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Mortuary Science & Embalming

Types of Degrees Mortuary Science & Embalming Majors Are Earning

People majoring in Mortuary Science & Embalming have the option of earning degrees at several award levels.

Award Level	Graduates
Associate’s Degree	35
Master’s Degree	29

What Mortuary Science & Embalming Majors Need to Know

Programs in Mortuary Science & Embalming develop a specific mix of knowledge, skills, and abilities — derived from O*NET surveys of workers in occupations that Mortuary Science & Embalming graduates commonly enter.

Knowledge Areas

This major prepares you for careers needing Mortuary Science & Embalming emphasizes the following knowledge areas:

• Customer and Personal Service — Importance 4.7 / 5; level 4.6 / 7.
• Chemistry — Importance 3.6 / 5; level 4.8 / 7.
• Psychology — Importance 3.6 / 5; level 4.1 / 7.
• English Language — Importance 3.5 / 5; level 3.9 / 7.
• Law and Government — Importance 3.4 / 5; level 3.2 / 7.

^{Importance is rated 1–5; level is 1–7. Source: ONET Online — weighted across related occupations.*}

Skills

Skills developed in a Mortuary Science & Embalming program reflects the day-to-day work of related occupations:

• Speaking — Importance 3.9 / 5; level 3.8 / 7.
• Active Listening — Importance 3.8 / 5; level 3.8 / 7.
• Writing — Importance 3.1 / 5; level 3 / 7.
• Time Management — Importance 3.1 / 5; level 3.1 / 7.
• Critical Thinking — Importance 3.1 / 5; level 3.1 / 7.

Abilities

The cognitive and physical abilities most relevant to Mortuary Science & Embalming careers — again drawn from O*NET surveys of related occupations:

• Near Vision — Importance 4 / 5; level 4 / 7.
• Oral Comprehension — Importance 3.6 / 5; level 4 / 7.
• Problem Sensitivity — Importance 3.6 / 5; level 3.2 / 7.
• Speech Recognition — Importance 3.4 / 5; level 3.2 / 7.
• Arm-Hand Steadiness — Importance 3.4 / 5; level 4 / 7.

Common Job Activities

Day-to-day, Mortuary Science & Embalming graduates report doing:

Activity	Frequency / Importance
Assisting and Caring for Others	4.5 / 7
Documenting/Recording Information	4.4 / 7
Making Decisions and Solving Problems	4.3 / 7
Handling and Moving Objects	4.3 / 7
Getting Information	4.2 / 7
Evaluating Information to Determine Compliance with Standards	4.0 / 7
Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge	4 / 7
Processing Information	4.0 / 7
Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events	3.9 / 7
Performing for or Working Directly with the Public	3.9 / 7

Technology Skills Used on the Job

Most frequently-cited tools used by Mortuary Science & Embalming professionals:

Tool / Software	Category	In-Demand
Belmar & Associates Mortware	Data base user interface and query software	—
Microsoft Office software	Office suite software	—
Microsoft Word	Word processing software	—
HMIS Advantage	Data base user interface and query software	—
Microsoft Excel	Spreadsheet software	—
Corel WordPerfect Office Suite	Office suite software	—
Twin Tier Technologies MIMS	Data base user interface and query software	—
Custom Data Systems Sterling Management Software	Data base user interface and query software	—
FPA Software MACCS	Data base user interface and query software	—
Web browser software	Internet browser software	—

^{Source: ONET Online technology skills, weighted across related occupations.*}

Sample Job Titles

Real job postings for Mortuary Science & Embalming graduates include:

• Licensed Embalmer
• Embalmer
• Restorative Art Embalmer
• Trade Embalmer
• Funeral Embalmer
• Arterial Embalmer
• Funeral Services Embalmer
• Anatomical Embalmer
• Operations Team Member (Ops Team Member)
• Crematory Operator
• Cremation Arranger
• Removal Technician (Removal Tech)
• Pet Crematory Operator
• Cremator

Education Typically Required

Across the occupations open to Mortuary Science & Embalming graduates, the typical level of education actually held by current workers is distributed as:

Education Level	Share of Workers
Associate’s degree (or other 2-year)	86.4%
Bachelor’s degree	13.6%

^{Source: ONET Online education / training / experience requirements.*}

Who Is Earning a Degree in Mortuary Science & Embalming?

Gender Distribution

This field skews predominantly female, with women earning 82.8% of Mortuary Science & Embalming degrees.

Gender	Graduates	Share
Women	53	82.8%
Men	11	17.2%

Racial-Ethnic Diversity

At the national level, the racial-ethnic distribution of Mortuary Science & Embalming graduates is as follows:

Race / Ethnicity	Graduates	Share
White	37	57.8%
Hispanic or Latino	4	6.2%
Black or African American	22	34.4%
Two or More Races	1	1.6%

^{See minority definition below.}

How Much Do Mortuary Science & Embalming Graduates Earn?

College Scorecard reports median earnings of Mortuary Science & Embalming graduates 1, 4, and 5 years after completion. Wages typically rise steadily as graduates gain experience and move into mid-career roles.

Years Out	Median Earnings
1 year	$44,303
4 years	$46,034
5 years	$51,822

By year 5 out, median earnings rise to $51,822 — roughly 17% above the 1-year mark.

^{Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, field-of-study earnings tracker.}

Is a Degree in Mortuary Science & Embalming Worth It?

On the earnings side, the federal earnings tracker, Mortuary Science & Embalming graduates earn a median of $46,034 four years after completion — roughly 21% above the national median for workers with only a high school diploma (~$38,000).

^{ROI estimate compares the program’s 4-yr median earnings against the 2023 BLS CPS median earnings for high-school-only workers. Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard + BLS Current Population Survey.}

Related Programs

You may also be interested in these closely related fields of study:

Program	CIP Code
Funeral Service and Mortuary Science	12.03
Funeral Direction/Service	12.0302
Funeral Service and Mortuary Science, General	12.0301
Funeral Service and Mortuary Science, Other	12.0399

References

The racial-ethnic minorities count is calculated by taking the total number of students and subtracting white students and international students. This number is then divided by the total number of students to obtain the racial-ethnic minorities percentage.

• College Factual
• National Center for Education Statistics (IPEDS)
• O*NET Online
• U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
• U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard

More about our data sources and methodologies.