How to Become a Funeral Service Worker — Salary, Training & Licensing
The most meaningful work most people never consider — guide families through their darkest hours with compassion and professionalism.
94% High Demand
$42K–$80K+
Salary Range
High
Demand
+4%
Job Growth
℞ Prescribed by data · BLS · WEF · McKinsey
Funeral Service Worker Apprenticeship & Training in Oregon
Licensing & Requirements
Oregon requires licensure through the Oregon Mortuary and Cemetery Board. Must pass the National Board Exam and OR jurisprudence exam. Must complete ABFSE-accredited program and serve a 1-year apprenticeship. Separate funeral director and embalmer licenses.
Training Programs
Mt. Hood Community College offers an ABFSE-accredited Funeral Service Education program. 1-year apprenticeship required. National Board Exam required. Continuing education for license renewal.
Average Salary
$36K–$44K (entry/apprentice); $44K–$60K (licensed funeral director); $60K–$85K+ (funeral home manager/owner)
Top Employers
SCI/Dignity Memorial, Wilhelm's Portland Memorial, private family-owned funeral homes, Lincoln Memorial Park, River View Cemetery, cremation service providers, veterans' cemeteries, Portland and Eugene area funeral homes.
Career Overview
Is this career right for you?
✓You have deep empathy and can hold space for people in grief
✓You're comfortable with death and the physical realities of human mortality
✓You're organized, detail-oriented, and can manage complex logistics under emotional pressure
✓You want a career that's deeply meaningful and makes a real difference in people's lives
✓You're interested in a licensed profession with strong job security and business ownership potential
✓You can maintain professional composure during highly emotional situations
Your Roadmap
1
Get Your High School Diploma or GEDAges 16–18
Focus on biology, chemistry, psychology, and communication courses
Volunteer with hospice organizations, grief support groups, or hospital chaplaincy programs
Research ABFSE-accredited mortuary science programs in your state or region
Visit a funeral home — many funeral directors welcome students interested in the profession
2
Complete a Mortuary Science DegreeAges 18–20
Enroll in an ABFSE-accredited mortuary science program (associate degree: 2 years; bachelor's: 4 years)
Study embalming science, restorative art, funeral law, grief psychology, and business management
Complete clinical embalming practicum — hands-on preparation of remains under supervision
Some programs offer combined funeral directing and embalming tracks
3
Complete Your ApprenticeshipAges 20–22
Most states require 1-2 years of apprenticeship under a licensed funeral director or embalmer
Work at a funeral home performing all aspects of funeral service under supervision
Learn arrangement conferences, service coordination, embalming, and family communication
Build relationships with clergy, cemeteries, florists, and obituary departments
4
Pass Your Licensing ExamsAges 22–23
Pass the National Board Exam (NBE) — Arts (funeral directing) and Sciences (embalming) sections
Pass your state-specific licensing exam (requirements vary by state)
Apply for your funeral director and/or embalmer license in your state
Maintain continuing education credits for license renewal
5
Build Experience and Professional ReputationAges 23–28
Work at established funeral homes to build experience across diverse family needs and cultural traditions
Develop expertise in preneed sales (advance funeral planning) — a growing and important service
Learn cremation services, celebration of life events, and alternative funeral practices
Join professional organizations (NFDA, state funeral directors associations) for networking
6
Advance Into Management or Funeral Home OwnershipAges 28+
Move into funeral home manager, general manager, or regional director positions
Purchase or partner in a funeral home — many owners are looking for successors
Corporate funeral companies (SCI, Carriage Services) offer management tracks across their networks
Some funeral directors specialize in grief counseling, preneed planning, or veteran services
Major Employers & Training Programs
SCI (Service Corporation International)
Largest funeral service company in the US (Dignity Memorial brand). Offers career development, management training, and advancement across 1,900+ locations nationwide.
Carriage Services
Major funeral and cemetery company. Provides training, career advancement, and partnership opportunities for funeral directors.
NorthStar Memorial Group
Large funeral service company. Offers mentorship, professional development, and career advancement for funeral service professionals.
Independent Funeral Homes
Family-owned funeral homes are the backbone of the profession. Often provide the most personalized mentorship and the clearest path to eventual ownership.
US Military Mortuary Affairs
Army Mortuary Affairs Specialist (92M) provides training and experience in remains preparation. Military service offers full training with civilian career opportunities.
The funeral service profession faces a generational transition — many funeral home owners are retiring without successors. This creates exceptional opportunities for licensed funeral directors to purchase or partner in established businesses.
A mortuary science degree takes 2-4 years and costs $10K-$30K. Licensed funeral directors earn $42K-$56K with strong job security — the death rate is the one economic constant. Funeral home owners earn $70K-$150K+. The profession offers guaranteed demand, professional licensure, community respect, and a clear path to business ownership.
The Real Talk
The Good
Deeply meaningful work — you help families through one of life's most difficult moments
Guaranteed demand — the mortality rate ensures permanent, recession-proof employment
Professional licensure provides status, legal authority, and strong job security
Clear path to funeral home ownership — many owners are actively seeking successors
Community respect and trust — funeral directors are pillars of their communities
Diverse work — no two families, services, or days are the same
The Hard Parts
Emotionally demanding — absorbing grief and managing distraught families takes a toll
On-call requirements — death doesn't follow business hours, and families need immediate response
Exposure to death, embalming chemicals (formaldehyde), and infectious disease requires safety vigilance
Irregular hours — evenings, weekends, and holidays are common for visitations and services
The emotional weight of the work can lead to burnout and compassion fatigue without self-care
Is It Worth It?
Funeral service is the career most people never consider but the world always needs. When someone dies, a family is in crisis — they need a compassionate, competent professional to guide them through arrangements, legal requirements, and the ceremony that helps them begin healing. It's emotionally heavy work, but the meaning is profound. You become a trusted community figure, the person families turn to at their most vulnerable. The profession offers strong job security, professional respect, and realistic business ownership potential. If you have deep empathy, emotional resilience, and the ability to stay composed under pressure, funeral service is one of the most impactful careers you can choose.
A Career Is Just One Part of Your Story
The best careers don't just pay well — they give you freedom, purpose, and time for the people and things you love. Choose a path that makes your whole life better, not just your resume.