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FUNERAL SERVICE INSIDER's Annual Compensation Survey | 2024
1.
My funeral home is:
Independent
Owned by SCI
Owned by Carriage Services
Owned by Park Lawn Corporation
Owned by Everstory Partners
Owned by Legacy Funeral Group
Owned by Northstar Memorial Group
Owned by Foundation Partners Group
Owned by Arbor Memorial Services
Owned by a regional or national consolidator that is privately owned but not listed above
Other (please specify)
2.
The area(s) in which my funeral home operates in is/are:
Urban
Suburban
Multiple locations that serve urban and suburban areas
3.
My funeral home is located (or the majority of our locations are located) in the following region:
Northeast
Southeast
Midwest
Southwest
West (including Hawaii and Alaska)
Other (please specify)
4.
My funeral home has at least one physical location.
True
False
5.
My funeral home has the following number of locations:
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
More than 8
6.
My firm's cremation rate is:
Less than 10%
10 to 20%
21 to 30%
31 to 40%
41 to 50%
51 to 60%
61 to 70%
71 to 80%
More than 80%
7.
How many at-need families did your firm serve in 2023?
Less than 100
101 to 200
201 to 300
301 to 400
401 to 500
501 to 600
601 to 700
701 to 800
801 to 900
901 to 1,000
More than 1,000
8.
How many preneed contracts did your firm close in 2023?
Less than 100
101 to 200
201 to 300
301 to 400
401 to 500
501 to 600
601 to 700
701 to 800
801 to 900
901 to 1,000
More than 1,000
9.
What is your position at your firm?
Owner
President
Funeral director (not owner)
Manager (not owner)
Preneed sales consultant
Embalmer only
Marketing professional and/or aftercare
Administrative assistant/office staff
Crematory operator
Other (please specify)
10.
At your firm, what is the starting salary for an intern who has completed his/her funeral service education?
$10 to $15 per hour
$16 to $20 per hour
More than $20 per hour
11.
At your firm, what is the starting salary for a newly licensed full-time funeral director?
Less than $25,000
$25,001 to $30,000
$30,001 to $35,000
$35,001 to $40,000
$40,001 to $45,000
$45,001 to $50,000
$50,001 to $55,000
More than $55,000
12.
At your firm, what was the 2023 salary for these positions? (Only enter whole numbers representing an annual salary, i.e., not hourly amounts)
Most experienced funeral director (excluding the firm owner)
Least experienced funeral director
Firm owner
13.
Was your funeral home affected by new salary regulations in 2024?
Yes
No
14.
If you answered "Yes" to the above, how did you change your operations?
Moved Salaried Employees to Hourly
Moved Hourly Employees to Salary
Added Part Time Hourly Staff
Reduced Full Time Hourly Staff
Elaborate here if you'd like
15.
Will the new federal salary regulations affect your operation in 2025?
Yes
No
16.
If you answered "Yes" to the above, how did you change your operations?
Moved Salaried Employees to Hourly
Moved Hourly Employees to Salary
Added Part Time Hourly Staff
Reduced Full Time Hourly Staff
Elaborate here if you'd like
17.
For the most experienced funeral director (excluding the firm owner), what happened to that position's salary from 2022 to 2023?
It went down
It stayed the same
It increased 1 to 3%
It increased 4 to 6%
It increased 7 to 10%
It increased more than 10%
18.
For the least experienced funeral director (excluding the firm owner), what happened to that position's salary from 2022 to 2023?
It went down
It stayed the same
It increased 1 to 3%
It increased 4 to 6%
It increased 7 to 10%
It increased more than 10%
19.
For the firm's owner, what happened to the salary they drew from the business from 2022 to 2023?
It went down
It stayed the same
It increased 1 to 3%
It increased 4 to 6%
It increased 7 to 10%
It increased more than 10%
20.
Are certain staff members at your firm eligible to receive a bonus? If yes, please include the job(s) that qualify for bonuses.
Yes
No
Qualifying Job Titles
21.
From 2022 to 2023, what was the bonus for the most experienced funeral director (excluding the company owner)?
