If you’re choosing where to start or grow a mortician career, raw job count is only part of the picture. California has the most jobs — but pays below the national median. Ohio has fewer jobs than Texas but pays $11,170 more per year at the median.
This page ranks states by mortician employment using BLS OEWS May 2025 data, with salary context so you can evaluate real opportunity — not just headcount. Alaska and Virginia are marked N/A because BLS did not publish state-level estimates for this occupation in the May 2025 release.
2-Minute Version
- Most jobs: California (2,240) — but median salary is only $50,750, below the national $55,010
- Best volume + pay combo: Illinois (1,320 jobs, $69,600), Pennsylvania (910, $63,580), North Carolina (1,000, $60,730), and Ohio (1,370, $57,800)
- Highest job density: South Dakota has the highest LQ (2.72), while Iowa is the strongest practical density market with 640 jobs, 2.54 LQ, and $63,700 median pay
- Approach with pay caution: Texas (1,500 jobs, $46,630 median) — high volume, below-national pay, and low job density
Top 10 States by Job Count
| Rank | State | Jobs | Median Salary | LQ |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | California | 2,240 | $50,750 | 0.76 |
| 2 | Florida | 1,510 | $48,510 | 0.94 |
| 3 | Texas | 1,500 | $46,630 | 0.66 |
| 4 | Ohio | 1,370 | $57,800 | 1.53 |
| 5 | Illinois | 1,320 | $69,600 | 1.34 |
| 6 | New York | 1,030 | $63,090 | 0.66 |
| 7 | North Carolina | 1,000 | $60,730 | 1.25 |
| 8 | Pennsylvania | 910 | $63,580 | 0.93 |
| 9 | Michigan | 810 | $60,450 | 1.15 |
| 10 | Missouri | 790 | $42,940 | 1.66 |
The California problem: 2,240 jobs sounds great until you see the $50,750 median — below the $55,010 national median. California’s high cost of living makes this gap even more significant in real terms.
Ohio vs Texas: Texas has slightly more jobs, but Ohio pays $57,800 vs Texas’s $46,630 — an $11,170 annual difference. Ohio also has a Location Quotient of 1.53, meaning mortician jobs are more concentrated there relative to the overall workforce.
Job Count vs Job Density: Why Both Matter
Raw job count tells you how many openings exist. Job density (Location Quotient) tells you how easy it is to find those jobs relative to the local labor market.
Location Quotient (LQ): A ratio comparing the concentration of mortician jobs in a state to the national average. LQ > 1.0 means above-average concentration — more mortician jobs per worker than typical.
| State | Jobs | LQ | What It Means |
|---|---|---|---|
| California | 2,240 | 0.76 | Lots of jobs, but below-average density |
| Ohio | 1,370 | 1.53 | High volume AND high density |
| Iowa | 640 | 2.54 | Fewer jobs, but one of the easiest markets to break into |
| Texas | 1,500 | 0.66 | High volume, low density — competitive |
| Missouri | 790 | 1.66 | Mid-size market, high density |
For new graduates, a high LQ state means less competition per opening. Iowa’s LQ of 2.54 means mortician jobs are more than twice as concentrated there as the national average — and it pays $63,700 median.
Top 10 States by Job Density (LQ)
These states have the highest concentration of mortician jobs relative to their overall workforce:
| Rank | State | LQ | Jobs | Median Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | South Dakota | 2.72 | 200 | $47,840 |
| 2 | Iowa | 2.54 | 640 | $63,700 |
| 3 | Mississippi | 1.71 | 320 | $48,350 |
| 4 | Arkansas | 1.69 | 360 | $36,120 |
| 5 | Missouri | 1.66 | 790 | $42,940 |
| 6 | West Virginia | 1.59 | 180 | $47,960 |
| 7 | North Dakota | 1.55 | 110 | $59,760 |
| 8 | Ohio | 1.53 | 1,370 | $57,800 |
| 9 | Hawaii | 1.52 | 150 | $46,310 |
| 10 | Kentucky | 1.44 | 470 | $43,320 |
Iowa stands out: Very high job density and above-median pay ($63,700). For new graduates willing to relocate, Iowa offers one of the best combinations of job availability and compensation.
High density does not equal high pay: Arkansas (LQ 1.69) and Hawaii (LQ 1.52) have dense mortician job markets but pay well below the national median. Density reflects cultural and demographic factors — not necessarily employer willingness to pay.
Best States for New Graduates
Combining job volume, job density, and salary into a practical ranking for someone entering the field:
| State | Jobs | LQ | Median | Why It Works |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Iowa | 640 | 2.54 | $63,700 | Very high density + above-median pay |
| Ohio | 1,370 | 1.53 | $57,800 | High density, large market |
| Illinois | 1,320 | 1.34 | $69,600 | Large market, top-tier pay |
| North Carolina | 1,000 | 1.25 | $60,730 | Large market, above-median pay |
| Pennsylvania | 910 | 0.93 | $63,580 | Large market, above-median pay |
| New York | 1,030 | 0.66 | $63,090 | Large market, strong pay but lower density |
If you want volume: Ohio, Illinois, New York, and North Carolina all offer 1,000+ jobs with above-median pay.
If you want the easiest entry: Iowa — very high density, good pay, lower competition per opening.
If you want maximum pay: Delaware ($81,530) or Utah ($72,800) — but both are smaller markets with limited job counts.
