Most Funeral Service and Mortuary Science programs take two years to complete. Graduates start earning $49,316 right after finishing, climbing to $60,056 four years out.
Funeral Service and Mortuary Science is a focused area of study within Personal Services. Graduates typically earn around $60,056 four years out, a solid return for a focused credential. The program is available at 77 colleges across the U.S., from community colleges to research universities. About 2,451 students complete this program each year, most earning a associate's. Training is practical and skills-based, with a fast path from classroom to job site.
Median Earnings · 1yr
$49,316
Median Earnings · 4yr
$60,056
Colleges Offering
77
Graduates / Year
2,451
Avg Net Price / yr
$13,559
How Much Do Funeral Service and Mortuary Science Graduates Earn?
Funeral Service and Mortuary Science graduates earn $60,056 four years out, near the national median for college graduates. The middle 50% of earners fall between $44,599 and $75,625.
$49,316
1 Year After Graduation
Earnings grow steadily as you advance past entry-level roles. The four-year figure is a better long-term target.
$60,056
4-Year National Median
Near the national median for college graduates.
$61,578
4-Year Institutional Median
Median of per-school medians. Each reporting college counts equally, regardless of size.
Earnings Range
There is a moderate earnings spread across Funeral Service and Mortuary Science graduates. Region and union membership drive the gap more than any other factor. Union jobs in high-cost metros pay significantly more than non-union positions elsewhere.
$44,59925th pct.
$60,056Median
$75,62575th pct.
Why This Program Pays Off Fast
Strong ROI. At median 4-year earnings of $60,056 against an estimated $54,236 four-year net cost, most graduates break even against baseline wages in under two years.
Based on outcomes from 14 schools.
Colleges with fewer than 30 graduates are excluded from national averages.
Who Studies This? Credential Breakdown
Of the 2,451 students who complete Funeral Service and Mortuary Science programs each year, the majority (74%) earn a associate's degree.
The breakdown below shows the full credential distribution.
74%
Associate's74%
Certificate17%
Bachelor's9%
What Can You Do With a Funeral Service and Mortuary Science Degree?
Funeral Service and Mortuary Science connects to 2 occupations in the job market. Funeral Service Manager leads at $78,790/yr median. Expand any card to see daily responsibilities, in-demand skills, and 10-year growth projections.
Service OrientationSocial PerceptivenessActive ListeningTime ManagementReading Comprehension
Day-to-day responsibilities
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.
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.
Social PerceptivenessActive ListeningService OrientationSpeakingCoordination
Day-to-day responsibilities
Perform various tasks to arrange and direct individual funeral services, such as coordinating transportation of body to mortuary, interviewing family or other authorized person to arrange details, selecting pallbearers, aiding with the selection of officials for religious rites, and providing transportation for mourners.
Oversee the preparation and care of the remains of people who have died.
Obtain information needed to complete legal documents, such as death certificates or burial permits.
Perform embalming duties, as necessary.
Top Colleges for Funeral Service and Mortuary Science
The 20 colleges below are ranked by how many Funeral Service and Mortuary Science students they graduate each year. Scroll right to compare acceptance rate, net price, and median earnings side by side.
Ranked by Funeral Service and Mortuary Science graduate volume. Scroll right to compare key stats.
Read our methodology →
Related Personal Services Programs
Funeral Service and Mortuary Science is one of 5 specializations within Personal Services. The comparison below shows where this program ranks by 4-year median earnings.
Decide with data, not guesswork. These tools turn the numbers on this page
into a personal plan. Estimate the real cost of a Funeral Service and Mortuary Science program, compare colleges side-by-side, weigh the long-term payoff, and find
schools that match your profile.
Funeral Service and Mortuary Science Degree: Pros & Cons
The data on Funeral Service and Mortuary Science shows 1 measurable strengths and 1 real trade-offs. All points are sourced from College Scorecard earnings, BLS projections, and IPEDS graduate counts.
PROS
Above-average earningsFour-year median of $60,056 puts graduates ahead of many humanities and social science programs.
CONS
Licensure often requiredMany positions in this field require trade licenses, certifications, or apprenticeship completion. These add time and cost beyond the academic credential.
Funeral Service and Mortuary Science Degree: Frequently Asked Questions
How much do Funeral Service and Mortuary Science graduates earn?
