Occupation Details
Funeral Attendants
Perform a variety of tasks during funeral, such as placing casket in parlor or chapel prior to service, arranging floral offerings or lights around casket, directing or escorting mourners, closing casket, and issuing and storing funeral equipment.
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Interests
Realistic
Realistic occupations frequently involve work activities that include practical, hands-on problems and solutions. They often deal with plants, animals, and real-world materials like wood, tools, and machinery. Many of the occupations require working outside, and do not involve a lot of paperwork or working closely with others.
Social
Social occupations frequently involve working with, communicating with, and teaching people. These occupations often involve helping or providing service to others.
Enterprising
Enterprising occupations frequently involve starting up and carrying out projects. These occupations can involve leading people and making many decisions. Sometimes they require risk taking and often deal with business.
Work Values
Relationships
Occupations that satisfy this work value allow employees to provide service to others and work with co-workers in a friendly non-competitive environment. Corresponding needs are Co-workers, Moral Values and Social Service.
Support
Occupations that satisfy this work value offer supportive management that stands behind employees. Corresponding needs are Company Policies, Supervision: Human Relations and Supervision: Technical.
Independence
Occupations that satisfy this work value allow employees to work on their own and make decisions. Corresponding needs are Creativity, Responsibility and Autonomy.
Salary & Job Outlook
Starting Salary
$30,690.00
New York StateMedian Salary
$38,320.00
New York StateExperienced Salary
$42,010.00
New York StateNational Average for Comparison
New York State Job Market Outlook
Jobs Right Now (2018)
3,040
professionals in NYFuture Job Growth (2030)
5,240
+220 jobs/yearNew Jobs Every Year
729
new opportunities yearlyGrowth Rate
0.7%
projected increasePreparation: Experience, Training, and Education
The list below outlines the prior educational experience required to perform in this occupation.
Some Training - Certificate or hands-on training
Experience Requirements
Some previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is usually needed. For example, a teller would benefit from experience working directly with the public.
Education Requirements
These occupations usually require a high school diploma.
Training Details
Employees in these occupations need anywhere from a few months to one year of working with experienced employees. A recognized apprenticeship program may be associated with these occupations.
Transferrable Skills and Experience
These occupations often involve using your knowledge and skills to help others. Examples include orderlies, counter and rental clerks, customer service representatives, security guards, upholsterers, tellers, and dental laboratory technicians.
School Programs
School Programs information is not available for this occupation.
Licensing & Certification
State License and Certifications Requirements are not currently associated with this occupation.
Skills
The list below includes the skills required by workers in this occupation; skills are what allow you to learn more quickly and improve your performance.
Social Perceptiveness
Being aware of others' reactions and understanding why they react as they do.
Speaking
Talking to others to convey information effectively.
Service Orientation
Actively looking for ways to help people.
Active Listening
Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
Monitoring
Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
Coordination
Adjusting actions in relation to others' actions.
Judgment and Decision Making
Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.
Critical Thinking
Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions, or approaches to problems.
Skill level is measured on a seven point scale, where one means 'some competence required for this occupation' and seven means 'a high level of expertise required for this occupation'.
Knowledge
The list below includes knowledge items, the principles and facts required by this occupation.
Customer and Personal Service
Knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services. This includes customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction.
English Language
Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
Psychology
Knowledge of human behavior and performance; individual differences in ability, personality, and interests; learning and motivation; psychological research methods; and the assessment and treatment of behavioral and affective disorders.
Administrative
Knowledge of administrative and office procedures and systems such as word processing, managing files and records, stenography and transcription, designing forms, and workplace terminology.
Knowledge level is measured on a seven point scale, where one means 'some competence required for this occupation' and seven means 'a high level of expertise required for this occupation'.
Work Environment
The list below includes the physical and social factors that influence the nature of work in this occupation.
Hover over or tap each factor to see its description.
Work Styles
Included in the list below are the personal work style characteristics that can affect how well a worker is likely to perform in this occupation.
