Missouri employs 790 morticians as of BLS May 2025, with a median salary of $42,940 — 22% below the national median of $55,010.
Quick Facts
- Median salary: $42,940 (22% below national avg of $55,010)
- Mean salary: $51,390
- Salary range: $28,600 (P10) to $86,700 (P90)
- Employment: 790 jobs | Location Quotient: 1.66 — significantly above average demand
- Avg burial cost: $8,295 | Avg cremation: $5,973
- Cremation rate: 46% — 54% of families choose traditional burial
Missouri Mortician Salary: Full Breakdown
| Percentile | Missouri | National | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| P10 (Entry) | $28,600 | $33,350 | $-4,750 |
| P25 | $33,510 | $42,430 | $-8,920 |
| Median (P50) | $42,940 | $55,010 | $-12,070 |
| Mean | $51,390 | $58,160 | $-6,770 |
| P75 | $59,670 | $72,010 | $-12,340 |
| P90 (Top) | $86,700 | $88,620 | $-1,920 |
Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025
The gap between P10 ($28,600) and P90 ($86,700) is $58,100, showing wider salary variation than the national range.
Job Demand & Employment
The Location Quotient (LQ) is 1.66 — significantly above average demand. This means Missouri has a higher concentration of mortician jobs per capita than the average state — a positive signal for job seekers.
With 790 employed morticians, Missouri ranks as a mid-size market for mortician employment.
Funeral Industry Market
The cremation rate is 46%, meaning about half of families still choose traditional services — a balanced market.
The average cost of a burial funeral in Missouri is $8,295, while the average cremation service costs $5,973. Service costs here are below the national average, which may correlate with lower salary levels.
Education & Schools
Missouri 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 Missouri a Good State for Morticians?
Missouri has strong demand but lower pay. The LQ of 1.66 indicates healthy job density, but the $42,940 median trails the national average.
Compare With Neighboring States
- Mortician Salary in Iowa — $63,700 median
- Mortician Salary in Illinois — $69,600 median
- Mortician Salary in Kentucky — $43,320 median
- Mortician Salary in Tennessee — $46,180 median
States With Similar Salary Levels
- Montana — $43,680
- Kentucky — $43,320
- Arizona — $41,870
- South Carolina — $40,020
Frequently Asked Questions
How much do morticians make in Missouri?
Morticians in Missouri earn a median salary of $42,940 according to BLS May 2025 data. The typical salary range runs from $28,600 at the 10th percentile to $86,700 at the 90th percentile.
Is Missouri a good state for morticians?
Missouri has healthy job concentration, but pay is below the national median, so it may be better for job availability than earnings.
Are there mortuary schools in Missouri?
Missouri 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 Missouri
- Missouri Salary Calculator — see the full percentile breakdown prefilled for Missouri
- Career ROI Calculator — calculate your return on investment working in Missouri
- Best States Ranker — see where Missouri 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.