Career comparison
Embalmer vs. Funeral Director
Side-by-side pay, training, growth and day-to-day duties to help you choose between two related careers.
Embalmers earn more at the median ($58,780 vs. $55,010), while embalmers usually get to work faster (2–3 years including apprenticeship of training). Embalmers prepare the deceased for viewing with skill, care and dignity. Funeral directors guide families through funerals and care for those who have died.
Pay data: BLS OEWS, May 2025 · Outlook: BLS 2025–35 · Checked October 15, 2026
| Embalmer | Funeral Director | |
|---|---|---|
| Median pay | $58,780 ($28.26/hr) | $55,010 ($26.45/hr) |
| Pay range (10th–90th) | $38,310 – $77,570 | $33,350 – $88,620 |
| Job growth, 2025–35 | +0.7% (little or no change) | +3.0% (about as fast as average) |
| Openings per year | 700 | 3,000 |
| Typical entry education | Associate's degree | Associate's degree |
| Training time | 2–3 years including apprenticeship | 2–4 years including apprenticeship |
| Key credential | State embalmer license | State funeral director license |
| Work setting | Embalmers work in funeral home preparation rooms with chemicals, requiring PPE and ventilation.. | Funeral directors work in funeral homes, cemeteries, churches and family homes, often on call.. |
What each job does
Embalmer
- Prepare bodies for embalming
- Perform arterial and cavity embalming
- Perform restorative art
- Dress and cosmetize the deceased
- Maintain the preparation room
Funeral Director
- Meet with families to plan services
- Arrange burial, cremation and transportation
- File death certificates and permits
- Prepare obituaries
- Coordinate with clergy, cemeteries and vendors
How they’re similar
Both careers involve indoor work and high responsibility. Both are part of the beauty, fitness & personal care field, so many skills transfer between them.
Which should you choose?
Choose embalmer if…
- I can handle this work calmly
- I’m detail-oriented
- I want to help grieving families
Choose funeral director if…
- I’m compassionate and calm
- I can handle emotional situations
- I’m organized with details
Still torn? Take the Embalmer fit quiz and the Funeral Director fit quiz, or the full Career Match Quiz.
Quick comparisons
Which pays more, embalmer or funeral director?
Embalmers earn more at the median: $58,780 versus $55,010 for funeral directors, based on BLS May 2025 data.
Which takes less time to train for?
Embalmers typically train faster (2–3 years including apprenticeship) than funeral directors (2–4 years including apprenticeship).
Which career has better job growth?
BLS projects funeral directors to grow +3.0% from 2025–35, compared with +0.7% for embalmers.