, CA | $49,070 | 210 | $43,857 | 73% |
| North Port, FL | $48,940 | 50 | $47,785 | 52% |
| Riverside, CA | $48,830 | 210 | $45,875 | 62% |
| Modesto, CA | $48,650 | 40 | $46,730 | 51% |
| St. Cloud, MN | $48,580 | 30 | $55,436 | 30% |
| Bakersfield, CA | $48,540 | 40 | $48,114 | 45% |
| Tampa, FL | $48,540 | 230 | $48,112 | 49% |
| Ocala, FL | $48,480 | 30 | $50,906 | 39% |
| Youngstown, OH | $48,350 | 70 | $55,324 | 26% |
| Dallas, TX | $48,140 | 370 | $46,697 | 41% |
| Louisville, KY | $48,140 | 110 | $51,722 | 33% |
| Columbia, SC | $48,130 | 40 | $51,387 | 39% |
| Macon, GA | $48,040 | 40 | $54,265 | 30% |
| Fresno, CA | $48,010 | 70 | $46,996 | 51% |
| Houston, TX | $47,990 | 310 | $48,657 | 41% |
| Sioux Falls, SD | $47,990 | 50 | $52,951 | 32% |
| San Antonio, TX | $47,760 | 120 | $50,424 | 36% |
| Jacksonville, FL | $47,620 | 110 | $47,867 | 42% |
| Duluth, MN | $47,200 | 30 | $53,172 | 34% |
| Beaumont, TX | $47,030 | 30 | $52,229 | 33% |
| Baton Rouge, LA | $47,000 | 60 | $51,774 | 35% |
| Memphis, TN | $46,970 | 80 | $50,955 | 36% |
| Jackson, MS | $46,800 | 70 | $52,556 | 38% |
| Honolulu, HI | $46,310 | 120 | $41,735 | 78% |
| Kansas City, MO | $46,270 | 220 | $49,998 | 40% |
| Deltona, FL | $46,240 | 60 | $46,535 | 46% |
| Columbus, GA | $46,210 | 30 | $51,749 | 35% |
| Chattanooga, TN | $46,200 | 70 | $50,512 | 39% |
| Odessa, TX | $45,960 | 30 | $48,948 | 41% |
| Mobile, AL | $45,880 | 50 | $52,078 | 33% |
| Reno, NV | $45,780 | 40 | $45,320 | 54% |
| Port St. Lucie, FL | $45,640 | 40 | $45,536 | 61% |
| Kingsport, TN | $45,440 | 50 | $52,564 | 35% |
| Gainesville, FL | $45,020 | 40 | $46,540 | 44% |
| Birmingham, AL | $44,930 | 90 | $49,027 | 37% |
| Greenville, SC | $43,810 | 70 | $46,976 | 43% |
| Phoenix, AZ | $43,330 | 240 | $41,939 | 48% |
| El Paso, TX | $39,190 | 30 | $43,587 | 47% |
| Las Vegas, NV | $38,390 | 220 | $38,308 | 54% |
| Fayetteville, AR | $38,200 | 30 | $41,816 | 49% |
| Tucson, AZ | $38,050 | 50 | $39,269 | 47% |
| Charleston, SC | $37,980 | 40 | $37,618 | 64% |
| Little Rock, AR | $36,120 | 80 | $40,419 | 41% |
| Spartanburg, SC | $35,830 | 30 | $39,352 | 49% |
| Jefferson City, MO | $35,450 | 40 | $40,296 | 34% |
| Springfield, MO | $35,310 | 60 | $39,860 | 43% |
| Florence, SC | $32,980 | 30 | $38,007 | 55% |
What the median funeral director salary pays per paycheck
| Period | Before taxes |
|---|---|
| Year | $55,010 |
| Month | $4,584 |
| Every two weeks | $2,116 |
| Week | $1,058 |
| Hour | $26.45 |
Gross pay, 52 weeks a year, 2,080 hours. Hourly to salary calculator.
Becoming a funeral director: 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 | +3.0% (all jobs: +3.5%) |
| Openings a year (average) | 3,000 |
| Self-employed | 5.2% |
official BLS Employment Projections, 2025–35. Openings include workers who retire or change jobs. What the work involves: BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook.
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Questions about funeral director pay
How much does a funeral director make an hour?
The median is $26.45 an hour. The lowest-paid 10% earn under $16.03 and the top 10% over $42.61.
How much does a funeral director make a month?
About $4,584 a month before taxes at the median salary of $55,010, or $2,116 every two weeks.
What state pays funeral directors the most?
Delaware, with a median of $81,530. Utah ($72,800), Illinois ($69,600), New Jersey ($69,110) and Nebraska ($64,310) follow.
Where do funeral directors make the most after cost of living?
Delaware: its median of $81,530 is worth $81,687 at typical US prices. Utah, Iowa and Nebraska come next.
How much do entry-level funeral directors make?
BLS does not report pay by experience. The lowest-paid 10% of funeral directors earn under $33,350 a year, and the lowest-paid quarter under $42,430, which is a reasonable guide to starting pay.
What education do you need to become a funeral director?
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 39-4031 (Morticians, Undertakers, and Funeral Arrangers). 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.