Undertakers, mortuary and crematorium assistants

£29,721

Average salary

Average annual salary UK 2020 | Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings

32 hours

Average weekly hours

Average weekly hours UK 2019 | Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings

3.35%

Unemployment rate

Unemployment rate UK 2020 | Labour Force Survey

Definition: Undertakers, mortuary and crematorium assistants

*SOC Code (Standard Occupational Classification): 6148

Undertakers, mortuary and crematorium assistants make funeral arrangements for clients, prepare the deceased for burial or cremation, and supervise and assist the proceedings of funerals.

Common tasks include:

collects body of deceased and assists with the completion of necessary documents;
interviews relative or representative of the deceased to discuss preparations for funeral;
liaises with cemetery or crematorium authorities on behalf of client;
washes and injects body with sterilising fluid to prevent deterioration prior to funeral, and applies cosmetics, wax and other materials to restore normal appearance;
provides hearse and funeral cars and leads funeral procession;
controls the operations of crematoriums and cemeteries and processes legal documentation.

Qualifications

There are no formal academic requirements although some employers require candidates to possess GCSEs/S grades. A full driving licence is often required. Training is provided on-the-job. Professional qualifications in funeral directing and embalming are available.

*Introduced in 1990, SOC is a multi-purpose common classification of occupations in UK. Jobs are defined in terms of skill level and skill content, including qualifications, training and work experience.

Employment status: Undertakers, mortuary and crematorium assistants

Regional employment: Undertakers, mortuary and crematorium assistants

Future employment: Undertakers, mortuary and crematorium assistants

Top 12 industries: Undertakers, mortuary and crematorium assistants

Alternative & related job titles: Undertakers, mortuary and crematorium assistants

Superintendent (cemetery, crematorium) Superintendent, assistant (cemetery, crematorium) Undertaker Worker, cemetery Bearer (funeral directors) Attendant, cemetery Technician, mortuary Mortician Bearer, pall Assistant, crematorium Attendant, furnace, crematorium Administrator, funeral Technician, crematorium Taxidermist Assistant, funeral Furnaceman (crematorium) Foreman (cemetery, crematorium) Assistant, mortuary Arranger, funeral Attendant, mortuary Operator, crematorium Director, funeral Driver-bearer Assistant, undertaker's Assistant, director's, funeral Attendant, crematorium Embalmer

Equality focus: Undertakers, mortuary and crematorium assistants

Breaking down the official government big data sources by gender, age and region. Hours and pay data based on full time equlivalent roles.