M is for Mortician

by Mark Schultz
September 2016

There is more to a mortician's job than simply making the funeral arrangements. These include other tasks such as arranging for clergy members to perform needed services, organizing pallbearers and informing them of their duties, providing information on funeral service options and products, and conducting the series of events to prepare the deceased for their funeral. They also perform a host of other duties such as offering counsel and comfort to bereaved family and friends and participating in community activities for funeral home promotion. While this may not seem like a pleasant job to many, it is an essential occupation to help the bereaved celebrate the life of their deceased loved one (see Table 1).

Table 1: Other Tasks of a Mortician
Obtain information needed to complete legal documents, such as death certificates or burial permits Oversee the preparation and care of the remains of people who have died Consult with families or friends of the deceased to arrange funeral details, such as obituary notice wording, casket selection, or plans for services Plan, schedule, or coordinate funerals, burials, or cremations, arranging details such as floral delivery or the time and place of services Perform embalming duties as necessary Contact cemeteries to schedule the opening and closing of graves Maintain a casket display area Close caskets and lead funeral corteges to churches or burial sites Inform survivors of benefits for which they may be eligible Discuss and negotiate prearranged funerals with clients Maintain financial records, order merchandise, or prepare accounts Provide or arrange transportation between sites for the remains, mourners, pallbearers, clergy, or flowers Plan placement of caskets at funeral sites or place or adjust lights, fixtures, or floral displays Direct preparations and shipment of bodies for out-of-state burial Manage funeral home operations, including the hiring, training, or supervision of embalmers, funeral attendants, or other staff Clean funeral home facilities and grounds Receive or usher people to their seats for services
Source: 0Net OnLine (www.onetonline.org)*

Table 1: Other Tasks of a Mortician

Obtain information needed to complete legal documents, such as death certificates or burial permits
Oversee the preparation and care of the remains of people who have died
Consult with families or friends of the deceased to arrange funeral details, such as obituary notice wording, casket selection, or plans for services
Plan, schedule, or coordinate funerals, burials, or cremations, arranging details such as floral delivery or the time and place of services
Perform embalming duties as necessary
Contact cemeteries to schedule the opening and closing of graves
Maintain a casket display area
Close caskets and lead funeral corteges to churches or burial sites
Inform survivors of benefits for which they may be eligible
Discuss and negotiate prearranged funerals with clients
Maintain financial records, order merchandise, or prepare accounts
Provide or arrange transportation between sites for the remains, mourners, pallbearers, clergy, or flowers
Plan placement of caskets at funeral sites or place or adjust lights, fixtures, or floral displays
Direct preparations and shipment of bodies for out-of-state burial
Manage funeral home operations, including the hiring, training, or supervision of embalmers, funeral attendants, or other staff
Clean funeral home facilities and grounds
Receive or usher people to their seats for services

Source: 0*Net OnLine (www.onetonline.org)

In Minnesota there is only one public educational institution that offers a bachelor's degree in Mortuary Science – the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis. During the fall semester of each year the program admits between 30 and 36 new students, and for those who already have a bachelor's degree there are two "accelerated track" plans available. From the 2014 program information and national board exam statistics, as seen in Table 2, it seems that this program has a pretty solid outcome for their graduates.

Table 2: Mortuary Science Program Information and National Board Exam Statistics
2014 Program Information
Number of New Students	Number of Graduates	Timely Graduation*	Percent Employed	Left Before Completion
37	30	91%	83%	1
* Timely graduation = complete program in 1½ time designated program length
National Board Exam Statistics
Year and Degree Type		Number of Takers	Number Passed	Percent Passed
2012 Arts		33	30	91%
2012 Science		30	27	90%
2013 Arts		38	35	92%
2013 Science		40	39	98%
2014 Arts		27	21	78%
2014 Science		26	23	88%
Source: American Board of Funeral Service Education

In Minnesota there are approximately 460 morticians, undertakers, and funeral directors in 487 funeral homes in 346 cities. There are an additional 540 funeral attendants in the state. With a median wage of $29.04 per hour, morticians make almost 54 percent more than the median wages across all occupations ($18.88) while funeral attendants, with a median wage of $13.08, make about 37 percent less (see Table 3).

Table 3: Employment and Wages for Mortuary Science in Minnesota
Occupation	Employment	Wage Percentiles
Occupation	Employment	10th	25th	Median	75th	90th
Total, All Occupations	2,772,240	$9.38	$12.40	$18.88	$29.60	$44.78
Morticians, Undertakers, and Funeral Directors	460	$17.09	$23.54	$29.04	$35.45	$41.31
Funeral Attendants	540	$9.85	$11.00	$13.08	$15.82	$18.30
Source: DEED Occupational Employment Statistics (OES)

There is quite a bit of variation in the employment and wages for morticians depending on the area of the state. Not surprisingly the highest employment is in the Seven County Metro area. The highest median wages, however, are in the Southeast regions at $38.23, which is just shy of $10 higher than the median wage in the metro (see Table 4).

Table 4: Regional Employment and Wages
Region	Employment	Median Wage	Total Openings 2012-2022
Minnesota	460	$29.04	110
Seven County Metro	220	$25.56	30
Southeast	20	$38.23	N/A
Southwest	N/A	N/A	N/A
Central	30	$33.94	10
Northeast	N/A	N/A	10
Northwest	10	$22.83	10
Source: DEED Occupational Employment Statistics (OES)

While morticians may not make up a large percentage of the jobs in Minnesota, they are, nonetheless, an important presence in the labor market and provide needed services for those who have experienced the loss of a loved one.