Adaptability/Flexibility
Job requires being open to change (positive or negative) and to considerable variety in the workplace.
Attention to Detail
Job requires being careful about detail and thorough in completing work tasks.
Concern for Others
Job requires being sensitive to others' needs and feelings and being understanding and helpful on the job.
Cooperation
Job requires being pleasant with others on the job and displaying a good-natured, cooperative attitude.
Dependability
Job requires being reliable, responsible, and dependable, and fulfilling obligations.
Initiative
Job requires a willingness to take on responsibilities and challenges.
Integrity
Job requires being honest and ethical.
Self-Control
Job requires maintaining composure, keeping emotions in check, controlling anger, and avoiding aggressive behavior, even in very difficult situations.
Social Orientation
Job requires preferring to work with others rather than alone, and being personally connected with others on the job.
Stress Tolerance
Job requires accepting criticism and dealing calmly and effectively with high-stress situations.
Tools & Technology
This list below describes the machines, equipment, tools, software, and information technology that workers in this occupation will use.
Tools
- Body bridges
- Casket lowering devices
- Compaction tampers
- Cremation stands
- Dump trailers
- Funeral church trucks
- Hearses
- Mausoleum lifts
- Monument lifts
- Mortuary bier pins
- Mortuary cots
- Mortuary dressing tables
- Mortuary lift systems
- Mortuary operating tables
- Mortuary roller systems
- Mortuary vans
- Numbering machines
- Pallbearer casket carriages
- Passenger vehicles
Technology
- Bookkeeping software
- Microsoft Excel
- Microsoft Office
Duties
Duties are job behaviors describing activities that occur on multiple jobs. The generalized and detailed work activities described in the list below apply to this occupation.
- issue supplies, materials, or equipment
- arrange floral offerings
- move or fit heavy objects
- clean rooms or work areas
- arrange decorations or furniture for banquets or social functions
- assist in carrying casket
- use oral or written communication techniques
- package goods for shipment or storage
- drive automobile, van, or light truck
- transport passengers or cargo
- assist individuals into or out of vehicles, boats, aircraft, or rides
- provide customer service
- answer customer or public inquiries
- greet customers, guests, visitors, or passengers
Tasks
The list below outlines specific tasks that a worker in this occupation is called upon to do regularly.
- Embalm, dress, cosmeticize, and casket the deceased.
- Greet people at the funeral home.
- Perform a variety of tasks during funerals to assist funeral directors and to ensure that services run smoothly and as planned.
- Transport the deceased to the funeral home.
- Manage funeral home finances, including receiving payments, making bank deposits, or performing general bookkeeping duties.
- Direct or escort mourners to parlors or chapels in which wakes or funerals are being held.
- Close caskets at appropriate point in services.
- Attend to the needs of the bereaved, such as by offering comfort, counseling, or after-care programs.
- Assist with cremations and the processing and packaging of cremated remains.
- Offer assistance to mourners as they enter or exit limousines.
- Obtain burial permits and register deaths.
- Obtain doctors' signatures on death certificate and complete other paperwork, such as insurance claims forms.
- Place caskets in parlors or chapels prior to wakes or funerals.
- Clean and drive funeral vehicles, such as cars or hearses, in funeral processions.
- Carry flowers to hearses or limousines for transportation to places of interment.
- Meet with family members to plan the funeral.
- Arrange floral offerings or lights around caskets.
- Perform various administrative tasks, such as typing documents or answering telephone calls.
- Supervise funeral processions and assist with cemetery parking.
- Act as pallbearers.
- Clean funeral parlors or chapels.
- Deliver floral arrangements or other items to family members of the deceased.
- Issue and store funeral equipment.
- Prepare obituaries for newspapers.
- Perform general maintenance tasks for funeral homes, such as maintaining equipment or caring for funeral grounds.
- Provide advice to mourners on how to make charitable donations in honor of the deceased.