Pay: The median pay of a funeral director in the Seattle area is $52,393, with most making from $42,154 to $69,554, according to salary.com.
Demand: Employment is expected to increase 12 percent during the 2006-16 decade, about as fast as the average for all occupations.
Funeral directors are older, on average, than workers in other occupations and are expected to retire in greater numbers in the coming decade. Some leave the profession because of the long, irregular hours.
Need to know: College programs in mortuary science usually last from two to four years. The American Board of Funeral Service Education accredits about 50 mortuary-science programs.
A few community and junior colleges offer two-year programs, and a few colleges and universities offer both two-year and four-year programs.
All states require funeral directors to be licensed. Laws vary by state, but most require applicants to be 21 years old, have two years of formal education that includes studies in mortuary science, serve a one-year apprenticeship and pass a qualifying examination. After becoming licensed, new funeral directors may join the staff of a funeral home.
