How to become an embalmer

Personal care & beauty · SOC 39-4011

How you get in

A degree is the usual way in.

1. Associate's degree
2. Long-term on-the-job training
3. Work as an embalmer

Programs that lead to this job

These are the federal program codes (CIP) that the Department of Education maps to this occupation, and how many US colleges, community colleges or trade schools report awarding credentials in each.

Program	Code	Schools
Funeral Service and Mortuary Science, General	CIP 12.0301	58
Mortuary Science and Embalming/Embalmer	CIP 12.0303	5

See the 62 schools that offer these programs →

Common questions

How long does it take to become an embalmer?

Typically about two years for the degree, then more than a year of training on the job. That is the usual route rather than a rule — people arrive by other paths all the time.

How much do embalmers make?

The US median is $58,780 a year, meaning half earn more and half less. Pay varies widely by state, employer and experience.

Do you need a degree to become an embalmer?

Yes — a degree is the usual way in.

Where can you train to become an embalmer?

62 US colleges, community colleges and trade schools award credentials in a matching program. See which ones →

Pay and growth are national figures. What you earn depends on where you work, your employer and your experience, and these are projections rather than promises. Education requirements describe how most people enter the job, not a rule — plenty of people take another route.

Pay, growth, openings and entry requirements: US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections 2025–35. Program-to-occupation mapping: NCES CIP–SOC crosswalk (2020/2018). School counts: IPEDS completions, 2022–23.

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