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Funeral Attendant

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AVG. SALARY

$28,060

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EDUCATION

High school preferred +

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JOB OUTLOOK

Decreasing

What They Do

Funeral Attendants Career Video

About This Career

Performs a variety of tasks during funeral, such as placing casket in parlor or chapel prior to service, arranging floral offerings or lights around casket, directing or escorting mourners, closing casket, and issuing and storing funeral equipment.

This career is part of the Human Services cluster Personal Care Services pathway.

A person in this career:

  • Greets people at the funeral home.
  • Performs a variety of tasks during funerals to assist funeral directors and to ensure that services run smoothly and as planned.
  • Transports the deceased to the funeral home.
  • Directs or escorts mourners to parlors or chapels in which wakes or funerals are being held.
  • Closes caskets at appropriate point in services.
  • Attends to the needs of the bereaved, such as by offering comfort, counseling, or after-care programs.
  • Offers assistance to mourners as they enter or exit limousines.
  • Places caskets in parlors or chapels prior to wakes or funerals.
  • Cleans and drives funeral vehicles, such as cars or hearses, in funeral processions.
  • Carries flowers to hearses or limousines for transportation to places of interment.

Working Conditions and Physical Demands

People who do this job report that:

  • You would often handle loads up to 20 lbs., sometimes up to 50 lbs. You might do a lot of lifting, carrying, pushing or pulling.
  • Work in this occupation requires being outside most of the time

Working in this career involves (physical activities):

  • Seeing clearly up close
  • Speaking clearly enough to be able to be understood by others
  • Identifying and understanding the speech of another person
  • Lifting, pushing, pulling, or carrying objects

Work Hours and Travel

  • Irregular hours
  • Weekend work

Specialty and Similar Careers

Careers that are more detailed or close to this career:

  • Crematory Operator — Oversees safe operation of cremation equipment, prepares the funeral chapel for services, accurate record-keeping and identification and interacts with the bereaved.
  • Funeral Assistant
  • Funeral Greeter
  • Funeral Home Assistant
  • Funeral Home Associate
  • Funeral Home Attendant