Embalmer Salary: How Much Do They Make? (2026)

Median pay, hourly rates, salary ranges, and best-paying states for Embalmers — from official U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data.

Official BLS wage data · Unknown vintage
Median Salary
$58,780
per year, national
Hourly Rate
$28.26
based on 2,080 hrs/yr
Top 10% Earn
$77,570
entry level starts ~$38,310
Pay Grade
B
solid pay · 4,000 employed

How much does an Embalmer make?

The median pay for an Embalmer in the United States is $58,780 per year — about $28.26 per hour. Entry-level positions start near $38,310, while the most experienced Embalmers in the top 10% earn $77,570.

That is $2,610 less than the median across all occupations in BLS data ($61,390).

Embalmer salary range by percentile

Half of all Embalmers earn between $48,010 and $66,130 a year.

Pay levelAnnual salaryHourly rate
10th percentile (entry level)$38,310$18.42
25th percentile (early career)$48,010$23.08
50th percentile (median)$58,780$28.26
75th percentile (experienced)$66,130$31.79
90th percentile (top earners)$77,570$37.29

Highest-paying states for Embalmer

Where you work matters more than almost anything else. Ohio leads the country for Embalmer pay at $71,550 a year, followed by Pennsylvania ($69,950) and North Carolina ($68,550). At the other end, Iowa posts the lowest median at $39,490 — a gap of $32,060 for the same job, driven by local demand, industry mix, and cost of living.

#StateMedian salaryHourlyvs national
1Ohio$71,550$34.40+22%
2Pennsylvania$69,950$33.63+19%
3North Carolina$68,550$32.96+17%
4Missouri$66,490$31.97+13%
5Virginia$63,810$30.68+9%

Workforce and education

About 4,000 people work as Embalmers in the United States. On qualifications: a high school diploma is typically enough, with most skills learned on the job, per O*NET occupation data.

Frequently asked questions

How much does an Embalmer make in the United States?
The median Embalmer salary in the United States is $58,780 per year, or about $28.26 per hour, according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates. Entry-level pay (10th percentile) starts around $38,310, while the top 10% of earners make $77,570 or more.
How does Embalmer pay compare to other jobs?
With a pay grade of B (solid pay), the Embalmer median of $58,780 is below the national median across all occupations tracked in BLS data ($61,390).
Which state pays Embalmers the most?
Ohio is the highest-paying state for Embalmers, with a median salary of $71,550 per year, based on official state-level BLS wage estimates.
How long does it take to become an Embalmer?
Becoming an Embalmer typically requires a high school diploma. A high school diploma is typically enough, with most skills learned on the job.
How many Embalmers work in the United States?
About 4,000 people were employed as Embalmers in the United States in the latest BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics estimates.

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Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), Unknown vintage. Education requirements: O*NET (U.S. Department of Labor). Percentiles, employment, and state figures are official BLS estimates; hourly figures assume 2,080 hours/year. Individual pay varies by employer, experience, and location.