The route, drawn out
DWG 8F8B · 4 stops · 1 year to qualify-
Day one Start as an apprentice from £15.6k
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1 year Fully qualified around £24k
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+3–5 years Experienced up to £34k
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Then Funeral arranger, then funeral director (level… next step
The first figures are legal minimums: the apprentice rate (£8.00/hr) and the National Minimum Wage for 18–20s and 21+ from April 2026, on a 37.5-hour week. Qualified and experienced pay are indicative UK ranges — most employers pay apprentices above the minimum.
What the job is
Funeral work is not what most people imagine. It is part practical trade — preparing and transporting the deceased, bearing, driving, maintaining vehicles and premises — and part working with families on the worst week of their lives.
The apprenticeship covers both, along with the legal paperwork that governs every death. It suits calm, discreet, unflappable people, and it offers unusually good job security. Progression to funeral director or arranger is quick for people who are good with families.
A typical day
- Prepare and care for the deceased with dignity
- Bear coffins and drive funeral vehicles
- Support families with arrangements and paperwork
- Maintain the chapel of rest, premises and fleet
- Work respectfully with clergy, celebrants and cemeteries
How you get in
- No formal qualifications required — temperament matters far more
- A full driving licence is usually essential
- You must be comfortable with death and with grieving families
- Smart appearance and absolute discretion
Where it leads
- Funeral arranger, then funeral director (level 3)
- Embalmer via specialist qualification
- Branch or area management
- Running an independent funeral business
Where to train for this
6 colleges and training providers on our list cover Funeral Team Member training. Open your region to see them, then check current intakes with the provider directly.