Funeral Attendants
Perform a variety of tasks during funeral, such as placing casket in parlor or chapel prior to service, arranging floral offerings or lights around casket, directing or escorting mourners, closing casket, and issuing and storing funeral equipment.
Sample of reported job titles:
Embalmer Apprentice, Funeral Assistant, Funeral Associate, Funeral Attendant, Funeral Director, Funeral Greeter, Funeral Home Assistant, Funeral Home Associate, Funeral Home Attendant
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Tasks
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Greet people at the funeral home.
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Perform a variety of tasks during funerals to assist funeral directors and to ensure that services run smoothly and as planned.
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Close caskets at appropriate point in services.
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Direct or escort mourners to parlors or chapels in which wakes or funerals are being held.
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Place caskets in parlors or chapels prior to wakes or funerals.
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Offer assistance to mourners as they enter or exit limousines.
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Clean funeral parlors or chapels.
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Arrange floral offerings or lights around caskets.
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Clean and drive funeral vehicles, such as cars or hearses, in funeral processions.
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Supervise funeral processions and assist with cemetery parking.
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Deliver floral arrangements or other items to family members of the deceased.
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Carry flowers to hearses or limousines for transportation to places of interment.
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Perform general maintenance tasks for funeral homes, such as maintaining equipment or caring for funeral grounds.
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Issue and store funeral equipment.
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Provide advice to mourners on how to make charitable donations in honor of the deceased.
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Embalm, dress, cosmeticize, and casket the deceased.
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Prepare obituaries for newspapers.
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Obtain burial permits and register deaths.
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Transport the deceased to the funeral home.
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Obtain doctors' signatures on death certificate and complete other paperwork, such as insurance claims forms.
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Assist with cremations and the processing and packaging of cremated remains.
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Attend to the needs of the bereaved, such as by offering comfort, counseling, or after-care programs.
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Perform various administrative tasks, such as typing documents or answering telephone calls.
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Technology Skills
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Accounting software — Bookkeeping software
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Human resources software — iCIMS Talent Cloud software
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Office suite software — Microsoft Office software
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Spreadsheet software — Microsoft Excel
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Word processing software — Microsoft Word
Hot Technologies are requirements most frequently included across all employer job postings.
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Work Activities
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Performing for or Working Directly with the Public — Performing for people or dealing directly with the public. This includes serving customers in restaurants and stores, and receiving clients or guests.
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Assisting and Caring for Others — Providing personal assistance, medical attention, emotional support, or other personal care to others such as coworkers, customers, or patients.
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Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates — Providing information to supervisors, co-workers, and subordinates by telephone, in written form, e-mail, or in person.
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Handling and Moving Objects — Using hands and arms in handling, installing, positioning, and moving materials, and manipulating things.
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Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships — Developing constructive and cooperative working relationships with others, and maintaining them over time.
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Getting Information — Observing, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources.
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Operating Vehicles, Mechanized Devices, or Equipment — Running, maneuvering, navigating, or driving vehicles or mechanized equipment, such as forklifts, passenger vehicles, aircraft, or watercraft.
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Communicating with People Outside the Organization — Communicating with people outside the organization, representing the organization to customers, the public, government, and other external sources. This information can be exchanged in person, in writing, or by telephone or e-mail.
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Performing General Physical Activities — Performing physical activities that require considerable use of your arms and legs and moving your whole body, such as climbing, lifting, balancing, walking, stooping, and handling materials.
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Making Decisions and Solving Problems — Analyzing information and evaluating results to choose the best solution and solve problems.
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Monitoring Processes, Materials, or Surroundings — Monitoring and reviewing information from materials, events, or the environment, to detect or assess problems.
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Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events — Identifying information by categorizing, estimating, recognizing differences or similarities, and detecting changes in circumstances or events.
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Documenting/Recording Information — Entering, transcribing, recording, storing, or maintaining information in written or electronic/magnetic form.
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Inspecting Equipment, Structures, or Materials — Inspecting equipment, structures, or materials to identify the cause of errors or other problems or defects.
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Detailed Work Activities
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Apply makeup to alter or enhance appearance.
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Perform administrative or clerical tasks.
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Prepare administrative documents.
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Transport biological or other medical materials.
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Write informational material.
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Greet customers, patrons, or visitors.
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Identify opportunities to improve operational efficiency.
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Provide counsel, comfort, or encouragement to individuals or families.
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Provide escort or transportation.
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Provide patrons with directions to locales or attractions.
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Assist patrons with entering or exiting vehicles or other forms of transportation.
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Arrange items for use or display.
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Clean facilities or work areas.
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Clean tools or equipment.
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Drive vehicles to transport patrons.
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Direct funeral or mortuary activities.
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Assign resources or facilities to patrons or employees.
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Work Context
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Face-to-Face Discussions — 75% responded “Every day.”
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Work With Work Group or Team — 48% responded “Extremely important.”
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Contact With Others — 54% responded “Constant contact with others.”
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Importance of Being Exact or Accurate — 41% responded “Extremely important.”
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Deal With External Customers — 42% responded “Extremely important.”
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Indoors, Environmentally Controlled — 46% responded “Every day.”
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Telephone — 61% responded “Every day.”
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Time Pressure — 39% responded “Once a week or more but not every day.”
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Freedom to Make Decisions — 40% responded “Some freedom.”
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In an Enclosed Vehicle or Equipment — 44% responded “Once a week or more but not every day.”
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Frequency of Decision Making — 34% responded “Every day.”
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Spend Time Standing — 53% responded “About half the time.”
