Funeral Attendants

Career summary

#no matching wois occ, checked 2/19/15 lh

Funeral attendants usually work at funeral homes and chapels. They help funeral directors during funeral services.

Funeral attendants perform a variety of duties. They help carry caskets. They place caskets in a funeral parlor before wakes or funeral services. They arrange flowers and lights around caskets. If the deceased person is to be viewed during the service, funeral attendants open and close the casket.

Funeral attendants greet people as they arrive at the funeral parlor. They help mourners get in and out of cars. They direct mourners to the chapel where the wake or funeral service takes place. Sometimes they escort mourners into chapels.

After a funeral service, funeral attendants carry flowers to the hearse or limousine. They put away funeral equipment. They may wash and polish hearses and limousines.

Sometimes funeral attendants drive the deceased to the funeral home. They may help obtain the necessary burial permits and register paperwork. Some are responsible for cleaning funeral homes and chapels after a funeral service. They may also do light maintenance work. Some help with cremations.

Related careers

This career is part of the Human Services cluster of careers.

Related careers include:

• Embalmers
• Funeral Directors and Managers
• Ushers and Ticket Takers

Job duties

Task list

The following list of tasks is specific to funeral attendants.

• Help funeral directors as needed to make sure funerals run smoothly.
• Greet people as they arrive to the funeral home.
• Help mourners into and out of limousines.
• Assist in carrying casket.
• Place casket in parlor or chapel prior to service.
• Direct or escort mourners into parlor or chapel.
• Assist in closing casket.
• Carry flowers to hearse or limousine for transport to place of burial.
• Arrange flowers and lights around casket.
• Drive hearses to transfer the deceased to funeral homes.
• Obtain burial permits and submit the required paperwork.
• Put away funeral equipment.
• Wash and polish hearses and limousines.
• May perform general maintenance duties, including cleaning funeral homes and chapels.
• May assist with cremations.
• May help families plan the funeral.

Common work activities

Funeral attendants perform the following tasks. These tasks are common to many careers.

• Perform for or work with the public
• Assist and care for others
• Get information needed to do the job
• Identify objects, actions, and events
• Communicate with people outside the organization
• Operate vehicles or mechanized equipment
• Make decisions and solve problems
• Communicate with supervisors, peers, or subordinates
• Establish and maintain relationships
• Monitor events, materials, and surroundings
• Document and record information
• Evaluate information against standards
• Inspect equipment, structures, or materials
• Handle and move objects
• Judge the value of objects, services, or people
• Organize, plan, and prioritize work
• Resolve conflicts and negotiate with others
• Teach others
• Schedule work and activities
• Coordinate the work and activities of others
• Explain the meaning of information to others
• Update and use job-related knowledge
• Process information
• Perform administrative tasks
• Develop and build teams
• Perform activities that use the whole body
• Provide advice and consultation to others
• Guide, direct, and motivate others
• Estimate sizes, quantities, time, cost, or materials needed
• Think creatively
• Develop goals and strategies
• Monitor and control resources
• Use computers
• Analyze data or information
• Coach others
• Control machines and processes

Work requirements

Working conditions

In a typical work setting, funeral attendants:

Interpersonal relationships

• Have a high level of social interaction. They talk with families, mourners, and funeral directors.
• Communicate in person or by telephone on a daily basis.
• Are responsible for the health and safety of others.
• Are somewhat responsible for work outcomes and the results of other workers.
• Regularly work in a group or as part of a team.

Physical work conditions

• Often work indoors in chapels and funeral parlors. However, they sometimes work outdoors helping people into and out of cars.
• Often work in an enclosed vehicle, such as a hearse.
• Work very near others, often within a few feet.
• Are sometimes exposed to contaminants and the diseases or infections of others.

Work performance

• Must accurately complete all details of the job. It is important that funerals run smoothly.
• Make decisions that affect others on a weekly basis. They make most decisions without consulting a supervisor.
• Set some of their tasks and goals for the day, but often consult a superior first.
• Abide by weekly deadlines.
• May repeat the same physical or mental activities.

Hours/travel

• Often work a somewhat irregular schedule. Funerals cannot be predicted.
• Sometimes work weekends or evenings
• May work part time or full time. However, most work about 40 hours per week.

Physical demands

Funeral attendants frequently:

• Stand for long periods of time.

It is important for funeral attendants to be able to:

• Understand the speech of another person.
• Speak clearly so listeners can understand.
• See details of objects that are less than a few feet away.
• Use muscles to lift, push, pull, or carry heavy objects.

