Hiring guide · Beauty, Fitness & Personal Care
How to Hire a Funeral Director
Pay benchmarks, qualifications, sourcing, screening and interview questions for hiring funeral directors, plus a plan to get them productive fast.
Write a clear job description, offer competitive pay (the national median is $55,010), recruit through cosmetology, barbering and massage school career days, verify State funeral director license where applicable, run a structured interview with a practical skills check, and onboard with a 30-60-90 day plan.
Pay data: BLS OEWS, May 2025 · Outlook: BLS 2025–35 · Checked October 15, 2026
The hiring market for funeral directors
There are about 26,700 funeral directors employed in the U.S., with roughly 3,000 openings each year. Employment is projected to change +3.0% from 2025–35 (about as fast as average). Most openings come from replacing workers who retire or change careers, so a steady pipeline matters.
Pay benchmarks for offers
| Candidate level | Annual | Hourly* |
|---|---|---|
| Entry level (10th–25th percentile) | $33,350–$42,430 | $16.03–$20.40 |
| Typical / mid-career (median) | $55,010 | $26.45 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $72,010 | $34.62 |
| Top of market (90th percentile) | $88,620 | $42.61 |
*Annual ÷ 2,080 hours except median. National BLS data; adjust for your state and metro area. Many states and cities now require pay ranges in job postings.
What to look for
Must-haves
- Associate's degree (typical entry level)
- Licensing or certification required in your state
- Funeral planning
- Compassion
Nice-to-haves
- State funeral director license
- National Board Exam
- Certified Funeral Service Practitioner (CFSP)
- Experience with funeral home management software
Where to find funeral directors
- Cosmetology, barbering and massage school career days
- Certification bodies and continuing education classes
- Social media and client referrals
- Assistants and apprentices already on your team
- Job postings that use common alternate titles: Mortician, Undertaker, Funeral Arranger, Funeral Home Manager
Screening checklist
- State license verification with the licensing board
- A practical skills demonstration or trial service
- Liability insurance and certification checks where required
- References focused on reliability and client service
Follow federal, state and local rules on background checks, drug testing and fair-chance hiring, and apply screening consistently to all candidates for the role.
Interview questions to ask
Ask every candidate the same questions and score answers on a structured scorecard.
1. “Why funeral service?”
What a strong answer includes: Show compassion and calling.
2. “How do you support grieving families?”
What a strong answer includes: Explain listening and care.
3. “How do you handle on-call work?”
What a strong answer includes: Be honest.
4. “What is the FTC Funeral Rule?”
What a strong answer includes: Explain price transparency.
5. “Are you licensed?”
What a strong answer includes: Share status.
Practical skills checks
A short demonstration beats a perfect resume. Ask candidates to talk you through, or perform under supervision, tasks such as:
- Lead an Arrangement Conference (see the steps)
- File a Death Certificate (see the steps)
- Direct a Funeral Service (see the steps)
Red flags
- Can’t describe basic safety practices for the role
- Vague or inconsistent work history with no explanation
- Unfamiliar with core terms such as Arrangement conference, Visitation, Embalming
- Negative talk about every past employer or coworker
Onboard for retention
The first 90 days decide whether a new hire stays. Use our Funeral Director 30-60-90 day onboarding plan and give every new hire the same foundation with Funeral Director training. Show them the path forward: Funeral Service Apprentice → Licensed Funeral Director → Funeral Home Manager → Funeral Home Owner.
Hiring funeral directors: FAQ
How much should I pay a funeral director?
The U.S. median wage for funeral directors is $55,010 per year ($26.45/hour), according to BLS May 2025 data. Entry-level offers often fall near the 25th percentile ($42,430), while experienced hires command closer to the 75th percentile ($72,010). Adjust for your local market.
What qualifications should a funeral director have?
BLS lists “associate's degree” as the typical entry-level education. Look for State funeral director license and National Board Exam where relevant, plus skills such as funeral planning, legal documentation, and mortuary science.
How long does it take to train a new funeral director?
Becoming qualified typically takes 2–4 years including apprenticeship. After hire, plan for a structured 30-60-90 day onboarding period; BLS classifies on-the-job training for this occupation as “long-term on-the-job training.”