Embalmers

Prepare bodies for interment in conformity with legal requirements.

Median wage

$56,280

$35,160–$78,740

Projected growth

—

Annual openings

—

per year

Employed (US)

3,420

Job Zone 3

Typical preparation

Medium preparation

Stackable credential programs

32 mapped

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Core skills

SpeakingActive ListeningSocial PerceptivenessService OrientationWritingCritical ThinkingTime ManagementReading Comprehension

Knowledge areas

Customer and Personal ServiceChemistryPsychologyEnglish LanguageLaw and Government

Technology & tools

Data base user interface and query softwareOffice suite softwareSpreadsheet softwareWord processing softwareInternet browser software

Representative tasks

Conform to laws of health and sanitation and ensure that legal requirements concerning embalming areApply cosmetics to impart lifelike appearance to the deceased.Join lips, using needles and thread or wire.

Competency framework

Skill expectations by proficiency level.

emerging

Health and sanitation regulations — identify and apply under direct supervision to ensure legal embalming requirements are met in a licensed funeral home.Embalming instruments and chemicals — recognize and handle under guidance during introductory preparation-room orientation.Blood drainage and fluid replacement procedures — observe and assist with circulatory embalming steps under a licensed embalmer's supervision.Incisions on arms or thighs — perform basic entry-level cuts under direct oversight while learning proper arterial embalming technique.Lip closure techniques — practice needle and thread or wire joining methods on prepared specimens under close instructor guidance.Cosmetic application fundamentals — apply basic restorative products to the deceased under supervision to approximate a lifelike appearance.Preparation room sanitation protocols — clean and disinfect work areas following established procedures after each embalming case.Postmortem documentation — complete initial intake records using funeral home office software under a supervising embalmer's direction.Body dressing and casketing steps — assist in dressing remains and placing them in caskets according to family instructions and facility protocols.Chemical safety data — read and interpret product labels and SDS sheets to follow safe handling procedures in the preparation room.

developing

Legal compliance requirements — apply state and local embalming regulations routinely across standard cases with minimal supervisory review.Arterial embalming procedure — execute blood drainage and embalming-fluid injection using a pump independently on routine adult cases.Abdominal cavity treatment — incise stomach and abdominal walls and use a trocar to withdraw blood and waste matter with growing consistency and accuracy.Incision closure technique — close arterial and cavity incisions using sutures with reliable results that meet professional presentation standards.Restorative cosmetics — select and blend cosmetic products appropriate to individual skin tones to achieve a natural, lifelike appearance for viewing.Preparation-room disinfection — implement and document cleaning and disinfection cycles consistently, adapting to varying case complexity.Family communication — speak with bereaved families using active listening and social perceptiveness to gather accurate preparation instructions.Case records management — maintain embalming logs and intake forms in database and word-processing software with accuracy and timeliness.Time management across concurrent cases — schedule and sequence embalming tasks to meet service deadlines within a busy funeral home setting.Restorative art for common trauma — address visible surface conditions using learned reconstructive techniques under periodic senior review.

proficient

Regulatory compliance oversight — independently verify that all embalming procedures conform to applicable health, sanitation, and legal standards across diverse and complex cases.Advanced cavity embalming — perform thorough trocar work on decomposed, autopsied, or otherwise complex remains, exercising independent clinical judgment.Full circulatory embalming — select injection sites, choose appropriate fluid concentrations, and execute arterial embalming on non-routine cases without oversight.Surgical wound closure — close complex incisions and suture extensive trauma sites to professional standards, applying advanced needle techniques.Comprehensive restorative art — reconstruct facial features and apply multi-layered cosmetics on trauma or disfigurement cases to meet family expectations.Infection-control program adherence — apply OSHA and CDC bloodborne-pathogen protocols rigorously, serving as a technical resource for preparation-room safety.Critical decision-making in atypical cases — evaluate decomposition state, cause of death, and family needs to determine optimal embalming approach independently.Interdisciplinary coordination — liaise with medical examiners, coroners, and healthcare professionals, communicating case findings clearly both orally and in writing.Grief-sensitive family service — provide service-oriented guidance to families on preparation options, demonstrating psychological awareness and professional empathy.Chemical selection and dilution — apply knowledge of embalming chemistry to formulate appropriate fluid mixtures for varied tissue conditions and preservation goals.

advanced

Compliance program leadership — establish and maintain facility-wide policies that ensure full adherence to evolving health, sanitation, and legal embalming requirements.Embalming curriculum development — design and deliver training programs for apprentices and junior embalmers, calibrating instruction to vocational and licensure standards.Quality-assurance framework — implement systematic case-review protocols that evaluate preparation outcomes and drive continuous improvement across the mortuary team.Organizational policy authorship — draft and revise preparation-room operating procedures, safety manuals, and documentation standards using professional writing skills.Mentorship and performance development — coach developing embalmers in advanced restorative and surgical techniques, providing structured feedback in a licensed facility.Strategic vendor and chemical management — evaluate and select embalming chemical suppliers, negotiate contracts, and oversee inventory to support operational excellence.Community and regulatory engagement — represent the funeral home in interactions with licensing boards, health departments, and professional associations on standards matters.Grief-services program oversight — lead the development of family-support protocols that integrate psychological and theological sensitivity into pre- and post-service care.Technology and records systems governance — oversee implementation and staff training for database, spreadsheet, and case-management software across the funeral home.Ethical and philosophical standards leadership — model and institutionalize a culture of integrity, stress tolerance, and dignity in human remains care throughout the organization.

Also known as

9 alternate job titles map to this occupation.

Arterial EmbalmerEmbalmerAnatomical EmbalmerEmbalmer ApprenticeRestorative Art EmbalmerFuneral EmbalmerFuneral Services EmbalmerTrade EmbalmerLicensed Embalmer

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