Embalmer
Snapshot
Embalmers arrange for the removal of bodies of deceased persons from the place of death and they prepare the bodies for burials and cremations. They clean and disinfect the bodies, use make-up to create the impression of a more natural appearance and hide any visible damage. They are in close contact with funeral services directors in order to comply with the wishes of the deceased family members.
As an embalmer, you play a vital role in the funeral service process. Your work involves carefully handling and preparing bodies, ensuring they are presentable for viewing and final disposition. You'll collaborate closely with funeral directors to fulfill the wishes of the deceased's family, maintaining a professional and compassionate demeanor throughout.
- • Removing bodies from the place of death and transporting them to the preparation room.
- • Cleaning, disinfecting, and restoring the body to a natural appearance using specialized techniques and cosmetics.
- • Working with funeral directors to understand and implement the family's preferences regarding presentation and services.
Where this occupation is in demand
Reported labour shortages and surpluses, by year. Published for occupation groups, not for individual job titles.
Figures cover Personal service workers — 86 jobs including this one.
In shortage: Finland, Italy.
Longest-running shortage: Finland, 2 years.
Select a place on the map to see its figures.
About this source›
Source: ELA/EURES labour shortages and surpluses. Readings are published at occupation-group level, and cover Europe. Editions differ in annex layout and country coverage, so a change between years does not always mean the labour market changed. Countries in grey were not reported, which is not the same as being in balance.
What these words mean
The four things this section reports
- Reported demand
- Whether employers report needing people in this job — a judgement published by a national or EU body, not a count.
- Where it is heading
- Which way employment in this job is expected to move over the coming years, from an official projection.
- Openings
- Roughly how many openings arise — from growth and from people leaving the job.
- Typical pay
- What people in this job typically earn where the source publishes it. Blank does not mean unpaid; it means nobody publishes it for that place.
A measure is left out when nobody publishes it for that place, rather than shown as zero.
Which way the market leans for you
- In your favour
- More openings than people looking — employers are competing for candidates.
- Balanced
- Openings and candidates are roughly matched.
- Competitive
- More people looking than openings — expect to compete.
- Mixed evidence
- Sources disagree, or the same occupation group is short in one part and oversupplied in another.
Every source resolves to one of these four, so there is a single vocabulary to learn. What differs is the evidence behind it, which is printed underneath each verdict — a measured ratio of openings to jobseekers, or an assessment published by a national body.
How this job compares with other jobs in the same country
- Strong
- Among the strongest in that country
- Good
- Stronger than most jobs in that country
- Mixed
- About typical for that country
- Weak
- Weaker than most jobs in that country
This is a rank within one country, not a score you can carry across borders — the registers behind two countries count different people, so the same number means different things in each. It is also why a job can be among the strongest in a country and still show as Competitive: it leads the field in a market that is crowded overall.
Where these come from
Every figure is published by a national statistics office, a public employment service or an EU body, and each card names its source and the period it covers. Some places are counted monthly, others assessed once or twice a year, so two places on the same map can be describing different moments — the date is always shown.
None of this predicts one person’s chances. It describes a market.
Reported demand · Typical pay · Where it is heading (United States, Ireland, Australia, Malta, United Kingdom)
| Reported demand | Typical pay | Where it is heading | |
|---|---|---|---|
| United States | Not reported | $58,780 2025-05 | +1.3% 2024–2034 · BLS 2024-2034 |
| Ireland | Not reported | — | +16.7% 2023–2035 · Cedefop 2026 * |
| Australia | Assessed as balanced Jobs and Skills Australia 2025 * | — | — |
| Malta | Surplus reported ELA/EURES 2024 * | — | +1% 2023–2035 · Cedefop 2026 * |
| United Kingdom | Not reported | £27,020 2025-provisional | — |
* Published for occupation groups, not for individual job titles.
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (OEWS)
Source: Office for National Statistics, Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings, Open Government Licence v3.0
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Future Outlook for embalmer
The outlook for embalmer reflects a balanced mix of automation exposure and durable, human-led work.
How are these scores calculated?
The Resilience Score (0–100) estimates how structurally protected this occupation is from automation and AI disruption, based on task-level analysis. Higher scores mean more human-judgment-intensive tasks. AI Exposure shows the estimated percentage of task hours that current AI capabilities could affect. These are model-derived structural indicators, not predictions about individual job security.
How could embalmer change as AI adoption grows?
This role is likely to change gradually, with AI supporting selected tasks rather than replacing the whole occupation.
Illustrative scenario based on task automatability — not a forecast. Values are rounded the further ahead you look.
