Funeral directors organise burials and cremations and support people who have lost a loved one.


Typical Salary

£20,000 – £27,000

per year

Working Hours

41–43

hours per week

Career Area

Undertakers, mortuary and crematorium assistants

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Day-to-day tasks

In this role you could:

  • help families plan funerals, including the time, date and location
  •  manage team members on the day of the funeral
  •  organise services like flowers, transport and notices
  •  explain laws about funerals and help families fill in forms
  •  advise on types of memorials, like headstones

Skills needed

  • sensitivity and understanding
  • to be thorough and pay attention to detail
  • patience and the ability to remain calm in stressful situations
  • customer service skills
  • the ability to work well with others
  • the ability to accept criticism and work well under pressure
  • business management skills 
  • the ability to understand people’s reactions
  • to be able to carry out basic tasks on a computer or hand-held device

How to get into this role

You can get into this job by doing an apprenticeship or working your way up.

Career progression

If you work for a large organisation, you could be promoted to branch, area or regional manager.

With experience and training, you could become a tutor and teach others how to become a funeral director.