TRADES Zone 3: Medium Preparation

Funeral Service Manager

Funeral Service Manager earn $78,790 nationally at the median. The middle 50% of workers fall between $61,890 and $103,940. Where you land depends on specialization, employer, and experience.

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About Funeral Service Manager

Plan, direct, or coordinate the services or resources of funeral homes. Includes activities such as determining prices for services or merchandise and managing the facilities of funeral homes.

Median Wage: $78,790
Employed Nationally: 14K
Openings / Year: 2,600
Entry Education: Associate's degree
Job Zone: Zone 3: Medium Preparation

Also known as:

Arranging Funeral Director Funeral Counselor Funeral Director Funeral Home Director Funeral Home GM (Funeral Home General Manager)

How Much Do Funeral Service Managers Make?

Funeral Service Manager earn $78,790 nationally, above the national median for college graduates. The middle 50% of earners fall between $61,890 and $103,940. Actual pay varies by employer, specialization, and location.

$78,790

National Median (Annual)

Above the national median for college graduates.

$62K–$104K

Middle 50% Range

25th to 75th percentile. Most workers earn within this band.

Earnings Range

$61,890 Entry-level

$78,790 Median

$103,940 Experienced

The mean wage for this occupation is $92,840, above the median. A concentration of very high earners pulls the average up. The median is the better gauge of typical pay.

What Do Funeral Service Managers Do?

O*NET data identifies 5 core activities and 5 measurable skills for Funeral Service Manager roles. Use this section to judge whether the day-to-day reality aligns with what you actually want to spend time doing.

What You'll Do

Consult with families or friends of the deceased to arrange funeral details, such as obituary notice wording, casket selection, or plans for services.
Schedule funerals, burials, or cremations.
Deliver death certificates to medical facilities or offices to obtain signatures from legally authorized persons.
Offer counsel and comfort to families and friends of the deceased.
Monitor funeral service operations to ensure that they comply with applicable policies, regulations, and laws.

Core Skills Employers Look For

Service Orientation Social Perceptiveness Active Listening Time Management Reading Comprehension

Who Thrives Here

Enterprising

Leadership, influence, and business acumen are rewarded here, where managing teams, driving decisions, or persuading others shapes career outcomes.

Conventional

Success depends on precision and structured processes, where detail-oriented people who work consistently within established systems perform best.

Social

Working closely with people, teaching, advising, or helping others navigate challenges is a defining feature of this career's daily work.

Where Do Funeral Service Managers Work?

What the physical and mental conditions of this job actually look like day to day, based on O*NET Work Context data collected from people working in this occupation.

Work Setting

Mixed

Split between indoor and outdoor or field settings.

Physical Demands

Light

Mix of sitting and movement throughout the day.

Stress Level

High

High time pressure and significant consequences for errors. Deadline-driven or high-stakes decisions are common.

What Is the Job Outlook for Funeral Service Managers?

The BLS projects +4.1% employment change for Funeral Service Manager through 2034, roughly in line with the national average of +5%. About 2,600 openings per year keep the field accessible to new entrants.

↗ +4.1%

10-Year Growth (2024–2034)

About as fast as average.

2,600

Annual Openings

New positions plus replacements for retirees and career-changers.

14K

Currently Employed

Total US employment as of BLS May 2024.

Source: BLS Employment Projections 2024–2034 and Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics May 2024.

Where the Jobs Are

The five states below employ the most Funeral Service Manager professionals nationwide. State-level wages can differ significantly from the $78,790 national median. Research your specific market before committing to a program.

#	State	Jobs	Median Wage	vs. National
1	Texas	1,500	$62,180	-21.1%
2	Florida	740	$75,860	-3.7%
3	California	670	$79,040	+0.3%
4	New York	630	$78,150	-0.8%
5	Missouri	580	$61,760	-21.6%

Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2024. Employment figures rounded. Read our methodology →

How to Get Here

Most Funeral Service Manager positions require a associate's degree to qualify. The program below is the most common academic pathways into this field, ranked by how many graduates they produce each year.

Typical Entry Education Associate's degree

Job Zone

Zone 3: Medium Preparation

A medium amount of preparation is required, often an associate degree, certificate program, or apprenticeship, plus some related experience.

