Funeral attendants
SOC Code: 39-4021
Funeral attendants carries a 25% AI exposure score (Medium automation risk), with a median annual wage of $34,610 and +3.1% projected employment growth from 2024 to 2034 (BLS), affecting approximately 32,500 workers. Full task breakdown, skills, and employer data are below.
Proportion of tasks susceptible to AI automation (O*NET analysis)
AI Exposure vs Industry Growth
Total occupations tracked
832
Covering all SOC major groups
Data currency
2024
BLS Employment Projections
AI exposure avg
40%
Fleet-wide median across all roles
Composite score weighing O*NET task data completeness, BLS projection methodology, and cross-validation with employer risk grades.
Employment Projections
Occupation Insight
Funeral attendants (SOC 39-4021) carries an AI exposure score of 25%, placing it in the Medium automation-risk tier. This score is computed from O*NET Database 30.0 task-level analysis, where each task an occupation performs is evaluated against current generative AI, robotic process automation, and machine-learning capabilities. A score below 40% reflects tasks anchored in physical dexterity, unstructured environments, or high-touch human interaction that current AI cannot reliably replicate.
The economic context matters alongside the risk score. BLS counted approximately 32,500 workers in this occupation in 2024, and projects a +3.1% change through 2034 — modest growth that keeps the occupation viable even as tasks evolve. Median annual compensation stands at $34,610, reflecting both skill scarcity and the value employers place on the tasks that remain difficult to automate. Entry typically requires High school diploma or equivalent, plus None of related experience.
For career planners, this profile should be read alongside the task, skill, and knowledge breakdowns below and the list of employers whose workforce composition includes Funeral attendants. Adjacent occupations shown further down offer lateral moves that preserve industry knowledge while potentially reducing exposure. Pair the AI exposure score with the BLS employment projection and wage percentiles above for a complete career assessment.
Education & Entry Requirements
Top Tasks (O*NET)
- 1. Embalm, dress, cosmeticize, and casket the deceased.
- 2. Prepare obituaries for newspapers.
- 3. Obtain burial permits and register deaths.
- 4. Transport the deceased to the funeral home.
- 5. Obtain doctors' signatures on death certificate and complete other paperwork, such as insurance claims forms.
- 6. Greet people at the funeral home.
- 7. Assist with cremations and the processing and packaging of cremated remains.
- 8. Perform a variety of tasks during funerals to assist funeral directors and to ensure that services run smoothly and as planned.
- 9. Close caskets at appropriate point in services.
- 10. Direct or escort mourners to parlors or chapels in which wakes or funerals are being held.
Key Skills Required
- Social Perceptiveness
- Service Orientation
- Active Listening
- Speaking
- Monitoring
- Coordination
- Reading Comprehension
- Critical Thinking
- Judgment and Decision Making
- Time Management
Knowledge Areas
- Customer and Personal Service
- English Language
- Administrative
- Transportation
- Computers and Electronics
- Law and Government
- Communications and Media
- Sales and Marketing
- Administration and Management
- Mathematics
Frequently Asked Questions
Will AI replace Funeral attendants?
Funeral attendants has an AI exposure score of 25%, indicating a medium level of automation risk. The majority of tasks in this role require human judgment, creativity, or physical presence that AI cannot easily replicate.
What is the job outlook for Funeral attendants?
According to BLS Employment Projections 2024-2034, Funeral attendants is projected to grow by 3.1% over the decade. Current employment stands at approximately 32,500 workers.
What skills are needed for Funeral attendants?
Key skills for Funeral attendants include Social Perceptiveness, Service Orientation, Active Listening, and others. Typical entry-level education is High school diploma or equivalent.
How much do Funeral attendants earn?
The median annual wage for Funeral attendants is $34,610, according to BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (May 2024). Actual earnings vary by location, experience, industry, and employer. The BLS publishes detailed wage percentiles by region in its Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics program.
What education is required for Funeral attendants?
The typical entry-level education for Funeral attendants is High school diploma or equivalent. Employers generally expect None of related work experience. On-the-job training typically involves Short-term on-the-job training. Requirements can vary by employer and specialization.
Which companies employ Funeral attendants?
Funeral attendants roles exist across many industries and employers. Workforce composition is estimated from BLS industry-occupation employment distributions matched to SEC-registered public companies.
AI Exposure Rating
Medium automation risk based on 10 analyzed tasks. Most tasks require human judgment and are resistant to automation.
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Data sources: Bureau of Labor Statistics Employment Projections 2024–2034 and O*NET Database 30.0. Employment figures are rounded. Wage data from BLS Occupational Employment Statistics (OES).