Funeral Attendants
Overview
Salary
Demand
Core Tasks
Technology Skills
Tools Used
Top 10 Knowledge Required
Top 10 Skills
Top 10 Abilities
Top 10 Work Activities
Detailed Work Activities
Work Context
Education
Interests
Top 10 Work Styles
Work Values
Related Careers
Overview
Job Zone Two: Some Preparation Needed
Experience
Some previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is usually needed. For example, a teller would benefit from experience working directly with the public.
Education
These occupations usually require a high school diploma.
Job Training
Employees in these occupations need anywhere from a few months to one year of working with experienced employees. A recognized apprenticeship program may be associated with these occupations.
Examples
These occupations often involve using your knowledge and skills to help others. Examples include orderlies, counter and rental clerks, customer service representatives, security guards, upholsterers, and tellers.
Perform a variety of tasks during funeral, such as placing casket in parlor or chapel prior to service, arranging floral offerings or lights around casket, directing or escorting mourners, closing casket, and issuing and storing funeral equipment.
Salary Salary
Salary at 10th Percentile: $20K
Salary at 25th Percentile: $23K
Median Salary: $29K
Salary at 75th Percentile: $36K
Salary at 90th Percentile: $46K
Demand
Core Tasks
Embalm, dress, cosmeticize, and casket the deceased.
Greet people at the funeral home.
Perform a variety of tasks during funerals to assist funeral directors and to ensure that services run smoothly and as planned.
Transport the deceased to the funeral home.
Direct or escort mourners to parlors or chapels in which wakes or funerals are being held.
Manage funeral home finances, including receiving payments, making bank deposits, or performing general bookkeeping duties.
Close caskets at appropriate point in services.
Attend to the needs of the bereaved, such as by offering comfort, counseling, or after-care programs.
Assist with cremations and the processing and packaging of cremated remains.
Obtain burial permits and register deaths.
Offer assistance to mourners as they enter or exit limousines.
Obtain doctors' signatures on death certificate and complete other paperwork, such as insurance claims forms.
Place caskets in parlors or chapels prior to wakes or funerals.
Carry flowers to hearses or limousines for transportation to places of interment.
Clean and drive funeral vehicles, such as cars or hearses, in funeral processions.
Meet with family members to plan the funeral.
Arrange floral offerings or lights around caskets.
Perform various administrative tasks, such as typing documents or answering telephone calls.
Supervise funeral processions and assist with cemetery parking.
Act as pallbearers.
Clean funeral parlors or chapels.
Deliver floral arrangements or other items to family members of the deceased.
Issue and store funeral equipment.
Prepare obituaries for newspapers.
Perform general maintenance tasks for funeral homes, such as maintaining equipment or caring for funeral grounds.
Provide advice to mourners on how to make charitable donations in honor of the deceased.
Technology Skills
Technology
Example
Hot Technology
Tools Used
Tool
Example
Top 10 Knowledge Required
Customer and Personal Service
82%
Knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services. This includes customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction.
English Language
68%
Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
Public Safety and Security
57%
Knowledge of relevant equipment, policies, procedures, and strategies to promote effective local, state, or national security operations for the protection of people, data, property, and institutions.
Psychology
56%
Knowledge of human behavior and performance; individual differences in ability, personality, and interests; learning and motivation; psychological research methods; and the assessment and treatment of behavioral and affective disorders.
Transportation
54%
Knowledge of principles and methods for moving people or goods by air, rail, sea, or road, including the relative costs and benefits.
Administration and Management
53%
Knowledge of business and management principles involved in strategic planning, resource allocation, human resources modeling, leadership technique, production methods, and coordination of people and resources.
Clerical
53%
Knowledge of administrative and clerical procedures and systems such as word processing, managing files and records, stenography and transcription, designing forms, and other office procedures and terminology.
Law and Government
50%
Knowledge of laws, legal codes, court procedures, precedents, government regulations, executive orders, agency rules, and the democratic political process.
