Embalmers Salary
In Washington, embalmers earn $50,610 at the median, or about $24.33 an hour. The range runs from $40K at the entry level to $89K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 102.01), that's roughly $49,613 in purchasing power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,830/month, about 52.1% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. This is an aggregate across all of Washington. BLS does not publish metro-level data for this occupation in this state.
So what does $51K get you in Washington?
About embalmers
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What this looks like in Washington
Pay for embalmers in Washington runs about 14% below the U.S. median of $59K. The catch: housing math doesn't keep up. A 2-bedroom at the HUD median rents for $1,830/month, which is 51.4% of the median worker's take-home, past the 30% guideline most planners use. Cost of living (RPP 102.01) is near the national average, so spending patterns here track the typical American budget fairly closely. That combination, below-market pay with high housing costs, makes this a financially demanding market for embalmerss.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Washington
Entry-level embalmers (10th percentile) start around $40K. Mid-career wages sit at $51K. Top earners bring in $89K or more, a $49K spread from bottom to top.
Compare to other states
Track embalmers salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Washington numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a embalmer afford a 2BR apartment alone in Washington?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $51K, rent takes 51.4% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,830/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $1,100/month in rent — so roommates or a 1-bedroom would ease the math significantly.
What’s the entry-level salary for embalmers in Washington?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new embalmers typically earn — is $40K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,376/month. At HUD’s $1,830/month FMR, rent would take 77% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is embalmer a high-paying job in Washington?
Local pay runs 14% below the national median — $51K here vs. $59K nationally.
How does Washington compare to the national average for embalmers?
Washington pays $51K median vs. the U.S. average of $59K — that’s -14%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 102.01), the purchasing-power equivalent is $50K — below the national median.
How much do embalmers make in Washington?
The median is $50,610 a year, that works out to about $24 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $39,600, and experienced embalmers can clear $88,900. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $51K enough to live in Washington?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $3,559/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,830/month, which eats 51.4% of your paycheck. That's above the 30% rule of thumb, housing will be a stretch at the median salary, though you can manage with roommates or a smaller place.
How far does a embalmers salary go in Washington?
Washington has a Regional Price Parity of 102.01 (100 is the national average). Prices are above average here, so your dollar buys less than the same salary would in a cheaper metro. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median embalmers salary is worth about $49,613 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do embalmers get paid the most?
The table above ranks every state by median pay for this role. Keep in mind that the highest-paying states tend to have the highest costs of living, so the top salary doesn't always mean the most money in your pocket.