Mortician salary per month is easier to understand when you separate gross monthly pay from take-home pay. The national BLS median for morticians, undertakers, and funeral arrangers is $55,010 per year in May 2025 data. That equals about $4,584 per month before taxes, benefits, retirement contributions, loan payments, and state-specific deductions.
Take-home pay can be much lower. It depends on federal tax withholding, state and local taxes, health insurance premiums, retirement contributions, overtime, on-call pay, bonuses, and whether you are an apprentice, newly licensed worker, manager, or owner.
Quick Answer
A mortician makes about $4,584 per month gross at the national median and about $4,847 per month gross at the national mean, based on BLS May 2025 wage data. The middle-half gross monthly range is about $3,536 to $6,001 before taxes and deductions.
| BLS wage point | Annual pay | Gross monthly pay |
|---|---|---|
| P10 | $33,350 | $2,779 |
| P25 | $42,430 | $3,536 |
| Median | $55,010 | $4,584 |
| Mean | $58,160 | $4,847 |
| P75 | $72,010 | $6,001 |
| P90 | $88,620 | $7,385 |
For a more precise estimate, start with Mortician Salary by State or the Salary Calculator, then build a monthly budget around your target state.
Gross Monthly Pay vs Take-Home Pay
Gross monthly pay is your annual wage divided by 12. Take-home pay is what reaches your bank account after deductions.
| Pay concept | What it includes | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Gross monthly pay | Base wages before deductions | Best for comparing jobs and states. |
| Taxable income | Gross pay minus some pre-tax deductions | Depends on benefits and retirement contributions. |
| Take-home pay | Net paycheck after taxes and deductions | Best for rent, loans, and daily budget planning. |
| Total compensation | Pay plus benefits, bonuses, on-call pay, and profit sharing | Best for comparing job offers. |
Do not compare a gross salary from BLS with a take-home number from a forum post. They measure different things.
Monthly Pay by Career Stage
The national median is not always a first-year number. Early-career workers often land closer to the lower end until they gain licensure, confidence, and independent case responsibility.
| Career stage | Better monthly planning range |
|---|---|
| Funeral attendant / support role | Often below licensed mortician pay. |
| Apprentice or intern | Usually plan closer to early-career or local hourly pay. |
| Newly licensed mortician | Compare your state P25 and median. |
| Experienced licensed mortician | Median to P75 becomes more realistic in stronger markets. |
| Manager / owner path | Monthly income can rise, but responsibility and risk rise too. |
If you are still in school or apprenticeship, read Mortician Apprentice Pay and Licensed Mortician Salary before using the national median in your budget.
What Monthly Pay Looks Like by State
State choice can change monthly pay by more than $3,000 before taxes. The highest-paying publishable state in this site’s May 2025 BLS dataset is Delaware, with an $81,530 median. The lowest is Arkansas, with a $36,120 median.
| State example | Median annual pay | Gross monthly pay | Planning note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Delaware | $81,530 | $6,794 | High pay, smaller market. |
| Illinois | $69,600 | $5,800 | Strong pay with meaningful job count. |
| New York | $63,090 | $5,258 | Good median, high cost in some metros. |
| Texas | $46,630 | $3,886 | Large market, below national median. |
| Arkansas | $36,120 | $3,010 | Low median, debt must be controlled. |
Use this table only as an example. Check the full state salary table before choosing a school or relocation target.
Why Take-Home Pay Is Hard to Estimate
Two morticians with the same salary can have different net pay because of:
- federal income tax withholding;
- state and local income taxes;
- Social Security and Medicare taxes;
- health, dental, and vision premiums;
- retirement contributions;
- student loan payments;
- overtime and on-call pay;
- bonuses, commissions, or profit sharing;
- family size and filing status.
That is why this page gives gross monthly pay first. Gross pay is stable enough to compare. Net pay requires your personal tax and benefits situation.
Budget Rule for Students and Career Changers
Use this conservative rule before enrolling:
Build your monthly budget on apprentice or state P25 pay, not on the national median.
This matters because tuition, exam fees, licensing fees, transportation, and debt payments can hit before you are earning full licensed pay.
| Budget item | Why it belongs in the monthly plan |
|---|---|
| Rent or mortgage | The biggest fixed cost in most markets. |
| Transportation | Funeral homes may require reliable travel and call response. |
| Student loans | Debt payments can erase the benefit of a higher salary. |
| Licensing and exam costs | Often due before full earnings arrive. |
| Work clothes and grooming | Professional presentation is part of the job. |
| Emergency fund | On-call and variable hours can affect stability. |
Use the Debt Payoff Calculator and Career ROI Calculator to test whether the monthly number works.
How On-Call Pay Changes the Monthly Number
On-call work can make a job better or worse financially. A $52,000 salary with fair on-call compensation and benefits can be stronger than a $58,000 salary with unpaid constant availability.
Ask employers:
- Is on-call time paid separately?
- Are removals, first calls, or overnight embalming paid per call?
- Is overtime available or expected?
- Are bonuses or commissions part of normal compensation?
- Are benefits employer-paid or mostly employee-paid?
For negotiation, read Mortician Salary Negotiation and Newly Licensed Funeral Director Salary.
Monthly Salary Examples
These examples use gross pay only.
| Scenario | Annual pay | Gross monthly | Interpretation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Low-wage early career | $36,000 | $3,000 | Debt and rent must be low. |
| National P25 | $42,430 | $3,536 | Common lower-range planning number. |
| National median | $55,010 | $4,584 | Better for licensed, typical planning. |
| Strong state median | $69,600 | $5,800 | Example similar to Illinois median. |
| High-end national P90 | $88,620 | $7,385 | Senior, high-market, or management-adjacent. |
The monthly number is only one part of the decision. Cost of living, benefits, schedule, and debt can change the real value.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does a mortician make per month?
At the national median, a mortician makes about $4,584 per month before taxes. At the national mean, the figure is about $4,847 per month before taxes, based on BLS May 2025 wage data.
How much does a mortician take home per month?
There is no single take-home number. Net pay depends on taxes, state, benefits, retirement contributions, student loans, family status, and on-call or overtime pay. Start with gross pay, then calculate your personal deductions.
How much does a mortician apprentice make per month?
Apprentice pay varies widely by state and employer. Some public job-site estimates place apprentice pay in the low-to-mid five figures annually, but local hourly offers and on-call policy matter more than national averages.
Is monthly pay enough to justify mortuary school?
Sometimes. The safest case is low school debt, a state near or above the national median, and an apprenticeship that does not create a long low-pay gap. Use Is Mortuary School Worth It? for the full ROI decision.
Next Step
If you came here from a monthly salary search, do three checks next:
- Compare your state in Mortician Salary by State.
- Estimate your market in the Salary Calculator.
- Test your school and debt plan in the Career ROI Calculator.
Sources and Method
- BLS OEWS May 2025 salary data used in this site’s Mortician Salary Guide.
- State median examples from this site’s salary dataset and state salary pages.
- Public job-site and Reddit-style search results were reviewed for apprentice-pay and monthly-pay language, but the article uses official BLS wage figures for the main monthly calculations.
- Gross monthly pay is calculated as annual pay divided by 12 and rounded to the nearest dollar.