Communications and Media
48%
Knowledge of media production, communication, and dissemination techniques and methods. This includes alternative ways to inform and entertain via written, oral, and visual media.
Telecommunications
48%
Knowledge of transmission, broadcasting, switching, control, and operation of telecommunications systems.
Top 10 Skills
Social Perceptiveness
70%
Being aware of others' reactions and understanding why they react as they do.
Service Orientation
68%
Actively looking for ways to help people.
Speaking
68%
Talking to others to convey information effectively.
Active Listening
63%
Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
Monitoring
63%
Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
Coordination
60%
Adjusting actions in relation to others' actions.
Judgment and Decision Making
58%
Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.
Critical Thinking
55%
Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
Reading Comprehension
53%
Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.
Time Management
50%
Managing one's own time and the time of others.
Top 10 Abilities
Oral Comprehension
68%
The ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences.
Oral Expression
68%
The ability to communicate information and ideas in speaking so others will understand.
Speech Clarity
63%
The ability to speak clearly so others can understand you.
Speech Recognition
63%
The ability to identify and understand the speech of another person.
Near Vision
60%
The ability to see details at close range (within a few feet of the observer).
Problem Sensitivity
60%
The ability to tell when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong. It does not involve solving the problem, only recognizing there is a problem.
Static Strength
60%
The ability to exert maximum muscle force to lift, push, pull, or carry objects.
Written Comprehension
60%
The ability to read and understand information and ideas presented in writing.
Deductive Reasoning
58%
The ability to apply general rules to specific problems to produce answers that make sense.
Inductive Reasoning
55%
The ability to combine pieces of information to form general rules or conclusions (includes finding a relationship among seemingly unrelated events).
Top 10 Work Activities
Assisting and Caring for Others
89%
Providing personal assistance, medical attention, emotional support, or other personal care to others such as coworkers, customers, or patients.
Getting Information
89%
Observing, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources.
Performing for or Working Directly with the Public
89%
Performing for people or dealing directly with the public. This includes serving customers in restaurants and stores, and receiving clients or guests.
Communicating with Persons Outside Organization
81%
Communicating with people outside the organization, representing the organization to customers, the public, government, and other external sources. This information can be exchanged in person, in writing, or by telephone or e-mail.
Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events
81%
Identifying information by categorizing, estimating, recognizing differences or similarities, and detecting changes in circumstances or events.
Operating Vehicles, Mechanized Devices, or Equipment
81%
Running, maneuvering, navigating, or driving vehicles or mechanized equipment, such as forklifts, passenger vehicles, aircraft, or water craft.
Making Decisions and Solving Problems
80%
Analyzing information and evaluating results to choose the best solution and solve problems.
Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates
78%
Providing information to supervisors, co-workers, and subordinates by telephone, in written form, e-mail, or in person.
Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships
78%
Developing constructive and cooperative working relationships with others, and maintaining them over time.
Documenting/Recording Information
77%
Entering, transcribing, recording, storing, or maintaining information in written or electronic/magnetic form.
Detailed Work Activities
Transport biological or other medical materials.
Provide counsel, comfort, or encouragement to individuals or families.
Perform administrative or clerical tasks.
Direct funeral or mortuary activities.
Deliver items.
Maintain facilities.
Apply makeup to alter or enhance appearance.
Embalm corpses.
Maintain financial or account records.
Discuss service options or needs with clients.
Write informational material.
Identify opportunities to improve operational efficiency.
Greet customers, patrons, or visitors.
Assist patrons with entering or exiting vehicles or other forms of transportation.
Handle caskets.
Prepare administrative documents.
Provide escort or transportation.
Provide patrons with directions to locales or attractions.
Clean tools or equipment.
Drive vehicles to transport patrons.
Clean facilities or work areas.
Arrange items for use or display.
Assign resources or facilities to patrons or employees.
Work Context
Work With Work Group or Team
How important is it to work with others in a group or team in this job?
