Pennsylvania employs 910 morticians as of BLS May 2025, with a median salary of $63,580 — 16% above the national median of $55,010.
Quick Facts
- Median salary: $63,580 (16% above national avg of $55,010)
- Mean salary: $66,810
- Salary range: $46,570 (P10) to $92,830 (P90)
- Employment: 910 jobs | Location Quotient: 0.93 — slightly below average demand
- Avg burial cost: $8,816 | Avg cremation: $6,536
- Cremation rate: 56% — 44% of families choose traditional burial
Pennsylvania Mortician Salary: Full Breakdown
| Percentile | Pennsylvania | National | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| P10 (Entry) | $46,570 | $33,350 | +$13,220 |
| P25 | $52,420 | $42,430 | +$9,990 |
| Median (P50) | $63,580 | $55,010 | +$8,570 |
| Mean | $66,810 | $58,160 | +$8,650 |
| P75 | $77,520 | $72,010 | +$5,510 |
| P90 (Top) | $92,830 | $88,620 | +$4,210 |
Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025
The gap between P10 ($46,570) and P90 ($92,830) is $46,260, showing a tighter salary range compared to the national spread.
Job Demand & Employment
The Location Quotient (LQ) is 0.93 — slightly below average demand. This means Pennsylvania has fewer mortician jobs per capita than average — competition for positions may be tighter.
With 910 employed morticians, Pennsylvania ranks as a mid-size market for mortician employment.
Funeral Industry Market
At 56% cremation, the market leans toward simpler services, but 44% of families still choose traditional burial — enough to sustain steady demand.
The average cost of a burial funeral in Pennsylvania is $8,816, while the average cremation service costs $6,536. These costs are near the national average.
Education & Schools
Pennsylvania has 2 ABFSE-accredited programs, giving students multiple options to compare tuition, format, and outcomes.
Use the School Finder to compare all 58 ABFSE-accredited programs by tuition, debt, and outcomes.
Is Pennsylvania a Good State for Morticians?
Pennsylvania pays well but has moderate demand. The $63,580 median is above average, but the LQ of 0.93 suggests job density is not as strong.
Compare With Neighboring States
- Mortician Salary in New York — $63,090 median
- Mortician Salary in New Jersey — $69,110 median
- Mortician Salary in Delaware — $81,530 median
- Mortician Salary in Maryland — $58,060 median
States With Similar Salary Levels
- Nebraska — $64,310
- Iowa — $63,700
- New York — $63,090
- Massachusetts — $62,120
Frequently Asked Questions
How much do morticians make in Pennsylvania?
Morticians in Pennsylvania earn a median salary of $63,580 according to BLS May 2025 data. The typical salary range runs from $46,570 at the 10th percentile to $92,830 at the 90th percentile.
Is Pennsylvania a good state for morticians?
Pennsylvania can be a good state financially because median pay is above average, though job concentration is more moderate.
Are there mortuary schools in Pennsylvania?
Pennsylvania has 2 ABFSE-accredited mortuary science programs in the dataset. Use the School Finder to compare tuition, debt, completion rates, and earnings outcomes.
Plan Your Career in Pennsylvania
- Pennsylvania Salary Calculator — see the full percentile breakdown prefilled for Pennsylvania
- Career ROI Calculator — calculate your return on investment working in Pennsylvania
- Best States Ranker — see where Pennsylvania 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.