Degree Programs That Lead Here

#	Program	Graduates/yr	4yr Median	Colleges
1	Funeral Service and Mortuary Science	2,451	$60,056	77

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Top Colleges for Aspiring Funeral Service Managers

Colleges offering the degree programs that lead to this career, ranked by UCD Score. A strong program plus solid outcomes is a good place to begin your search.

#	College	UCD Score	Net Price	Salary 10yr
1	Miami Dade College Miami, FL	84	$5,463	$40,654
2	University of Minnesota-Twin Cities Minneapolis, MN	83	$16,778	$69,020
3	St Petersburg College St. Petersburg, FL	81	$1,471	$42,557
4	North Central State College Mansfield, OH	81	$4,687	$38,158
5	FINE Mortuary College Norwood, MA	80	$27,385	—
6	Antilles School of Technical Careers San Juan, PR	80	$3,912	$21,766

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Plan Your Path

Once you've sized up Funeral Service Manager, these tools turn the numbers into a plan. Estimate the real cost of a degree that leads here, weigh the long-term payoff, compare specific colleges side-by-side, and find programs that match your profile.

College ROI Calculator

See if the degree that leads to Funeral Service Manager pays off. Weighs each college's cost against the earnings graduates see.

College Cost Calculator

Enter a budget and see the colleges whose net price fits, with the out-of-pocket cost and likely loan load for each.

Compare Colleges

Put any 2–4 colleges side-by-side. Admissions, cost, outcomes, and earnings, all on one screen, no tab-hopping.

College Match Quiz

Answer six quick questions and see your best-fit colleges ranked by budget, field of study, and what matters most to you.

Funeral Service Manager Pros & Cons

The data on Funeral Service Manager shows 4 measurable strengths and 1 real trade-offs. All points are drawn from BLS wage data, employment projections, and IPEDS program completions.

PROS

Above-average pay At $78,790 median annually, this career pays meaningfully more than most college-graduate roles. Financial return on education is typically strong.
Steady job outlook The BLS projects +4.1% growth through 2034, keeping pace with the national average. Demand is stable and annual openings remain consistent.
High earning ceiling Top earners (75th percentile) reach $103,940 annually. Strong performers, specialists, and those in high-cost markets have significant upside beyond the median.
Accessible entry path The typical entry requirement is a associate's degree, lower than many comparable-paying careers. This creates a shorter path from training to first paycheck.

CONS

Earnings and demand vary significantly by region National figures for Funeral Service Manager mask real geographic variation. High-demand metros can pay 20% or more above the national median while lower-cost or rural markets often fall well short. Where you work matters nearly as much as your credentials.

Funeral Service Manager Frequently Asked Questions

How much do Funeral Service Manager professionals earn?

The national median annual wage for Funeral Service Manager is $78,790, above the national median for full-time workers. The middle 50% of earners fall between $61,890 and $103,940. Pay varies by employer size, industry sector, specialization, and geography. National figures are a starting point, not a guarantee.

Is Funeral Service Manager a good career?

For people genuinely interested in the work, yes. At $78,790 median, with +4.1% projected growth through 2034, there is a real financial case and a stable market for new entrants. Compare program net price against local salary outcomes (not just the national median) before committing.

How do I become a Funeral Service Manager?

Most Funeral Service Manager positions require a associate's degree as the minimum credential. a medium amount of preparation is required, often an associate degree, certificate program, or apprenticeship, plus some related experience. Programs like Funeral Service and Mortuary Science are common starting points.

What is the job outlook for Funeral Service Manager?

The BLS projects +4.1% employment change for Funeral Service Manager through 2034, about as fast as average compared to all occupations. About 2,600 job openings per year are projected, including new positions and replacements for workers who retire or change careers. 14K people currently work in this occupation nationwide (BLS May 2024).

What skills do Funeral Service Manager professionals need?

O*NET data identifies the core skills employers consistently prioritize for Funeral Service Manager roles: Service Orientation, Social Perceptiveness, Active Listening, Time Management, and Reading Comprehension. These develop through formal education and hands-on work. Programs with internship or co-op requirements give you a meaningful head start on the ones that take time to build.