Iowa employs 640 morticians as of BLS May 2025, with a median salary of $63,700 — 16% above the national median of $55,010.
Quick Facts
- Median salary: $63,700 (16% above national avg of $55,010)
- Mean salary: $66,430
- Salary range: $34,540 (P10) to $94,950 (P90)
- Employment: 640 jobs | Location Quotient: 2.54 — very high demand, more than double the national average
- Avg burial cost: $9,382 | Avg cremation: $7,244
- Cremation rate: 59% — 41% of families choose traditional burial
Iowa Mortician Salary: Full Breakdown
| Percentile | Iowa | National | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| P10 (Entry) | $34,540 | $33,350 | +$1,190 |
| P25 | $54,040 | $42,430 | +$11,610 |
| Median (P50) | $63,700 | $55,010 | +$8,690 |
| Mean | $66,430 | $58,160 | +$8,270 |
| P75 | $78,330 | $72,010 | +$6,320 |
| P90 (Top) | $94,950 | $88,620 | +$6,330 |
Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025
The gap between P10 ($34,540) and P90 ($94,950) is $60,410, showing wider salary variation than the national range.
Job Demand & Employment
The Location Quotient (LQ) is 2.54 — very high demand, more than double the national average. This means Iowa has a higher concentration of mortician jobs per capita than the average state — a positive signal for job seekers.
With 640 employed morticians, Iowa ranks as a mid-size market for mortician employment.
Funeral Industry Market
At 59% cremation, the market leans toward simpler services, but 41% of families still choose traditional burial — enough to sustain steady demand.
The average cost of a burial funeral in Iowa is $9,382, while the average cremation service costs $7,244. These are among the higher service costs nationally, which can support higher mortician compensation.
Education & Schools
Iowa has 1 ABFSE-accredited program. Limited local options mean some students may look out of state for better tuition or fit.
Use the School Finder to compare all 58 ABFSE-accredited programs by tuition, debt, and outcomes.
Is Iowa a Good State for Morticians?
Yes — Iowa offers above-average pay and above-average demand. With a median of $63,700 and an LQ of 2.54, this is a strong market for morticians.
Compare With Neighboring States
- Mortician Salary in Minnesota — $49,760 median
- Mortician Salary in Wisconsin — $58,250 median
- Mortician Salary in Illinois — $69,600 median
- Mortician Salary in Missouri — $42,940 median
States With Similar Salary Levels
- New Jersey — $69,110
- Nebraska — $64,310
- Pennsylvania — $63,580
- New York — $63,090
Frequently Asked Questions
How much do morticians make in Iowa?
Morticians in Iowa earn a median salary of $63,700 according to BLS May 2025 data. The typical salary range runs from $34,540 at the 10th percentile to $94,950 at the 90th percentile.
Is Iowa a good state for morticians?
Iowa is a strong state for morticians because both pay and job concentration are above average.
Are there mortuary schools in Iowa?
Iowa has 1 ABFSE-accredited mortuary science program in the dataset. Use the School Finder to compare tuition, debt, completion rates, and earnings outcomes.
Plan Your Career in Iowa
- Iowa Salary Calculator — see the full percentile breakdown prefilled for Iowa
- Career ROI Calculator — calculate your return on investment working in Iowa
- Best States Ranker — see where Iowa ranks on salary, demand, and opportunity
- Market Opportunity Map — visualize demand and opportunity nationwide
- All State Salary Guides — compare all 49 states
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: state pages compare median, mean, P10-P90 wage range, employment, and location quotient against national BLS benchmarks.
- Limits: BLS suppresses some state estimates when publication standards are not met; missing or suppressed fields are not estimated.