Morticians are experts who work in the funeral industry, helping grieving families and taking care of the deceased’s final arrangements. They are in charge of preparing the body for burial or cremation, helping with funeral arrangements, and offering the family emotional support. In exchange for their services, morticians, who are sometimes known as funeral directors or undertakers, often get a salary or an hourly wage.
The amount that morticians are paid varies according to their level of expertise, where they work, and how big the funeral home or morgue is. As of May 2020, the median annual wage for morticians in the US was $58,580, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). The bottom 10% earned less than $34,670, while the top 10% made more than $104,300.
Commissions, bonuses, and overtime pay are other ways that morticians might increase their revenue. They could be paid commissions for selling funeral supplies such caskets, urns, and monuments. Some funeral homes reward morticians with bonuses when they surpass sales targets or reach performance benchmarks. Morticians who work overtime, on the weekends, or on holidays could also be paid more.
Morticians and funeral directors are frequently mistaken for embalmers, although they are not the same. Embalmers are specialists in the use of chemicals and other methods to preserve the body of the deceased. To get the body ready for viewing and burial, they collaborate closely with morticians. But not all embalmers are morticians, and not all morticians are embalmers.
An investigator who establishes the reason and manner of deaths is called a coroner. Coroners may work for local or state governments and are typically elected officials. As of May 2020, the BLS reported that the typical annual wage for coroners and medical examiners in the US was $69,130. The bottom 10% earned less than $39,200, while the top 10% made more than $135,900.
In conclusion, morticians play a crucial role in the funeral industry by helping grieving families in need. They receive a salary or hourly pay, which varies based on their location and level of experience. Commissions, bonuses, and overtime pay are other ways that morticians might increase their revenue. Despite the fact that they frequently collaborate, embalmers and morticians are not the same. Coroners are medical investigators who make more money than morticians because they investigate fatalities.