After attending a funeral, you may wonder who coordinated the service, prepared the person who died, completed the paperwork, and guided the family through difficult decisions. Many people would call that professional an undertaker, although funeral director and mortician are more common job titles today. The role combines compassionate family support, practical organization, business administration, and, in some positions, the preparation of human remains.
What Is the Definition of an Undertaker?
The definition of an undertaker is a professional who arranges and manages services for people who have died and their families. Undertakers may coordinate funerals, memorials, burials, cremations, transportation, viewings, and required documents. They usually work in funeral homes, crematories, or related death-care businesses.
The words undertaker, mortician, and funeral director are often used interchangeably, but their meanings may vary by workplace and state law. Undertaker is an older term. Funeral director is now widely used for someone who makes arrangements and directs services, while mortician may describe a professional who performs funeral-directing and body-preparation duties.
An embalmer has a more specialized role involving the temporary preservation and cosmetic preparation of a body. Some funeral directors are licensed embalmers, but not every undertaker performs embalming. Licensing rules often treat funeral directing and embalming as separate activities.
What Does an Undertaker Do?
An undertaker becomes involved soon after a death is reported to the funeral home. The exact responsibilities depend on the family’s wishes, the type of service selected, local laws, and the worker’s license.
Helping families make arrangements
One of the most important duties is meeting with the family or another authorized person. During this conversation, the undertaker explains available services and helps the family make decisions without creating unnecessary confusion or pressure.
Arrangement duties may include:
- Choosing a date and location for the funeral or memorial
- Discussing burial, entombment, cremation, or other options
- Coordinating clergy members, celebrants, musicians, and pallbearers
- Helping prepare an obituary or death notice
- Ordering a casket, urn, flowers, printed materials, or memorial products
- Scheduling transportation for the deceased and, when requested, mourners
- Coordinating with cemeteries, crematories, hospitals, and places of worship
Undertakers must listen carefully because funeral traditions differ among families, religions, and cultures. The goal is to create an appropriate service while respecting the family’s preferences and budget.
Caring for and preparing the deceased
Depending on training and licensing, an undertaker may arrange transportation of the deceased, confirm identification, dress and position the body, apply cosmetics, or perform embalming. Embalming is a temporary preservation and cosmetic process commonly used when a viewing is planned. It does not preserve a body indefinitely and is not required for every funeral.
Preparing human remains requires strict safety procedures. Workers may encounter blood, body fluids, sharp instruments, disinfectants, and chemicals such as formaldehyde. Funeral homes use infection-control practices that may include gloves, protective clothing, eye or face protection, ventilation, careful handling of sharp objects, and proper cleaning of work areas.
An undertaker does not determine the medical cause of death or perform an autopsy. Those responsibilities generally belong to physicians, coroners, medical examiners, and forensic pathologists.
Completing paperwork and managing operations
Funeral service involves substantial administrative work. Undertakers may gather information for death certificates, obtain burial or transit permits, coordinate authorizations, maintain records, and help families submit documents related to veterans’ benefits, insurance, or Social Security notifications.
Experienced professionals may manage a funeral home, supervise employees, maintain facilities and vehicles, monitor supplies, handle budgets, and ensure compliance with health, safety, licensing, and consumer-protection requirements. Some also help people plan and fund their own funeral arrangements in advance.
What Training Does an Undertaker Need?
Requirements differ by state, so prospective undertakers should check with the funeral service licensing board where they intend to work. In many states, becoming a licensed funeral director or embalmer requires a combination of education, supervised experience, and examinations.
A typical career path includes:
- Earning a high school diploma or equivalent
- Completing an associate degree or another approved program in funeral service or mortuary science
- Participating in an internship or apprenticeship under a licensed professional
- Passing national, state, or both types of licensing examinations
- Completing continuing education to maintain a license
Mortuary science programs may cover embalming, restorative art, anatomy, microbiology, pathology, funeral directing, grief communication, business management, ethics, and funeral law. Students comparing career-focused education can also learn more about how trade schools prepare students for specialized occupations.
Education alone does not make someone effective in this career. Undertakers need emotional maturity, discretion, attention to detail, and the ability to communicate calmly with grieving people. Business and technology skills are increasingly useful because funeral homes manage electronic records, online obituaries, livestreamed services, and digital memorials.
What Is the Work Environment Like?
Most undertakers work in funeral homes and crematories. The environment is usually quiet and professional, but the schedule can be unpredictable. Deaths occur at all hours, so funeral service workers may be on call during nights, weekends, and holidays. Full-time schedules are common, and busy periods may require more than 40 hours of work.
The job can also be physically demanding. Workers may stand for long periods, move equipment, and assist with transferring human remains. Proper lifting methods and mechanical equipment help reduce injury risks.
Emotional strain is another consideration. Undertakers regularly meet people experiencing shock, anger, sadness, or uncertainty. Healthy boundaries, supportive coworkers, adequate rest, and stress-management habits can help workers remain compassionate without becoming overwhelmed.
Career Outlook and Earnings
Funeral service remains necessary in every community, although consumer preferences continue to change. Some families choose traditional funerals and burials, while others prefer cremation, smaller memorials, environmentally conscious options, or personalized celebrations of life. Undertakers who can explain these choices clearly and respectfully may be well positioned to serve changing community needs.
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics career profile for funeral service workers, overall employment in the field is projected to grow 4 percent from 2025 to 2035. The agency anticipates about 5,600 openings per year on average, many resulting from workers changing careers or retiring. In May 2025, the median annual wage was $55,010 for morticians, undertakers, and funeral arrangers and $78,790 for funeral home managers.
Actual earnings vary according to location, experience, licensing, responsibilities, and whether the person owns or manages a funeral home. Entry-level apprentices generally earn less than experienced licensed professionals.
Is Becoming an Undertaker Right for You?
This career may suit someone who is compassionate but composed, comfortable discussing death, dependable during emergencies, and highly attentive to details. It also requires respect for cultural differences and the ability to handle confidential information appropriately.
Prospective students should consider visiting a funeral home, speaking with licensed professionals, and researching their state’s requirements before enrolling in a program. Funeral service is not simply about organizing ceremonies. It is a demanding profession centered on helping families navigate practical decisions during one of life’s most difficult experiences.