States to Approach With Caution
High job count doesn’t always mean good opportunity:
| State | Jobs | Median | Issue |
|---|---|---|---|
| California | 2,240 | $50,750 | Below-median pay + very high cost of living |
| Texas | 1,500 | $46,630 | Below-national pay among the largest job markets |
| Florida | 1,510 | $48,510 | High job count, but below-national pay |
California and Texas together account for 3,740 jobs — about 15% of all mortician employment nationally — but both pay below the national median.
Complete State Rankings by Job Count
| State | Jobs | Median | LQ |
|---|---|---|---|
| California | 2,240 | $50,750 | 0.76 |
| Florida | 1,510 | $48,510 | 0.94 |
| Texas | 1,500 | $46,630 | 0.66 |
| Ohio | 1,370 | $57,800 | 1.53 |
| Illinois | 1,320 | $69,600 | 1.34 |
| New York | 1,030 | $63,090 | 0.66 |
| North Carolina | 1,000 | $60,730 | 1.25 |
| Pennsylvania | 910 | $63,580 | 0.93 |
| Michigan | 810 | $60,450 | 1.15 |
| Missouri | 790 | $42,940 | 1.66 |
| Georgia | 780 | $49,990 | 0.99 |
| Iowa | 640 | $63,700 | 2.54 |
| Indiana | 630 | $60,890 | 1.23 |
| New Jersey | 580 | $69,110 | 0.84 |
| Wisconsin | 580 | $58,250 | 1.23 |
| Tennessee | 550 | $46,180 | 1.04 |
| Minnesota | 500 | $49,760 | 1.05 |
| Maryland | 500 | $58,060 | 1.13 |
| Kentucky | 470 | $43,320 | 1.44 |
| Louisiana | 440 | $46,730 | 1.40 |
| Massachusetts | 430 | $62,120 | 0.73 |
| Alabama | 420 | $44,930 | 1.24 |
| Washington | 400 | $59,700 | 0.71 |
| South Carolina | 400 | $40,020 | 1.07 |
| Oklahoma | 380 | $47,780 | 1.37 |
| Arkansas | 360 | $36,120 | 1.69 |
| Arizona | 360 | $41,870 | 0.70 |
| Colorado | 320 | $60,850 | 0.68 |
| Mississippi | 320 | $48,350 | 1.71 |
| Connecticut | 300 | $59,710 | 1.10 |
| Nevada | 280 | $43,940 | 1.12 |
| Utah | 240 | $72,800 | 0.86 |
| Kansas | 230 | $58,580 | 0.98 |
| Oregon | 220 | $48,630 | 0.68 |
| Nebraska | 210 | $64,310 | 1.26 |
| South Dakota | 200 | $47,840 | 2.72 |
| West Virginia | 180 | $47,960 | 1.59 |
| Idaho | 160 | $60,250 | 1.15 |
| Hawaii | 150 | $46,310 | 1.52 |
| Montana | 110 | $43,680 | 1.37 |
| North Dakota | 110 | $59,760 | 1.55 |
| New Mexico | 100 | $50,380 | 0.70 |
| Delaware | 80 | $81,530 | 0.99 |
| Maine | 80 | $60,880 | 0.81 |
| New Hampshire | 80 | $57,630 | 0.73 |
| Wyoming | 40 | $55,570 | 0.78 |
| Rhode Island | 40 | $55,420 | 0.51 |
| Vermont | 40 | $48,740 | 0.74 |
| Alaska | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| Virginia | N/A | N/A | N/A |
Alaska and Virginia: BLS did not publish state-level estimates for this occupation in the May 2025 release.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which state has the most mortician jobs?
California, with 2,240 employed morticians as of BLS May 2025. However, California pays below the national median ($50,750 vs $55,010 nationally), so volume doesn’t translate to better pay.
Which state is best for a new mortician?
Iowa offers one of the best combinations: very high job density (LQ 2.54) and above-median pay ($63,700). For larger markets, Ohio (1,370 jobs, LQ 1.53), Illinois (1,320 jobs, $69,600), and North Carolina (1,000 jobs, $60,730) are strong options.
Why does Texas have so many mortician jobs but low pay?
Texas has a large population and high death volume, creating demand for morticians. But the state has no income tax and generally lower wages across many occupations. The LQ of 0.66 also suggests the market isn’t as concentrated as states like Ohio or Iowa — more competition per opening.
Are there enough mortician jobs to find work easily?
Nationally, yes — BLS projects ~5,800 annual openings through 2034, mostly from retirements and turnover rather than net new positions. In high-density states (Iowa, Ohio, Kentucky), finding work is relatively straightforward for licensed graduates. In low-density states (Colorado, Texas, California), competition is higher.
Find Your Best Market
Job density tells you where to look. The Mortician Salary Toolkit adds the salary side — every percentile for all 50 states, COL-adjusted real purchasing power, and a state comparison template to evaluate any move.
One-time download, $24.99. See what’s included →
Data Source
All figures from BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025. SOC code 39-4031 (Morticians, Undertakers, and Funeral Arrangers). Location Quotient (LQ) is relative to all U.S. employment.
→ See also: Mortician Salary by State (Full Data) | How Much Do Morticians Make? | Mortician Salary vs Cost of Living
Data Sources and Method
- Salary data: BLS OEWS May 2025 for SOC 39-4031, Morticians, Undertakers, and Funeral Arrangers.
- Local context: project salary-tool.json fields for employment, location quotient, funeral cost, cremation rate, and ABFSE school count where available.
- Method: salary pages compare median, mean, P10-P90 wage range, employment, and location quotient against national BLS benchmarks.
- Limits: individual offers can differ because benefits, on-call pay, bonuses, ownership, and local employer mix are not fully captured in BLS wage tables.