Funeral Service and Mortuary Science graduates earn a national median of $60,056 four years after completing their program. The middle 50% of earners fall between $44,599 and $75,625. Where you land typically depends on employer, role, and location.
What is the starting salary for a Funeral Service and Mortuary Science degree?
One year after graduation, Funeral Service and Mortuary Science degree holders earn a median of $49,316. That climbs to $60,056 four years out. The biggest salary jumps typically come once you move past entry-level roles.
What jobs can you get with a Funeral Service and Mortuary Science degree?
Funeral Service and Mortuary Science degree holders pursue careers including Funeral Service Manager, which pays a median of $78,790/yr. Scroll down to the Career Paths section to see wages and job growth projections for every related occupation.
How long does a Funeral Service and Mortuary Science program take?
A Funeral Service and Mortuary Science associate degree typically takes two years full-time at a community college. Many students transfer to a four-year university afterward to complete a bachelor's.
How many colleges offer Funeral Service and Mortuary Science?
77 colleges and universities in the United States offer Funeral Service and Mortuary Science programs. Options range from community colleges with certificates and associate degrees to research universities with doctoral tracks.
Is a Funeral Service and Mortuary Science degree worth it?
With a median 4-year salary of $60,056 and an average net price of roughly $13,559/yr, a Funeral Service and Mortuary Science degree can pay off well, especially at lower-cost schools and in high-demand roles. Use the Top Colleges section below to compare specific programs before deciding.
What is the difference between Funeral Service and Mortuary Science and Personal Services?
Funeral Service and Mortuary Science is a focused concentration within the broader Personal Services field. The Personal Services major covers the full discipline; this program narrows the curriculum to Funeral Service and Mortuary Science-specific courses, skills, and career tracks. If you already know this is the direction you want, the specialized program gives you a more targeted credential.
What skills do employers look for in Funeral Service and Mortuary Science graduates?
Employers hiring Funeral Service and Mortuary Science graduates consistently prioritize technical proficiency, safety compliance, and hands-on problem-solving. Certifications, apprenticeships, and demonstrated practical experience typically carry as much weight as academic credentials in this field.
Is graduate school worth it for Funeral Service and Mortuary Science graduates?
With a median salary of $60,056, graduate study in Funeral Service and Mortuary Science can meaningfully increase long-term income, particularly for specialized or professional programs aligned with high-demand roles. The right answer depends on your career goals, program cost, and whether your target role explicitly rewards an advanced credential.
What is the job outlook for Funeral Service and Mortuary Science graduates?
The job outlook for Funeral Service and Mortuary Science graduates is moderate overall. Related occupations project an average of +3.6% job growth over the next 10 years. Funeral Service Manager is among the strongest-growth roles at +4.1%. Growth varies by role and location, so check the Career Paths section for projections on each specific occupation.
Related Personal Services Programs
Other programs in Personal Services. Compare earnings, credentials, and career paths before committing to a specialization.
Free, data-backed guides to help you decide, built on the same federal data as this profile.
H
How to Choose a Major Pillar
A decision framework for picking a college major using your interests, aptitudes, and federal earnings data to reach a defensible choice before applying.
The real cost of a second major, when it pays back and when it doesn't, and why a focused single major with a relevant minor often beats a double major.
Why the 10-year job-growth outlook often matters more than today's salary, what the BLS projections measure, and how to use them to weigh the future of a field, not just its present.
Original data analyses built on the same federal data as this profile. Rankings, outliers, and patterns, no opinions.
All 38 Majors, Ranked by What Graduates Earn
The highest-earning college major out-pays the lowest by a factor of two and a half. The full ranking of all 38 fields by median graduate earnings, with job growth alongside.
Major earnings
Highest paying majors
Job growth
STEM
Field of study
Does Engineering Tech Out-Earn Engineering? The Data Says No
A popular claim holds that the applied engineering-tech degree pays more than the theoretical one. Across every program, engineering wins by about $10,000.
Engineering tech
Engineering
Program earnings
Applied degree
Technician careers
STEM Is Not One Thing: The Pay Gap Within STEM
Across 88 STEM programs the top one out-earns the bottom by $65,000 a year. Operations research pays $122,531; environmental design pays $57,461.
STEM earnings
Engineering pay
Computer science
Program earnings
Major choice
Continue Exploring
Browse our full directory: every college, major, program, and career we track, all built from verified government data.
