Undertaker Job Description, Skills, and Salary
Get to know about the duties, responsibilities, qualifications, and skills requirements of an undertaker. Feel free to use our Undertaker job description template to produce your own. We also provide you with information about the salary you can earn as an undertaker.
Who is an Undertaker?
Often referred to as a funeral director, an undertaker is a professional who provides competent and sympathetic assistance in arranging funeral rites and disposing of a loved one’s body respectfully. Additionally, he or she ensures that the body is prepared for the funeral and makes practical funeral arrangements.
An undertaker’s primary function is to prepare the body for disposition. He or she may supervise the activities of several morticians and undertakers in larger funeral homes. While the mortician, undertaker, and funeral director are all defined differently, it is not uncommon for one person to provide all three services in family-owned funeral homes. This frequently entails the director arranging for the body to be picked up from the residence or morgue, supervising the embalming process following local regulations, and coordinating final preparations with loved ones.
The actual preparations with family members may vary depending on the individual preferences for the final arrangements. In some instances, individuals choose to make their arrangements in advance, greatly simplifying the process. At other times, the undertaker will consult with loved ones discreetly to ascertain their wishes. This may include writing an obituary for publication in local newspapers, reserving space at a funeral home or place of worship for a funeral or memorial service, and arranging for cremation or grave digging and vault sinking.
Funerals are frequently held in funeral homes before being transferred to a burial ground for final interment. Generally, an undertaker will arrange for a viewing or visitation. This is frequently held the day before the funeral service and allows family and friends to gather at the funeral home to pay their respects to the deceased and also to offer one another comfort. Throughout the visitation, the undertaker maintains a discreet presence in the background, ready to assist if necessary. On the day of the funeral, the undertaker will also arrange for transportation of the body and casket to the final resting place and supervise proper grave sealing.
The undertaker is frequently a great source of comfort during a time when loved ones frequently find it difficult to deal with all the details associated with death. With quiet dignity and a firm grasp on how to assist those in grief, he or she gently guides loved ones through a trying time, enabling them to honor the deceased properly and respectfully.
Undertaker Job Description
Below are the Undertaker job description examples you can use to develop your resume or write an undertaker job description for your employee. Employers can also use it to sieve out job seekers when choosing candidates for interviews.
The duties and responsibilities of an undertaker include the following:
- Managing the funeral home’s operations
- Assisting and consoling the bereaved
- Consulting the bereaved to elicit information necessary to complete legal forms and documents, such as permits and death certificates.
- Ordering and coordinating funeral-related supplies, such as flowers, decorations, and food
- Assisting the bereaved with pre-service details such as casket selection, service scheduling, writing and publishing an obituary, and notifying family and friends
- Discussing religious rites and the arrangements that accompany them
- Finalizing burial site plans
- Coordination of the body’s transportation to the mortuary
- Organizing and carrying out embalming services
- Coordination and consultation with pallbearers regarding funeral arrangements
- Organizing and supervising viewings
- Coordination of mourners’ transportation from the service to the burial
- Coordinating the funeral procession’s details
- Assisting clients and explaining funeral service packages and options.
- Arranging for a casket, flowers, and transportation to the burial site, as well as contacting cemeteries to coordinate grave opening and closing.
- Contacting religious leaders, coordinating services, and notifying mourners of service times and locations.
- Collecting data from family members and processing all legal documents.
- Writing and posting obituaries with care; ensuring that all flowers and fixtures are properly displayed at the funeral, and welcoming and escorting family members and friends to their seats.
- Confirming funeral arrangements with family members and putting together a funeral program
- Arranging food and drink for all mourners and politely responding to any questions or inquiries.
- Performing administrative tasks such as updating records and client accounts, as well as purchasing a variety of supplies.
- Acquiring the information necessary to complete legal documents, such as death certificates and burial permits.
- Overseeing the preparation and care of deceased individuals’ remains.
- Consulting with the deceased’s family or friends to finalize funeral arrangements, such as obituary notice wording, casket selection, and service plans.
- Planning, scheduling, or coordinating funerals, burials, or cremations, including floral delivery and service times and locations.
- Arranging for clergy to provide necessary services.
- Making arrangements with cemeteries to schedule grave openings and closings.
- Providing information on funeral service options, products, and merchandise, as well as a display area for caskets.
- Informing survivors of possible benefits.
- Providing support and consolation to bereaved families or friends.
- Maintaining financial records, placing orders for merchandise, and preparing financial statements.
- Providing or arranging for transportation of the remains, mourners, pallbearers, clergy, or flowers between locations.
Other important responsibilities include the following:
- Consult with Families
Undertakers communicate with the deceased’s families about funeral arrangements, using sensitivity and tact to assist them in making informed decisions. This includes investigating cremation and burial options, conceptualizing obituaries or memorial videos, and explaining necessary procedures and associated costs.
- Arrange Funerals
Undertakers are responsible for coordinating funerals following the family’s wishes. They are in charge of all logistical details, from venue reservations to clergy member arrangements. Because their primary responsibility is to ensure the funeral runs smoothly, those in this role must remain vigilant throughout the proceedings and adhere to industry regulations.
- Maintain Legal Documents
As part of funeral preparations, legal paperwork such as life insurance and Social Security forms must be filed. Undertakers are responsible for gathering pertinent information from families and obtaining, filling out, and submitting these documents on time.
- Organize Business Activities
Undertakers are responsible for a variety of aspects of a funeral home’s daily operations. They frequently oversee the company’s finances and inventory, assisting accountants in maintaining records, making purchases, organizing payroll and tax processing, and developing budgets. Additional responsibilities may include developing marketing strategies and analyzing business needs.
