- Salary statistics
- Funeral representative
Funeral representative
34 600 - 36 400 kr / month
Women earn 97% of what men do.
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Salary progression Funeral representative
What does a funeral director do? – Tasks and work environment
A funeral director supports relatives and handles practical matters during funerals. The role involves planning and conducting ceremonies, coordinating transportation, booking venues, and ensuring legal and personal wishes are followed. Contact with relatives requires sensitivity and empathy, while administrative tasks and logistics are central parts of the daily work. The work is usually performed at funeral homes or within church activities and often includes both office work and practical tasks at ceremonies and burials.
Salary development over time
The salary of a funeral director has increased steadily in recent years. In 2022, the average salary was 31,500 SEK per month. In 2023, the salary rose to 33 800 SEK, which is approximately a 7% increase. In 2024, there was a further increase to 35 000 SEK, indicating a continued positive trend of about 3.5% compared to the previous year. This development can be explained by increased demand for the profession, a greater focus on service quality, and a general wage increase in service-oriented jobs with social components. The wage growth also reflects the need for competence and personal suitability to meet the demands of grieving relatives in sensitive situations.
Funeral director salary – comprehensive overview
- Average salary: 35 000 SEK/month
- Lowest salary: 34,600 SEK/month
- Highest salary: 36,400 SEK/month
- Hourly wage (average): 210 SEK
- Women: 34,600 SEK/month (97% of men's salary)
- Men: 35,600 SEK/month
- Regional differences: No detailed information available
Education and qualifications
To work as a funeral director, a secondary education is usually required, often with a focus on care and welfare, administration, or service. Many employers offer internal training and orientation, but there are also standalone courses and certifications that strengthen competence. Practical experience in service roles, administration, or working with people is advantageous. Good communication skills and empathy are central qualities for success in the role.
- Secondary education: The most common requirement, often 3 years (care, economy, or administration)
- Internal training: Introduction and workplace-based courses
- Internship/Trainee: Often included when starting a new job
- Certifications: Possible through industry organizations
- Personal qualities: Empathy, stress resilience, and good organizational skills
Many funeral directors testify that the profession provides a unique insight into people's life stories and cultural traditions. The variation in daily tasks and contact with different families makes the work constantly meaningful, despite sometimes heavy questions.
Common benefits and compensations
Common benefits for funeral directors include wellness allowances, occupational pension, and sometimes flexible working hours. Some employers also offer further training, staff support, and work clothing. Compensation beyond the fixed salary may occur for inconvenient working hours or on-call duties.
Competition and challenges
The job market for funeral directors is characterized by moderate competition, as there are a stable but limited number of positions. The profession requires a high degree of personal maturity and the ability to work under pressure, especially in unexpected or emotionally demanding situations. A challenge is managing both administrative tasks and personal meetings with relatives, where service and professionalism are highly valued. Since the profession is often linked to smaller workplaces, opportunities for advancement may be limited without further education or specialization. The number of vacancies remains relatively constant, but competition for the most attractive positions can be high, especially in urban areas.
Tips for those who want to become a funeral director
To succeed as a funeral director, it is good to combine empathy with a structured work approach. Being attentive and able to meet people in grief is crucial, as is organizing many details around ceremonies and logistics. Showing stress resilience under pressure and maintaining a professional attitude creates security for relatives. Gaining experience from service roles or administrative positions often facilitates the transition into the funeral industry. Good communication skills, especially in difficult conversations, are a great asset and can be developed through training or mentorship. Flexibility and adaptability also help, as workdays often vary. Applying for internships or trainee positions can help build networks and gain insight into the profession's daily life.
Key facts about Funeral Director
- Education level: Secondary education, often supplemented with internal training
- Work environment: Mix of office, ceremony venues, and outdoor settings
- Demand: 237 job openings in 2024
- Gender distribution: Women earn 97% of men's salary
- Occupational group: Funeral and crematorium staff
Career paths and future prospects
After 3-5 years as a funeral director, there are opportunities to advance to supervisory roles, such as funeral advisor or administrative manager within a funeral home. Some choose to specialize in estate law or further education to become ceremony leaders. According to the Swedish Public Employment Service's forecasts for the profession of funeral and crematorium staff, no specific job outlook assessment is made, but the number of vacancies indicates steady demand. Since the profession requires particular personal qualities, competition from other fields is limited, making the right skills highly sought after. Further education and specialization can strengthen one's position in the job market.
Frequently asked questions about funeral directors
- What is the average salary of a funeral director?
- The average salary is 35 000 SEK per month. - What are the highest and lowest salaries for a funeral director?
- The highest salary is 36,400 SEK and the lowest is 34,600 SEK per month. - What education is required to become a funeral director?
- Typically secondary education, supplemented with internal training and internships. - Are there significant gender differences in salary?
- Yes, women earn 97% of what men do in the profession. - What is the job market like for funeral directors?
- There are 237 job openings in the profession according to the latest data. - What personal qualities are important in this profession?
- Empathy, stress resilience, accuracy, and good communication skills. - Which occupational group do funeral directors belong to?
- The profession is part of the funeral and crematorium staff group.
Salary distributed by age and sector
| Age | Base salary | Monthly salary | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 35-44 | 36200 kr | 36900 kr | |
| 45-54 | 33600 kr | 34400 kr | |
| 55-64 | 35400 kr | 36400 kr | |
| Snitt | 97% | 34100 kr | 35000 kr |
| Age | Base salary | Monthly salary | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 35-44 | 36200 kr | 36900 kr | |
| 45-54 | 33600 kr | 34400 kr | |
| 55-64 | 35400 kr | 36400 kr | |
| Snitt | 97% | 34100 kr | 35000 kr |
| Age | Base salary | Monthly salary | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 35-44 | 36200 kr | 36900 kr | |
| 45-54 | 33600 kr | 34400 kr | |
| 55-64 | 35400 kr | 36400 kr | |
| Snitt | 97% | 34100 kr | 35000 kr |
| Age | Base salary | Monthly salary | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 55-64 | 34600 kr | 35900 kr | |
| Snitt | 97% | 34100 kr | 35600 kr |
| Age | Base salary | Monthly salary | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 55-64 | 34600 kr | 35900 kr | |
| Snitt | 97% | 34100 kr | 35600 kr |
| Age | Base salary | Monthly salary | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 55-64 | 34600 kr | 35900 kr | |
| Snitt | 97% | 34100 kr | 35600 kr |
| Age | Base salary | Monthly salary | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 45-54 | 33400 kr | 33700 kr | |
| Snitt | 97% | 34000 kr | 34600 kr |
| Age | Base salary | Monthly salary | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 45-54 | 33400 kr | 33700 kr | |
| Snitt | 97% | 34000 kr | 34600 kr |
| Age | Base salary | Monthly salary | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 45-54 | 33400 kr | 33700 kr | |
| Snitt | 97% | 34000 kr | 34600 kr |
About the data
All information displayed on this page is based on data from the Swedish Central Bureau of Statistics (SCB), the Swedish Tax Agency and the Swedish employment agency. Learn more about our data and data sources here.
All figures are gross salaries, meaning salaries before tax. The average salary, or mean salary, is calculated by adding up the total salary for all individuals within the profession and dividing it by the number of individuals. For specific job categories, we have also considered various criteria such as experience and education.
Profession Funeral representative has the SSYK code 5161, which we use to match against the SCB database to obtain the latest salary statistics.
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