Funeral Directors
...er. Most funeral directors also are trained, licensed, and practicing embalmers. When embalming the deceased, the funeral director washes the body with germicidal soap and replaces the blood with embalming fluid to preserve the tissues. In the year 2002, the medium annual earnings for the job were about $43,380. The salaries range from the lowest $24,950 to the highest $84,060. Funeral directors in large cities earn more then their counterparts in small towns and rural areas. Salaries all depend on how long you’ve worked, the number of services performed, the number of facilities operated, the location, the size of the community, and the level of formal education. Funeral directors often work long, irregular hours, and the job is very stressful. Funeral directors occasionally come into contact with the remains of persons who had contagious diseases, but the possibility of infection is remote if strict health regulations are followed. Employment opportunities for funeral directors are expected to be good, especially for those who are embalmers. Employment of directors is projected to grow more slowly than the average for all occupations through year 2012. ...