Telephone
How often do you have telephone conversations in this job?
Frequency of Decision Making
How frequently is the worker required to make decisions that affect other people, the financial resources, and/or the image and reputation of the organization?
In an Enclosed Vehicle or Equipment
How often does this job require working in a closed vehicle or equipment (e.g., car)?
Deal With External Customers
How important is it to work with external customers or the public in this job?
Time Pressure
How often does this job require the worker to meet strict deadlines?
Contact With Others
How much does this job require the worker to be in contact with others (face-to-face, by telephone, or otherwise) in order to perform it?
Coordinate or Lead Others
How important is it to coordinate or lead others in accomplishing work activities in this job?
Physical Proximity
To what extent does this job require the worker to perform job tasks in close physical proximity to other people?
Outdoors, Exposed to Weather
How often does this job require working outdoors, exposed to all weather conditions?
Education
Interests
Social
91%
Social occupations frequently involve working with, communicating with, and teaching people. These occupations often involve helping or providing service to others.
Enterprising
62%
Enterprising occupations frequently involve starting up and carrying out projects. These occupations can involve leading people and making many decisions. Sometimes they require risk taking and often deal with business.
Realistic
62%
Realistic occupations frequently involve work activities that include practical, hands-on problems and solutions. They often deal with plants, animals, and real-world materials like wood, tools, and machinery. Many of the occupations require working outside, and do not involve a lot of paperwork or working closely with others.
Conventional
39%
Conventional occupations frequently involve following set procedures and routines. These occupations can include working with data and details more than with ideas. Usually there is a clear line of authority to follow.
Artistic
29%
Artistic occupations frequently involve working with forms, designs and patterns. They often require self-expression and the work can be done without following a clear set of rules.
Investigative
15%
Investigative occupations frequently involve working with ideas, and require an extensive amount of thinking. These occupations can involve searching for facts and figuring out problems mentally.
Top 10 Work Styles
Integrity
91%
Job requires being honest and ethical.
Dependability
89%
Job requires being reliable, responsible, and dependable, and fulfilling obligations.
Concern for Others
87%
Job requires being sensitive to others' needs and feelings and being understanding and helpful on the job.
Self Control
87%
Job requires maintaining composure, keeping emotions in check, controlling anger, and avoiding aggressive behavior, even in very difficult situations.
Attention to Detail
84%
Job requires being careful about detail and thorough in completing work tasks.
Cooperation
84%
Job requires being pleasant with others on the job and displaying a good-natured, cooperative attitude.
Stress Tolerance
82%
Job requires accepting criticism and dealing calmly and effectively with high stress situations.
Adaptability/Flexibility
79%
Job requires being open to change (positive or negative) and to considerable variety in the workplace.
Social Orientation
77%
Job requires preferring to work with others rather than alone, and being personally connected with others on the job.
Initiative
73%
Job requires a willingness to take on responsibilities and challenges.
Work Values
Relationships
72%
Occupations that satisfy this work value allow employees to provide service to others and work with co-workers in a friendly non-competitive environment. Corresponding needs are Co-workers, Moral Values and Social Service.
Support
48%
Occupations that satisfy this work value offer supportive management that stands behind employees. Corresponding needs are Company Policies, Supervision: Human Relations and Supervision: Technical.
Independence
43%
Occupations that satisfy this work value allow employees to work on their own and make decisions. Corresponding needs are Creativity, Responsibility and Autonomy.
Working Conditions
36%
Occupations that satisfy this work value offer job security and good working conditions. Corresponding needs are Activity, Compensation, Independence, Security, Variety and Working Conditions.
Recognition
34%
Occupations that satisfy this work value offer advancement, potential for leadership, and are often considered prestigious. Corresponding needs are Advancement, Authority, Recognition and Social Status.
Achievement
29%
Occupations that satisfy this work value are results oriented and allow employees to use their strongest abilities, giving them a feeling of accomplishment. Corresponding needs are Ability Utilization and Achievement.
