Funeral Directors and Embalmers
(NOC 6346)
in All Sales and ServiceFuneral directors coordinate and arrange all aspects of funeral services. Embalmers prepare the remains of those who have died for public visitation and burial. Funeral directors and embalmers are work for funeral homes.
Job Outlook
Undetermined
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Compared to: All Sales and Service
Hourly Pay
$16.00
Minimum$20.79
Median$36.06
MaximumAnnual Pay
N/A
Minimum$39,532
MedianN/A
MaximumCompared to: All Sales and Service
Hourly Pay
$12.95
Minimum$15.00
Median$25.60
MaximumAnnual Pay
$2,949
Minimum$16,629
Median$45,086
MaximumAbout the job
Nature of work
Funeral directors coordinate and arrange all aspects of funeral services. Embalmers prepare the remains of those who have died for public visitation and burial. Funeral directors and embalmers are work for funeral homes.
Job duties
Funeral directors:
- Consult with the family of the deceased regarding the nature of the funeral service, the disposition of the remains and funeral costs.
- Transfer, or arrange for the transfer of, the remains from the place of death to the funeral home.
- Inform survivors of benefits for which they may be eligible.
- Issue death notices to newspapers.
- Oversee the preparation of the remains, plan and schedule funeral services, coordinate burials and cremations and complete legal documents.
- Discuss and negotiate prearranged funerals with clients.
- Manage funeral home operations including hiring and directing staff, maintaining financial records, preparing accounts, and ordering merchandise.
- Supervise embalmers, funeral home attendants and other funeral home staff.
- May perform same duties as embalmers.
Embalmers:
- Preserve, sanitize, and prepare human remains for funeral services.
- Perform cosmetic and restorative work on human remains.
- Supervise funeral home attendants and other funeral home staff.
Sample job titles
- assistant funeral director
- embalmer
- embalmer apprentice
- funeral director
- funeral home director
- funeral services director
- mortician
- undertaker
- undertaker assistant
Skills
- Funeral directors and embalmers should be comfortable working with the deceased. You must be sympathetic, understanding, and able to comfort people in times of distress. Patience, emotional stability, and maturity are essential. You must show tact and consideration at all times, even if called at irregular hours.
Job requirements
- A one- to two-year college program and a twelve- to twenty-month practical apprenticeship program during or following the educational program is usually required for funeral directors.
- A two- to three-year college program and a twelve- to twenty-month practical apprenticeship program during or following the educational program or a three-year college program is required for embalmers.
- Funeral directors require licensure in most provinces and territories.
- Funeral directors may be required to be licensed embalmers depending on provincial requirements.
- Embalmers require licensure in Nova Scotia.
Other considerations
- Funeral directors sometimes work long, irregular hours. This may include many evenings and weekends. They work indoors and outdoors regardless of weather conditions.
By the numbers
Quick look
employed in 2016
employed full-time
self employed
median age
Compared to: All Sales and Service
employed in 2016
employed full-time
self employed
median age
Where will I likely work?
Cape Breton
$35,966 median annual incomeHalifax
$46,932 median annual incomeSouthern
$41,903 median annual incomeNorth Shore
N/AAnnapolis Valley
N/ACompared to: All NS Occupations
Halifax
North Shore
Annapolis Valley
Cape Breton
Southern
Top Industries of Employment
Other services (except public administration)
What is the age of Employment?
45-54
55-64
35-44
65+
25-34
Compared to: All Sales and Service
15-24
45-54
25-34
55-64
35-44
Top levels of education
College Diploma
$35,485 median annual incomeTrade Certification
N/ABachelor
N/ALess than high school
N/ADiploma Below Bachelor
N/ACompared to: All Sales and Service
High school
$15,705 median annual incomeLess than high school
$9,866 median annual incomeCollege Diploma
$20,644 median annual incomeBachelor
$21,262 median annual incomeTrade Certification
$21,234 median annual incomeEducation & training
Funeral Direction/Service
College or Trades ProgramThese programs prepare students for professional licensure as funeral directors and as managers of funeral homes, cemeteries, and related services. They include courses in the sociology of death and dying, psychology of grief and grief counselling, history of funeral service, funeral direction, business law, funeral service law, funeral home management, accounting and related computer operations, and funeral services marketing and merchandising.
Institutions providing this program
Various, NS
Mortuary Science and Embalming
College or Trades ProgramThese programs prepare students for licensure as embalmers and morticians. They include courses in pathogenic microbiology, systematic pathology, thanatochemistry, gross anatomy, clinical mortuary science, embalming, restorative art, applicable laws and regulations, and special services such as cremation and preparations required by specific religious communities.
Institutions providing this program
Various, NS
Employment requirements & contacts
Regulations
Right to Title and Practice: This job is regulated. The job title is protected, and you may not use it without a professional licence. A licence shows that the holder has met provincial requirements and is required to legally do this work.
Right to Title and Practice: This job is regulated. The job title is protected, and you may not use it without a professional licence. A licence shows that the holder has met provincial requirements and is required to legally do this work.
Contacts
Additional resources
There are no additional resources for this occupation.