A funeral home manager oversees daily operations, staff, and client services at a funeral home. You'll handle business decisions, work directly with grieving families, and manage administrative tasks. You can enter this field with an associate degree and medium-level preparation.
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Funeral home managers run the business side of funeral homes while supporting families during difficult times. You'll make decisions about services and pricing, work directly with clients to plan arrangements, and assist grieving families with care and compassion. You'll also organize staff schedules, handle finances and accounting, manage marketing and sales efforts, and maintain strong relationships with clients and community members. Your days involve problem-solving, listening carefully to client needs, and keeping detailed records.
Core work activities
Career video courtesy of CareerOneStop.
Funeral Home Managers earn a median of $78,790 a year, based on 2025 data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Pay rises with experience, specialty, and location.
The outlook is steady. Employment is projected to grow 4 percent from 2024 to 2034, about as fast as average for all occupations, with about 2,600 openings a year.
Top skills
Knowledge areas
Most funeral home managers start with an associate degree. You'll build knowledge in customer service, business administration, and management practices. The path requires medium-level preparation, which means developing skills in active listening, critical thinking, and communication through coursework and hands-on experience. Many people in this role begin in entry-level positions at funeral homes and advance into management as they gain experience and complete their education.
You can reach this role through an associate degree program paired with funeral home experience. If you're exploring whether this path fits your timeline and goals, Pathly can map the funeral home manager path that fits you with your counselor to build a step-by-step plan.
Many funeral home managers must be licensed, and professional certifications can strengthen your resume.
Common certifications
Licensing is handled at the state level and the requirements vary, so check the licensing board in your state. Pathly shows your state's specific steps inside your roadmap.
You're drawn to this work if you're enterprising, enjoy managing people and business operations, and find meaning in helping others during vulnerable moments.
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Last updated July 1, 2026.
Data sources. Career details from the O*NET 30.3 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA), used under CC BY 4.0. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. Salary and outlook figures from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025 wages; 2024–2034 projections), delivered via the CareerOneStop API. Certification, licensing, wage, and outlook data from CareerOneStop, sponsored by USDOL/ETA and the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED).