Morticians, Undertakers, and Funeral Arrangers Salary
The median pay for a morticians, undertakers, and funeral arrangers in Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA is $70,100/year ($33.7/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $37K at the entry level to $98K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 91.7), which stretches that salary to about $76,445 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,318/month, or 28.6% of estimated take-home pay.
So what does $70K get you in Des Moines-West Des Moines?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Des Moines-West Des Moines’s Regional Price Parity (91.7). Rent from HUD Fair Market Rents. Taxes estimated for single filer, standard deduction. * Healthcare is the employee-paid share only (premiums + out-of-pocket). Actual costs vary by coverage type: employer-sponsored, ACA marketplace, or uninsured.
About morticians, undertakers, and funeral arrangers
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What this looks like in Des Moines-West Des Moines
Des Moines-West Des Moines sits well above the national pay line for morticians, undertakers, and funeral arrangers, local pay runs about 27% higher than the U.S. median of $55K. Rent runs $1,318/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 29.2% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Regional Price Parity sits at 91.7 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 8% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compared to nearby metros
Median pay for morticians, undertakers, and funeral arrangers in metros near Des Moines-West Des Moines, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| Cedar Rapids | $70K | $79K |
| Davenport-Moline-Rock Island | $63K | $70K |
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin | $81K | $79K |
| St. Louis | $49K | $52K |
COL-adjusted = median salary ÷ (BEA Regional Price Parity ÷ 100). Expresses purchasing power in national-average dollars.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA
Entry-level morticians, undertakers, and funeral arrangers (10th percentile) start around $37K. Mid-career wages sit at $70K. Top earners bring in $98K or more, a $61K spread from bottom to top.
Morticians, Undertakers, and Funeral Arrangers pay across states
Median income ranked highest to lowest, compared to the national figure
View Morticians, Undertakers, and Funeral Arrangers salary in all states
| State | Median salary | vs. national | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Delaware | $82K | +48% | 80 |
| Utah | $73K | +32% | 240 |
| Illinois | $70K | +27% | 1,320 |
| New Jersey | $69K | +26% | 580 |
| Nebraska | $64K | +17% | 210 |
| Iowa | $64K | +16% | 640 |
| Pennsylvania | $64K | +16% | 910 |
| New York | $63K | +15% | 1,030 |
| Massachusetts | $62K | +13% | 430 |
| Indiana | $61K | +11% | 630 |
| Maine | $61K | +11% | 80 |
| Colorado | $61K | +11% | 320 |
| North Carolina | $61K | +10% | 1,000 |
| Michigan | $60K | +10% | 810 |
| Idaho | $60K | +10% | 160 |
| North Dakota | $60K | +9% | 110 |
| Connecticut | $60K | +9% | 300 |
| Washington | $60K | +9% | 400 |
| Kansas | $59K | +6% | 230 |
| Wisconsin | $58K | +6% | 580 |
| Maryland | $58K | +6% | 500 |
| Ohio | $58K | +5% | 1,370 |
| New Hampshire | $58K | +5% | 80 |
| Wyoming | $56K | +1% | 40 |
| Rhode Island | $55K | +1% | 40 |
| California | $51K | -8% | 2,240 |
| New Mexico | $50K | -8% | 100 |
| Georgia | $50K | -9% | 780 |
| Minnesota | $50K | -10% | 500 |
| Vermont | $49K | -11% | 40 |
| Oregon | $49K | -12% | 220 |
| Florida | $49K | -12% | 1,510 |
| Mississippi | $48K | -12% | 320 |
| West Virginia | $48K | -13% | 180 |
| South Dakota | $48K | -13% | 200 |
| Oklahoma | $48K | -13% | 380 |
| Louisiana | $47K | -15% | 440 |
| Texas | $47K | -15% | 1,500 |
| Hawaii | $46K | -16% | 150 |
| Tennessee | $46K | -16% | 550 |
| Alabama | $45K | -18% | 420 |
| Nevada | $44K | -20% | 280 |
| Montana | $44K | -21% | 110 |
| Kentucky | $43K | -21% | 470 |
| Missouri | $43K | -22% | 790 |
| Arizona | $42K | -24% | 360 |
| South Carolina | $40K | -27% | 400 |
| Arkansas | $36K | -34% | 360 |
Showing 1–10 of 48 states with published data
BLS does not publish data for every state when sample sizes are too small
Track morticians, undertakers, and funeral arrangers salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Des Moines-West Des Moines numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a morticians, undertakers, and funeral arranger afford a 2BR apartment alone in Des Moines-West Des Moines?
Yes — at the median salary of $70K, rent takes 29.2% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,318/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for morticians, undertakers, and funeral arrangers in Des Moines-West Des Moines?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new morticians, undertakers, and funeral arrangers typically earn — is $37K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,219/month. At HUD’s $1,318/month FMR, rent would take 59% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is morticians, undertakers, and funeral arranger a high-paying job in Des Moines-West Des Moines?
Local pay is 27% above the national median — $70K here vs. $55K nationally.
How does Des Moines-West Des Moines compare to the national average for morticians, undertakers, and funeral arrangers?
Des Moines-West Des Moines pays $70K median vs. the U.S. average of $55K — that’s +27%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 91.7), the purchasing-power equivalent is $76K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do morticians, undertakers, and funeral arrangers make in Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA?
The median is $70,100 a year, that works out to about $34 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $36,980, and experienced morticians, undertakers, and funeral arrangers can clear $98,340. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $70K enough to live in Des Moines-West Des Moines?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $4,511/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,318/month, which eats 29.2% of your paycheck. That's under the 30% guideline most financial planners use, so the numbers work.
How far does a morticians, undertakers, and funeral arrangers salary go in Des Moines-West Des Moines?
Des Moines-West Des Moines has a Regional Price Parity of 91.7 (100 is the national average). That's below average, your money stretches further here than the raw salary number suggests. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median morticians, undertakers, and funeral arrangers salary is worth about $76,445 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do morticians, undertakers, and funeral arrangers 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.