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Embalmer

Also called tanatopractor, funeral embalmer

Embalmers arrange for the removal of bodies of deceased persons from the place of death and they prepare the bodies for burials and cremations. They clean and disinfect the bodies, use make-up to create the impression of a more natural appearance and hide any visible damage. They are in close contact with funeral services directors in order to comply with the wishes of the deceased family members.

Will there be jobs?Average prospects26 jobs to fill by 2035 for every 100 people doing this work today.Personal service workersWhat does it pay?Below averageFrom about €900 (Bulgaria) to €3,900 (Denmark) a month, depending on the country.Estimate · Personal service workersWhat do I need to study?Upper secondary or vocational6 in 10 finished upper secondary or vocational training.Personal service workersWill AI change it?Very littleLevel 1 of 6. AI could help with only small parts of the tasks.Undertakers and embalmers · ILO

What you'd do

Undertakers and embalmers · ILO
  • Making arrangements for, and conducting, funerals, cremations and burials
  • Embalming human bodies to retard or arrest the process of decay
  • Conforming to health and sanitation and ensuring that legal requirements concerning embalming are met
  • Incising and closing incisions on various parts of the body and reshaping or reconstructing disfigured or maimed bodies when necessary
  • Dressing bodies and placing them in caskets
  • Conducting interviews to arrange for preparation of obituary notices, to assist with the selection of caskets or urns, and to determine the location and time of burials or cremations
Promote human rightsMaintain inventory of toolsCooperate with funeral directorsDress bodiesEmbalm bodies+ 5 more essential skills
What the work is like
  • Indoors and outdoors
  • A mix of sitting and standing
  • Constant contact with people, including the public
  • Good freedom to decide
  • Usually 40 hours a week
  • Deadlines every day
  • Some repetitive tasks
US data: based on the O*NET profile of the US job "Embalmers"

Will there be jobs?

Average prospects

A typical number of jobs will need filling by 2035.

People working as personal service workers in the EU
10.21m10.63m10.46m 201520232035

Solid: measured. Dashed: forecast.

Jobs to fill, 2026–2035
3,074,000 replacing leavers 244,000 jobs disappear
Jobs to fill per 100 people working now
Personal service workers26
All jobs29
Right now
2 of 27 countries report a shortage of undertakers and embalmers, 3 a surplus.
Undertakers and embalmers · EURES

What does it pay?

Below average

Pay depends a lot on the country: from about €900 a month (Bulgaria) to €3,900 (Denmark), before tax.

Pick a country at the top of the page to see typical pay there, for people under 30, and compared with all jobs.

Among service and sales workers in the EU, women earn 3% less per hour than men. Service and sales workers · Eurostat

What do I need to study?

Upper secondary or vocational

Upper secondary or vocational training is the usual route.

Highest qualification of personal service workers (EU, 2025)
Degree 15%Vocational 46%General secondary 16%Basic schooling 23%

Pick a country at the top of the page to see where to study and the official course finders.

Will AI change it?

Very little

AI could help with only small parts of the tasks.

How exposed is this job? ILO scale
Very low
Low
Some tasks
Moderate
Significant
High

Average task score 0.17 on a scale from 0 (AI can't do it) to 1 (AI could do it fully).

See the score for each of the 6 tasks
Conducting interviews to arrange for preparation of obituary notices, to assist with the selection of caskets or urns, and to determine the location and time of burials or cremations0.44
Making arrangements for, and conducting, funerals, cremations and burials0.33
Incising and closing incisions on various parts of the body and reshaping or reconstructing disfigured or maimed bodies when necessary0.06
Dressing bodies and placing them in caskets0.06
Embalming human bodies to retard or arrest the process of decay0.06
Conforming to health and sanitation and ensuring that legal requirements concerning embalming are met0.05

Based on what AI could technically do when assessed in 2025. It is not a forecast for a future year, and not a forecast of job losses. Scores for undertakers and embalmers. Source: ILO (2025), adapted (credits).