£29,640
Average Annual Pay
Annual Survey of Hours and Earning 2020
32
Average Weekly Hours
Annual Survey of Hours and Earning 2019
3.35%
Unemployment Rate
Labour Force Survey 2020
Future employment projections (Working Futures UK)
Description
Undertakers, mortuary and crematorium assistants make funeral arrangements for clients, prepare the deceased for burial or cremation, and supervise and assist the proceedings of funerals.
Qualifications
There are no formal academic requirements although some employers require candidates to possess GCSEs/S grades. A full driving licence is often required. Training is provided on-the-job. Professional qualifications in funeral directing and embalming are available.
Typical tasks
- collects body of deceased and assists with the completion of necessary documents;
- interviews relative or representative of the deceased to discuss preparations for funeral;
- liaises with cemetery or crematorium authorities on behalf of client;
- washes and injects body with sterilising fluid to prevent deterioration prior to funeral, and applies cosmetics, wax and other materials to restore normal appearance;
- provides hearse and funeral cars and leads funeral procession;
- controls the operations of crematoriums and cemeteries and processes legal documentation.
Common job titles
Superintendent (cemetery, crematorium)
Superintendent, assistant (cemetery, crematorium)
Undertaker
Worker, cemetery
Bearer (funeral directors)
Attendant, cemetery
Technician, mortuary
Mortician
Bearer, pall
Assistant, crematorium
Attendant, furnace, crematorium
Administrator, funeral
Technician, crematorium
Taxidermist
Assistant, funeral
Furnaceman (crematorium)
Foreman (cemetery, crematorium)
Assistant, mortuary
Arranger, funeral
Attendant, mortuary
Operator, crematorium
Director, funeral
Driver-bearer
Assistant, undertaker's
Assistant, director's, funeral
Attendant, crematorium
Embalmer
Compare Undertakers, mortuary and crematorium assistants with other careers
Working Futures UK
Employment type
Gender breakdown
£570
Female average weekly pay
Annual Survey of Hours and Earning 2020
£570
Male average weekly pay
Annual Survey of Hours and Earning 2020
334/350
Gender pay gap ranking
Annual Survey of Hours and Earning 2020
