62201
Canada Moderate

Funeral directors and embalmers

Funeral directors coordinate and arrange all aspects of funeral services. Embalmers prepare the remains of deceased persons for public visitation and burial. Funeral directors and embalmers are employed by funeral homes.

Employment Outlooks

Economic Region Outlooks

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Choose up to 3 regions to see employment outlooks. This occupation has data for 72 economic regions.

Salary Information

National wage data for this occupation
Entry-level
CA$18.00
/hr
Typical
CA$31.25
/hr
Experienced
CA$50.48
/hr

Average: CA$33.29/hr

90.2% of workers in this occupation receive non-wage benefits

Source: Job Bank Canada. Wages may vary by region and experience.

Examples

Illustrative Examples
  • apprentice embalmer
  • embalmer
  • funeral director
  • mortician
All Examples
  • apprentice embalmer
  • assistant funeral director
  • embalmer
  • embalmer apprentice
  • funeral director
  • funeral home director
  • funeral services director
  • mortician
  • undertaker
  • undertaker assistant

Main Duties

Main Duties
  • This group performs some or all of the following duties:
  • Funeral directors
  • Consult with the family of the deceased regarding the nature of the funeral service, the disposition of the remains and funeral costs
  • Transfer, or arrange for the transfer of, the remains from the place of death to the funeral home
  • Inform survivors of benefits for which they may be eligible
  • Issue death notices to newspapers
  • Oversee the preparation of the remains, plan and schedule funeral services, coordinate burials and cremations and complete legal documents
  • Discuss and negotiate prearranged funerals with clients
  • Manage funeral home operations including hiring and directing staff, maintaining financial records, preparing accounts and ordering merchandise
  • Supervise embalmers, funeral home attendants and other funeral home staff
  • May perform same duties as embalmers.
  • Embalmers
  • Preserve, sanitize and prepare human remains for funeral services
  • Perform cosmetic and restorative work on human remains
  • Supervise funeral home attendants and other funeral home staff.

Requirements

Employment Requirements
  • Completion of a one- to two-year college program and a twelve- to twenty-month practical apprenticeship program during or following the educational program is usually required for funeral directors.
  • Completion of a two- to three-year college program and a twelve- to twenty-month practical apprenticeship program during or following the educational program or completion of a three-year college program is required for embalmers.
  • Funeral directors require licensure in most provinces and territories.
  • Funeral directors may be required to be licensed embalmers depending on provincial requirements.
  • Embalmers require licensure in all provinces.

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Data from Statistics Canada (NOC 2021), ESDC Labour Market Information, and Job Bank Canada