Embalmers prepare bodies to ensure they are preserved and presentable until they are buried or cremated.
The Work
You could be:
washing and sterilising the body to prevent deterioration or infection
removing fluid and gases from the body
injecting a disinfecting chemical into the body to preserve it
restoring normal appearance after injury using wax or plaster of Paris
doing other work to improve appearance, such as inserting eye pads, wiring the jaw to keep it closed, shaving, washing and arranging hair and applying cosmetics
working with funeral directors to ensure that families' wishes are met
keeping the mortuary clean, and following health and safety regulations
checking stock and ordering supplies, such as chemicals.
With some employers, embalming is part of a funeral directors job. See the job profile for Funeral Director.
Pay
Pay rates vary, depending on:
where you work
the size of company you work for
the demand for the job.
Starting salaries for trainee embalmers tend to be around £18,000 a year. With experience this can rise to £20,000 to £30,000 a year, or more.
Conditions
You would generally work 37 to 39 hours, Monday to Friday, but may need to cover weekends on a rota basis.
You may need to travel about if you work for more than one funeral director.
You would work in a clean environment, colder than normal room temperature.
You would spend a lot of time standing and bending.
You would wear protective clothing including gown, gloves and boots.
2024
