Funeral Attendant salary in the U.S.
Funeral Attendants in the U.S. earn a median of $35,680 a year ($17.16 an hour), based on BLS data for 31,090 workers.
Pay ranges from $28,070 for the lowest-paid 10% to $48,460 for the top 10%. The average (mean) salary is $37,190, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for funeral attendants in the U.S.
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $28,070 | $13.50 |
| 25th percentile | $30,380 | $14.61 |
| Median | $35,680 | $17.16 |
| 75th percentile | $42,870 | $20.61 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $48,460 | $23.30 |
| Average (mean) | $37,190 | $17.88 |
Half of funeral attendants earn more than the median and half earn less. Percentiles show the spread: 10% earn less than the 10th percentile, and 10% earn more than the 90th.
Median paycheck, before taxes
| Pay period | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $2,973.33 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,486.67 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,372.31 |
| Weekly | $686.15 |
| Hourly | $17.16 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Funeral Attendant salary by state
| State | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| New Hampshire | $55,850 | 120 |
| Rhode Island | $53,580 | 190 |
| Nevada | $51,980 | 100 |
| Delaware | $46,720 | 110 |
| Massachusetts | $46,280 | 1,090 |
| Connecticut | $45,800 | 520 |
| Minnesota | $43,910 | 400 |
| New York | $42,210 | 1,450 |
| Colorado | $41,710 | 160 |
| Washington | $41,600 | 160 |
| Utah | $41,130 | 270 |
| Vermont | $40,800 | 30 |
| Oregon | $40,350 | 70 |
| Iowa | $40,060 | 460 |
| Maine | $39,330 | 220 |
| Missouri | $39,270 | 620 |
| Maryland | $39,020 | 670 |
| California | $38,700 | 1,790 |
| New Jersey | $37,240 | 540 |
| South Dakota | $37,170 | 120 |
| Montana | $37,080 | 110 |
| Pennsylvania | $36,300 | 1,930 |
| Wisconsin | $36,030 | 500 |
| Illinois | $35,690 | 730 |
| Ohio | $35,640 | 1,720 |
| Arizona | $35,450 | 420 |
| Michigan | $35,380 | 1,460 |
| Virginia | $35,010 | 1,450 |
| North Dakota | $34,980 | 130 |
| North Carolina | $34,940 | 1,610 |
| New Mexico | $34,890 | 170 |
| Indiana | $34,420 | 1,080 |
| Idaho | $33,280 | 70 |
| Wyoming | $32,950 | 60 |
| Arkansas | $31,630 | 140 |
| West Virginia | $31,410 | 350 |
| Kansas | $30,720 | 330 |
| Texas | $30,560 | 2,150 |
| Georgia | $30,530 | 1,070 |
| Mississippi | $30,530 | 280 |
| Oklahoma | $30,530 | 510 |
| Louisiana | $30,370 | 560 |
| Alabama | $30,310 | 550 |
| Florida | $30,210 | 1,700 |
| Nebraska | $30,170 | 270 |
| South Carolina | $29,880 | 930 |
| Tennessee | $29,600 | 1,090 |
| Kentucky | $29,160 | 560 |
| Puerto Rico | $21,840 | 280 |
Best-paying metro areas for funeral attendants
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Atlantic City-Hammonton, NJ | $70,880 | 30 |
| Manchester-Nashua, NH | $57,080 | 40 |
| Providence-Warwick, RI-MA | $51,910 | 280 |
| Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | $48,110 | 680 |
| Bridgeport-Stamford-Danbury, CT | $46,480 | 90 |
| Springfield, MA | $46,090 | 110 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | $45,900 | 50 |
| Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford, CT | $45,480 | 180 |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | $45,100 | 1,190 |
| Waterbury-Shelton, CT | $44,810 | 110 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $44,100 | 220 |
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | $42,460 | 530 |
| Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO | $42,380 | 60 |
| Provo-Orem-Lehi, UT | $42,110 | 50 |
| Jefferson City, MO | $42,020 | 50 |
Metro areas with the most funeral attendants
| Metro area | Workers | Median salary |
|---|---|---|
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | 1,190 | $45,100 |
| Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | 680 | $48,110 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | 680 | $38,700 |
| Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI | 580 | $35,380 |
| Pittsburgh, PA | 570 | $36,080 |
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | 530 | $42,460 |
| Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA | 480 | $31,200 |
| Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL | 460 | $30,670 |
| Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX | 440 | $33,270 |
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | 430 | $34,310 |
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | 420 | $36,030 |
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | 410 | $39,500 |
| Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD | 360 | $37,490 |
| Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC | 310 | $35,090 |
| Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN | 300 | $34,960 |
Related jobs in the U.S.
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Morticians, Undertakers, and Funeral Arrangers | $55,010 | $26.45 |
| Embalmer | $58,780 | $28.26 |
| Crematory Operator | $43,650 | $20.98 |
| Childcare Worker | $34,980 | $16.82 |
| Amusement and Recreation Attendants | $32,150 | $15.46 |
| Recreation Worker | $36,560 | $17.58 |
| Exercise Trainers and Group Fitness Instructors | $47,160 | $22.67 |
| Hairdressers, Hairstylists, and Cosmetologists | $35,790 | $17.21 |
| Animal Caretaker | $35,360 | $17.00 |
| Manicurists and Pedicurists | $35,760 | $17.19 |
| Ushers, Lobby Attendants, and Ticket Takers | $32,910 | $15.82 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Personal Service Workers | $48,590 | $23.36 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Entertainment and Recreation Workers, Except Gambling Services | $48,560 | $23.34 |
| Residential Advisor | $42,240 | $20.31 |
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 39-4021. Wages include base pay, tips, commissions and shift pay, but not overtime, bonuses or benefits, and exclude the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a funeral attendant make in the U.S.?
The median salary for funeral attendants in the U.S. is $35,680 a year, or $17.16 an hour. Pay ranges from $28,070 for the lowest-paid 10% to $48,460 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid funeral attendants make in the U.S.?
The top 10% of funeral attendants in the U.S. earn at least $48,460 a year. The top 25% earn $42,870 or more.
What is the starting pay for funeral attendants in the U.S.?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $28,070 a year, and a quarter of funeral attendants earn $30,380 or less.
How many funeral attendants work in the U.S.?
About 31,090 funeral attendants are employed in the U.S., not counting the self-employed.