- Employee Supervision
Due to the nature of this position, undertakers frequently supervise and delegate tasks to full- and part-time employees. Along with training on funeral policies and procedures, they assist in the recruitment of specialized staff members such as embalmers and funeral attendants.
Qualifications
- An associate’s or bachelor’s degree in mortuary science or a closely related field is required.
- A license as an embalmer may be required.
- A completed apprenticeship.
- Interpersonal, communication, and business skills are exceptional.
- Ethical and moral values that are strong.
- Capacity for multitasking and compassion.
Essential Skills
- Leadership Skills
One of the most important abilities of an undertaker is to be a good leader. You must be able to assemble a team and lead it toward a common goal. This also entails the ability to motivate others and to identify their strengths and weaknesses to maximize their positive attributes, as a good coach would. Additionally, effective leadership breeds trust. Your team will follow you without reservation toward the objective you’ve set.
- Empathy
Empathy is the capacity to perceive, share, and comprehend the feelings of another being. In the case of an undertaker, this empathy should extend not only to other employees or collaborators but also to clients who have suffered a loss. Empathy enables you to understand people’s reactions and makes it easier to sell a high-quality funeral service in which customers do not feel exploited at a time of vulnerability.
- Technical abilities
One of the primary sources of employee unease is the perception that the boss is clueless about the business. If you want to avoid spreading the feeling of a ship adrift with an incompetent captain at the helm, you must develop the technical skills necessary to guide and mentor others when necessary. Do not be afraid to enroll in as many training courses as possible to increase your knowledge of the funeral industry.
- Ability to solve problems
Another undertaker skill is the ability to recognize when a problem exists and determine the best course of action. You must be able to observe your surroundings, listen to those in your immediate vicinity, analyze the situation to determine how you can assist, and make a decision. This is not to say that you must be without flaws. If your decision did not resolve the issue or created a new one, persist in your efforts and learn from your mistakes.
- Capacity for strategy
As a follow-up to the preceding, the best way to resolve a problem is to avoid it in the first place. Your strategic abilities will assist you in establishing the priorities for your funeral home, developing a plan of action, and anticipating those errors and problems that could have been avoided with proper planning.
- Keep abreast of industry developments
A good undertaker must stay current on industry developments, news, legislative changes, and trends. Maintaining a stale image and remaining stuck in the past can be a fatal mistake for your business. Exhibitions and trade shows are excellent ways to learn firsthand about the market’s direction – and don’t forget about World Funeral News! Here you’ll find the latest news from the funeral industry, in-depth studies, and interesting resources to help you manage your funeral home more effectively.
- Communication skills
A successful undertaker must be able to express his or her thoughts effectively, both orally and in writing. You must know how to address your customers and your employees. It is also essential to understand the differences in the type of language and speech depending on your interlocutor and to know all those tricks and strategies to learn how to speak effectively in public.
How to Become an Undertaker
- Obtain an associate’s degree
Before you can become an undertaker, you must complete the minimum education requirements and obtain an associate degree. The program you choose should be accredited by the American Board of Funeral Service Education (ABFSE) since many states require accreditation before you can become licensed. You can choose from 60 ABFSE-accredited mortuary science programs.
You will be expected to take classes in professional ethics, microbiology, chemistry, pathology, embalming, mortuary law, anatomy, federal regulations, grief counseling, and funeral service psychology as part of your mortuary science education.
Most programs take between two and four years to complete, depending on the degree chosen. Some aspiring undertakers may wish to enroll in business courses if they plan to open their mortuary in the future.
You can begin preparing for this career by enrolling in high school courses in public speaking, biology, and chemistry. Certain mortuaries offer students the opportunity to gain experience through part-time or summer jobs.
- Complete an apprenticeship
After completing your formal education in mortuary science, the ABFSE requires that you complete a one- to three-year apprenticeship. Depending on your schedule and local state requirements, you may be able to complete the apprenticeship before, during, or after completing your formal education.
As an apprentice in a mortuary, you are only permitted to perform tasks directly under the supervision of an experienced mortician. This will provide you with the necessary hands-on experience in the industry to secure employment as an undertaker.
- Acquire a state license
After completing an apprenticeship and a two-year degree, you must pass a state licensing examination to become an undertaker. Prospective examiners must be at least 21 years of age on the date of their scheduled examination. The exam covers psychology, funeral service merchandising, business law, the history of the funeral service, microbiology, pathology, restorative arts, embalming, and anatomy. Depending on the state in which you reside, the undertaker and embalming licenses may be issued separately.
- Maintain an updated resume
It is critical to update your resume following the acquisition of your undertaker’s license. You may include relevant work experiences, such as that gained during an apprenticeship or internship. Additionally, you may include your highest level of education and any professional references. If you had a positive relationship with the mortician with whom you completed your apprenticeship, you may wish to request a letter of recommendation from them to increase your chances of being hired.
- Preserve your license
To maintain your undertaker’s license in your state, you may be required to participate in continuing education activities. You can continue your education either online or on-site. Distance learning options include online coursework, webinars, and teleconferences. Typically, on-site learning takes place in person via seminars, workshops, and professional development classes.
Additionally, you may choose to earn an optional certification to help you stand out in the funeral service industry by becoming a Certified Funeral Service Practitioner (CFSP) through the Academy of Professional Funeral Service Practice.
This ongoing education will keep you informed of funeral service laws, as well as industry trends and advancements.
Where to Work as an Undertaker
The majority of undertakers work in mortuaries and family-owned funeral homes.
Undertaker Salary Scale
The national average salary for an Undertaker in the United States is $48,746 per year.