It is not as important, but still necessary, for funeral attendants to be able to:

• Use stomach and lower back muscles to support the body for long periods without getting tired.
• See details of objects that are more than a few feet away.
• Move two or more limbs together (for example, two arms, two legs, or one leg and one arm) while remaining in place.
• Hold the arm and hand in one position or hold the hand steady while moving the arm.
• Use muscles for extended periods without getting tired.
• Be physically active for long periods without getting tired or out of breath.
• Coordinate movement of several parts of the body, such as arms and legs, while the body is moving.
• Determine the distance between objects.
• See differences between colors, shades, and brightness.
• Use one or two hands to grasp, move, or assemble objects.
• Make quick, precise adjustments to machine controls.

Skills and abilities

Funeral attendants need to:

Communicate

• Speak clearly so listeners can understand.
• Understand spoken information.
• Listen to others and ask questions.
• Understand written information.

Reason and problem solve

• Notice when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong.

Manage oneself, people, time, and things

• Check how well one is learning or doing something.

Work with people

• Be aware of others' reactions and understand the possible causes.
• Look for ways to help people.
• Change behavior in relation to others' actions.

Education and training

Educational programs

The programs of study listed below will help you prepare for the occupation or career cluster you are exploring.

Programs of study to consider

• Funeral Service and Mortuary Science

Training

To work as a funeral attendant, you typically need to:

• have a high school diploma or equivalent; and
• complete short-term, on-the-job training.

Education after high school

No formal education is required beyond high school.

On-the-job training

Almost all funeral attendants learn their skills on the job from an experienced worker. Training generally lasts up to one month.

Helpful high school courses

You should take a general high school curriculum that meets the state's graduation requirements. You will be required to take both math and science classes to graduate.

Helpful electives to take in high school that prepare you for this career include:

• Hospitality
• Office Procedures
• Psychology

The courses listed above are meant to help you create your high school plan. If you have not already done so, talk to a school counselor or parent about the courses you are considering taking.

You should also check with a teacher or counselor to see if work-based learning opportunities are available in your school and community. These might include field trips, job shadowing, internships, and actual work experience. The goal of these activities is to help you connect your school experiences with real-life work.

Join some groups, try some hobbies, or volunteer with an organization that interests you. By participating in activities you can have fun, make new friends, and learn about yourself. Maybe one of them will help direct you to a future career. Here are examples of activities and groups that may be available in your high school or community.

Things to know

Employers look for people with good communication skills. They also look for the ability to comfort people during difficult times. Most require a high school diploma or equivalent. Some employers have age requirements.

Costs to workers

Some workers may have to purchase appropriate work clothes.

Job listings

Listed below are links to job categories from the National Labor Exchange that relate to this career. Once you get a list of jobs, you can view information about individual jobs and find out how to apply. If your job search finds too many openings, or if you wish to search for jobs outside of Washington, you will need to refine your search.

• Funeral Attendants 

To get a listing of current jobs from the WorkSource system, go to the WorkSource website .

Wages

The minimum wage for Washington State as of January 1, 2020 is $13.50 per hour. Some areas of the state may have a higher minimum wage.

Wages vary by employer and the attendant's level of responsibility.

Funeral attendants who work full time may receive benefits. Typical benefits include paid vacation, sick leave, and health insurance.

Employment and outlook

Washington outlook

The table below provides information about the number of workers in this career in various regions. It also provides information about the expected growth rate and future job openings.

National employment

Major employers:

• Funeral homes

National outlook

Demand for this occupation is expected to grow slowly as morticians, undertakers, and funeral directors take on more of the day-to-day tasks at funeral homes. However, some demand for attendants will occur as the population grows older and passes away.

This is a small occupation so few job openings will be available. Some openings will occur as people retire from this occupation.

Other resources

American Board of Funeral Service Education 
992 Mantua Pike, Suite 108
Woodbury Heights, NJ 08097
816.233.3747

Exploring a Career in Funeral Service 

National Funeral Directors and Morticians Association 
6290 Shannon Parkway
Union City, GA 30291
800.434.0958
770.969.0064

National Funeral Directors Association 
13625 Bishop's Drive
Brookfield, WI 53005
800.228.6332
262.789.1880

References

Career cluster

• Human Services

Career path

• Social

O*Net  occupation

• Funeral Attendants (39-4021.00) 

O*Net job zone 

• Job Zone 2 - Some preparation needed. Some previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience may be helpful in these occupations, but usually is not needed.

DOT occupations

• Funeral Attendant (359.677-014) 
• Pallbearer (359.687-010) 

Holland occupational clusters

• Social/Enterprising/Realistic
• Social/Realistic/Enterprising

COPSystem

• Service Skilled