Morticians, Undertakers, and Funeral Arrangers Salary
The median pay for a morticians, undertakers, and funeral arrangers in Illinois is $69,600/year ($33.46/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $43K at the entry level to $105K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 93.85), which stretches that salary to about $74,161 in buying power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,407/month, about 30.8% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Illinois. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $70K get you in Illinois?
About morticians, undertakers, and funeral arrangers
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What this looks like in Illinois
Illinois 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 $1,407/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 31.3% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Regional Price Parity sits at 93.85 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 6% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Illinois
Entry-level morticians, undertakers, and funeral arrangers (10th percentile) start around $43K. Mid-career wages sit at $70K. Top earners bring in $105K or more, a $62K spread from bottom to top.
Morticians, Undertakers, and Funeral Arrangers salary by metro in Illinois
1 metro area with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin | $81K | +17% | 710 |
Compare to other states
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BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Illinois numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a morticians, undertakers, and funeral arranger afford a 2BR apartment alone in Illinois?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $70K, rent takes 31.3% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,407/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $1,300/month in rent — so roommates or a 1-bedroom would ease the math significantly.
What’s the entry-level salary for morticians, undertakers, and funeral arrangers in Illinois?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new morticians, undertakers, and funeral arrangers typically earn — is $43K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,564/month. At HUD’s $1,407/month FMR, rent would take 55% 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 Illinois?
Local pay is 27% above the national median — $70K here vs. $55K nationally.
How does Illinois compare to the national average for morticians, undertakers, and funeral arrangers?
Illinois pays $70K median vs. the U.S. average of $55K — that’s +27%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 93.85), the purchasing-power equivalent is $74K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do morticians, undertakers, and funeral arrangers make in Illinois?
The median is $69,600 a year, that works out to about $33 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $42,740, and experienced morticians, undertakers, and funeral arrangers can clear $104,570. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $70K enough to live in Illinois?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $4,492/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,407/month, which eats 31.3% 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 morticians, undertakers, and funeral arrangers salary go in Illinois?
Illinois has a Regional Price Parity of 93.85 (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 $74,161 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.