# Embalmers

> Prepare bodies for interment in conformity with legal requirements.

- Edition: Data verified Nov 2026 · CollegesRef 2026–27 edition
- Page: https://www.collegesref.com/careers/embalmers
- SOC code: 39-4011.00
- Career family: Personal care and service
- Median annual pay: $58,780 (10th percentile $38,310, 90th percentile $77,570)
- Projected growth: Little or no change, +0.7%
- Openings a year: 700
- Typical entry education: Associate's degree
- Bright outlook: no
- Data years: BLS 2025 wages · 2025–35 projections

## Interest profile (code RCS)

| Interest area | Score (0–100) |
| --- | ---: |
| Realistic (R) | 81 |
| Investigative (I) | 26 |
| Artistic (A) | 10 |
| Social (S) | 40 |
| Enterprising (E) | 27 |
| Conventional (C) | 48 |

## What you'd do

- Assisting and Caring for Others (importance 89/100)
- Documenting/Recording Information (importance 85/100)
- Handling and Moving Objects (importance 83/100)
- Making Decisions and Solving Problems (importance 83/100)
- Getting Information (importance 79/100)
- Evaluating Information to Determine Compliance with Standards (importance 76/100)
- Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge (importance 75/100)
- Processing Information (importance 74/100)
- Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events (importance 73/100)
- Performing for or Working Directly with the Public (importance 73/100)

## Skills

Speaking, Active Listening, Critical Thinking, Service Orientation, Social Perceptiveness, Time Management, Writing, Active Learning, Coordination, Judgment and Decision Making

## Knowledge

Customer and Personal Service, Chemistry, Psychology, English Language, Law and Government, Biology, Administration and Management, Administrative, Philosophy and Theology, Education and Training

## Also called

Anatomical Embalmer, Arterial Embalmer, Embalmer, Funeral Embalmer, Funeral Services Embalmer, Licensed Embalmer, Restorative Art Embalmer, Trade Embalmer

## Majors that lead here (NCES CIP–SOC crosswalk, 4-digit CIP)

- [Funeral Service and Mortuary Science](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/1203) (CIP 1203, 71 colleges)

## Colleges with strong outcomes (College Scorecard, 2025)

| College | Program | Earnings 1 yr | Earnings 4 yrs | Median debt |
| --- | --- | ---: | ---: | ---: |
| [University of Minnesota-Twin Cities Main Campus](https://www.collegesref.com/college/university-of-minnesota-twin-cities-main-campus-2963) | Funeral Service and Mortuary Science | $62,908 | $77,420 | $14,667 |
| [Mid-America College of Funeral Service](https://www.collegesref.com/college/mid-america-college-of-funeral-service-1681) | Funeral Service and Mortuary Science | not reported | $67,172 | $14,757 |
| [Wayne State University-Michigan](https://www.collegesref.com/college/wayne-state-university-michigan-3181) | Funeral Service and Mortuary Science | $56,637 | $62,954 | $14,500 |
| [Southern Illinois University-Carbondale](https://www.collegesref.com/college/southern-illinois-university-carbondale-2495) | Funeral Service and Mortuary Science | $51,033 | $60,203 | $27,625 |
| [University of Central Oklahoma](https://www.collegesref.com/college/university-of-central-oklahoma-2893) | Funeral Service and Mortuary Science | $50,151 | $54,571 | $23,842 |

## Related careers

- [Morticians, Undertakers, and Funeral Arrangers](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/morticians-undertakers-and-funeral-arrangers): $55,010 median pay
- [Funeral Attendants](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/funeral-attendants): $35,680 median pay
- [Funeral Home Managers](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/funeral-home-managers): $78,790 median pay
- [Crematory Operators](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/crematory-operators): $43,650 median pay
- [Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/licensed-practical-and-licensed-vocational-nurses): $64,400 median pay
- [Surgical Technologists](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/surgical-technologists): $64,650 median pay

## Sources

- [O*NET Database](https://www.onetcenter.org/database.html), version 31.0 (CC BY 4.0)
- [BLS Employment Projections](https://www.bls.gov/emp/tables.htm), version 2025-35, data year 2025 (Public domain (U.S. government work))
- [BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics](https://www.bls.gov/oes/tables.htm), version 2025, data year 2025 (Public domain (U.S. government work))
- [NCES CIP 2020 to SOC 2018 crosswalk](https://nces.ed.gov/ipeds/cipcode/resources.aspx?y=56), version 2020, data year 2020 (Public domain (U.S. government work))

O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. CollegesRef has modified all or some of this information.