This role is likely to change gradually, with AI supporting selected tasks rather than replacing the whole occupation.
Illustrative scenario based on task automatability — not a forecast. Values are rounded the further ahead you look.
Model-based estimate. Use it as a planning signal, not a guarantee.
Compare this to your profile
How AI may change this role
Deterministic, model-based interpretation of current role signals — not a guarantee of replacement.
What still depends on people
- embalm bodies
- apply health and safety standards
- cooperate with funeral directors
Where AI may become a co-pilot
- move bodies of deceased persons
- work with chemicals
- dress bodies
Tasks most exposed to automation
- maintain inventory of tools
Vital Signs & AI Vectors
AI Exposure Vectors
0-100%Exposure to physical automation, robotics, and sensor-driven task displacement
Exposure to content generation, creative augmentation, and large language model tools
Exposure to AI-assisted analysis, pattern recognition, and predictive modelling tasks
Exposure to workflow automation, decision-support software, and process digitisation
Technical Details
NexFuture v3.0 estimates automation exposure natively from ESCO essential-skill groups, weighted by skill mass and calibrated against expert anchors. Scores are probabilistic estimates, not guarantees. See the NexFuture Methodology White Paper for full details.
Measures automation exposure. It does not measure pay, demand, or how many jobs exist near you.
What people in this role usually do
Healthcare & Human Services
A typical day as an embalmer
09 09:00 · Morning embalm bodies
10 10:30 · Mid-morning move bodies of deceased persons
12 12:00 · Midday cooperate with funeral directors
14 14:00 · Afternoon dress bodies
15 15:30 · Late afternoon apply health and safety standards
17 17:00 · Wrap-up maintain inventory of tools
Task order is illustrative. Individual days vary.
What you need to do this work
The skills, knowledge and tools this role calls for — and the traits and rewards that come with it.
-
cooperate with funeral directors
Make arrangements and work together with funeral directors who provide funeral services for people buried on the cemetery under your responsibility.
-
embalm bodies
Prepare bodies for funeral ceremonies, by cleaning and disinfecting them, using make-up to create the impression of a natural appearance and hiding or correcting any visible damages or injuries.
-
promote human rights
Promote and respect human rights and diversity in light of the physical, psychological, spiritual and social needs of autonomous individuals, taking into account their opinions, beliefs and values, and the international and national codes of ethics, as well as the ethical implications of healthcare provision, ensuring their right to privacy and honouring for the confidentiality of healthcare information.
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move bodies of deceased persons
Transfer bodies of deceased persons or arrange transport from the place of death to the morgue or funeral home, in and out of the hearse and from the funeral home to the cemetery.
-
maintain professional administration
File and organise professional administration documents comprehensively, keep customer records, fill in forms or log books and prepare documents about company-related matter.
-
work with chemicals
Handle chemicals and select specific ones for certain processes. Be aware of the reactions which arise from combining them.
-
dress bodies
Put on clothes on bodies of deceased persons, chosen or provided by the deceased one's relatives.
-
apply health and safety standards
Adhere to standards of hygiene and safety established by respective authorities.
-
show diplomacy
Deal with people in a sensitive and tactful way.
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maintain inventory of tools
Keep an inventory of tools utilised in the provision of services. Ensure that tool sets remain complete and suitable for use.
cosmetics
The various types of substances used to enhance the appearance of the human body.
- biology
Path to become an embalmer
What it typically takes to qualify: education level, where it is a regulated profession, and where to study.
Primary education
96 programmes in 8 countries teach the core skills of this job. Plus 2 short courses that build single skills.
A few examples, taught in the language of this page:
Funeral Service and Mortuary Science
Northeast Community College · the United States
These are 3 of 98.
Sources
- 1. Source: U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard (collegescorecard.ed.gov), CC BY. Data as at 10/06/2026. Adapted by NexPath.
- 2. Source: South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA), All Qualifications and Unit Standards (allqs.saqa.org.za).
Growth Pathways & Similar Roles
Explore typical career progression paths, adjacent skills, and similar roles to plan your next transition.
Where does embalmer fit?
Similarity scores based on skill overlap from ESCO data.
For organisations
The data on this page, working for your students, clients and staff.
Frequently asked questions
What specific skills are needed to be a successful embalmer?
Is this a primarily employee-based role?
What is the typical interaction with grieving families like?
Is there a shortage of Embalmer in Europe?
How much does Embalmer pay in the United States?
Sources: ESCO O*NET ELA/EURES Cedefop BLS Data updated October 3, 2026 About our data