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Electronic Mail — 45% responded “Every day.”
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Impact of Decisions on Co-workers or Company Results — 35% responded “Very important results.”
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Outdoors, Exposed to Weather — 38% responded “Once a week or more but not every day.”
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Physical Proximity — 34% responded “Moderately close (at arm's length).”
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Coordinate or Lead Others — 28% responded “Extremely important.”
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Structured versus Unstructured Work — 27% responded “Very little freedom.”
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Job Zone
- Title
- Job Zone Two: Some Preparation Needed
- Education
- These occupations usually require a high school diploma.
- Related Experience
- Some previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is usually needed. For example, a teller would benefit from experience working directly with the public.
- Job Training
- Employees in these occupations need anywhere from a few months to one year of working with experienced employees. A recognized apprenticeship program may be associated with these occupations.
- Job Zone Examples
- These occupations often involve using your knowledge and skills to help others. Examples include orderlies, counter and rental clerks, customer service representatives, security guards, upholsterers, tellers, and dental laboratory technicians.
- SVP Range
- (4.0 to < 6.0)
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Training & Credentials
- State training
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- Local training
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- Certifications
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- State licenses
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Apprenticeship Opportunities
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Skills
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Service Orientation — Actively looking for ways to help people.
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Social Perceptiveness — Being aware of others' reactions and understanding why they react as they do.
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Active Listening — Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
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Coordination — Adjusting actions in relation to others' actions.
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Monitoring — Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
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Speaking — Talking to others to convey information effectively.
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Knowledge
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Customer and Personal Service — Knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services. This includes customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction.
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English Language — Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
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Administrative — Knowledge of administrative and office procedures and systems such as word processing, managing files and records, stenography and transcription, designing forms, and workplace terminology.
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Transportation — Knowledge of principles and methods for moving people or goods by air, rail, sea, or road, including the relative costs and benefits.
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Education
How much education does a new hire need to perform a job in this occupation? Respondents said:
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Abilities
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Oral Comprehension — The ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences.
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Oral Expression — The ability to communicate information and ideas in speaking so others will understand.
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Near Vision — The ability to see details at close range (within a few feet of the observer).
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Speech Clarity — The ability to speak clearly so others can understand you.
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Speech Recognition — The ability to identify and understand the speech of another person.
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Written Comprehension — The ability to read and understand information and ideas presented in writing.
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Interests
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Realistic — Work involves designing, building, or repairing of equipment, materials, or structures, engaging in physical activity, or working outdoors. Realistic occupations are often associated with engineering, mechanics and electronics, construction, woodworking, transportation, machine operation, agriculture, animal services, physical or manual labor, athletics, or protective services.
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Social — Work involves helping, teaching, advising, assisting, or providing service to others. Social occupations are often associated with social, health care, personal service, teaching/education, or religious activities.
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Conventional — Work involves following procedures and regulations to organize information or data, typically in a business setting. Conventional occupations are often associated with office work, accounting, mathematics/statistics, information technology, finance, or human resources.
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Work Values
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Relationships — Occupations that satisfy this work value allow employees to provide service to others and work with co-workers in a friendly non-competitive environment. Corresponding needs are Co-workers, Moral Values and Social Service.
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Support — Occupations that satisfy this work value offer supportive management that stands behind employees. Corresponding needs are Company Policies, Supervision: Human Relations and Supervision: Technical.
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Independence — Occupations that satisfy this work value allow employees to work on their own and make decisions. Corresponding needs are Creativity, Responsibility and Autonomy.
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Work Styles
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Integrity — Job requires being honest and ethical.
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Attention to Detail — Job requires being careful about detail and thorough in completing work tasks.
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Concern for Others — Job requires being sensitive to others' needs and feelings and being understanding and helpful on the job.
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Dependability — Job requires being reliable, responsible, and dependable, and fulfilling obligations.
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Self-Control — Job requires maintaining composure, keeping emotions in check, controlling anger, and avoiding aggressive behavior, even in very difficult situations.
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Cooperation — Job requires being pleasant with others on the job and displaying a good-natured, cooperative attitude.
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Social Orientation — Job requires preferring to work with others rather than alone, and being personally connected with others on the job.
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Stress Tolerance — Job requires accepting criticism and dealing calmly and effectively with high-stress situations.
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Adaptability/Flexibility — Job requires being open to change (positive or negative) and to considerable variety in the workplace.
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Initiative — Job requires a willingness to take on responsibilities and challenges.
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Independence — Job requires developing one's own ways of doing things, guiding oneself with little or no supervision, and depending on oneself to get things done.
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Achievement/Effort — Job requires establishing and maintaining personally challenging achievement goals and exerting effort toward mastering tasks.
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Persistence — Job requires persistence in the face of obstacles.
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Analytical Thinking — Job requires analyzing information and using logic to address work-related issues and problems.
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Leadership — Job requires a willingness to lead, take charge, and offer opinions and direction.
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Wages & Employment Trends
- Median wages (2023)
- $16.27 hourly, $33,850 annual
- State wages
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- Local wages
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- Employment (2023)
- 32,900 employees
- Projected growth (2023-2033)
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Average (3% to 5%)
- Projected job openings (2023-2033)
- 5,200
- State trends
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- Top industries (2023)
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Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics 2023 wage data
external site and 2023-2033 employment projections
external site.
“Projected growth” represents the estimated change in total employment over the projections period (2023-2033). “Projected job openings” represent openings due to growth and replacement.
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Job Openings on the Web
- State job openings
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- Local job openings
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Professional Associations
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