How do you become an undertaker?
Since 2003, the correct job title has been “funeral specialist”. The undertaker plans the funeral service with the family, takes care of the decorations and ordering the gravestone or urn.
The training to become a funeral specialist lasts a total of three years and, as in all other training occupations, alternates between vocational school and training company. In order to start this training, it is usually sufficient to have an intermediate educational qualification.
What is the salary of a funeral director?
According to data from the Federal Employment Agency, the average gross monthly salary of an undertaker is 2,604 euros. If the concluded employment contract stipulates a working time of 40 hours per week, that would mean an hourly wage of around 16 euros.
However, undertakers do not have fixed working hours, as it is quite possible to be called late on Saturdays and Sundays. In order to compensate for these circumstances, the fixed salary can be supplemented by supplements. These are regulated by labor law and range from surcharges for Sundays to surcharges for public holidays as well as New Year’s Eve, Christmas Eve or night work. The surcharge can be between 25 and 150 percent of the basic wage.
In addition to training to become a funeral specialist, you can also train to become a certified undertaker. Further training to become a funeral master is also possible afterwards. However, the additional earnings then depend on the respective company.
Who is suitable for the work as an undertaker?
Death is an undertaker’s business. Accordingly, undertakers should not be afraid of contact with this. It is also important to always work discreetly and reliably.
Also, undertakers should be in good physical condition. The local circumstances are often anything but comfortable. Exhausting transport through narrow stairwells is part of everyday life here. In addition, employees at a funeral home should always have a well-groomed appearance and have a sense for an appropriate atmosphere for conversation.
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