Decreased more than $3,000
Decreased $2,001 to $3,000
Decreased $1,001 to $2,000
Decreased less than $1,000
Stayed the same
Increased less than $1,000
Increased $1,001 to $2,000
Increased $2,001 to $3,000
Increased $3,001 to $4,000
Increased $4,001 to $5,000
Increased $5,001 to $6,000
Increased $6,001 to $7,000
Increased $7,001 to $8,000
Increased $8,001 to $9,000
Increased $9,001 to $10,000
The most experienced funeral director does not get a bonus.
22.
From 2022 to 2023, what was the bonus for the least experienced funeral director?
Decreased more than $3,000
Decreased $2,001 to $3,000
Decreased $1,000 to $2,000
Decreased less than $1,000
Stayed the same
Increased less than $1,000
Increased $1,001 to $2,000
Increased $2,001 to $3,000
Increased $3,001 to $4,000
Increased $4,001 to $5,000
Increased $5,001 to $6,000
Increased $6,001 to $7,000
Increased $7,001 to $8,000
Increased $8,001 to $9,000
Increased $9,001 to $10,000
Increased more than $10,000
The least experienced funeral director does not get a bonus.
23.
From 2022 to 2023, how did the bonus for the firm's owner change?
Decreased more than $3,000
Decreased $2,001 to $3,000
Decreased $1,000 to $2,000
Decreased less than $1,000
Stayed the same
Increased less than $1,000
Increased $1,000 to $2,000
Increased $2,001 to $3,000
Increased $3,001 to $4,000
Increased $4,001 to $5,000
Increased $5,001 to $6,000
Increased $6,001 to $7,000
Increased $7,001 to $8,000
Increased $8,001 to $9,000
Increased $9,001 to $10,000
The owner does not give himself/herself a bonus.
24.
In 2023, what was the average annual salary for these FULL-TIME positions? (Only enter whole numbers representing an annual salary, i.e., not hourly amounts)
Embalmer only
Aftercare manager
Receptionist
Other (please specify position)
25.
If your firm gives an annual pay increase, what percentage is it? (Only enter whole numbers)
26.
In 2023, what bonus was paid for these FULL-TIME positions? (Only enter whole numbers representing an annual salary, i.e., not hourly amounts)
Embalmer only
Aftercare manager
Receptionist
Other (please specify position)
27.
Does your firm provide medical benefits to full-time employees?
Yes
No
28.
If your firm provides medical benefits, what percentage of the premium is paid for by the employer?
Less than 50%
50-54%
55-59%
60-64%
65-69%
70-74%
75-79%
80-84%
85-89%
90-94%
95-99%
100%
29.
Does your firm provide dental benefits to employees?
Yes
No
30.
If your firm provides dental benefits, what percentage of premium is paid for by your employer?
Less than 50%
50-54%
55-59%
60-64%
65-69%
70-74%
75-79%
80-84%
85-89%
90-94%
95-99%
100%
31.
In 2023, did your firm significantly change the medical and dental benefits it offers employees (such as changing the percentage paid)? Please explain.
Yes
No
Other (please specify)
32.
If your firm offered 401(k) benefits in 2023, what percentage did your firm match?
33.
My firm does not pay a base salary to preneed salespeople; we only pay commission.
True
False
34.
On average, a full-time preneed salesperson who meets expectations makes the following on an annual basis (if you do not have a full-time preened salesperson, please skip this question):
$20,000 to $30,000
$30,001 to $40,000
$40,001 to $50,000
$50,001 to $60,000
$60,001 to $70,000
$70,001 to $80,000
More than $90,000
35.
In the past 12 months, an employee(s) at my firm has been laid off.
True
False
36.
I anticipate my firm laying employee(s) off in the next 12 months.
True
False
37.
My firm has hired an employee(s) in the past 12 months. If true, please include their job title(s)
True
False
Other (please specify)
38.
If your firm paid a hiring bonus in 2023, how much was it?
39.
My firm plans to hire an employee(s) in the next 12 months.
True
False
40.
If you answered "True" above, what position(s)?
Position 1
Position 2
Position 3
41.
I'd recommend funeral service as a career to others. Please explain.
True
False
Other (please specify)
42.
What is your biggest frustration when it comes to compensation in funeral service – in general or at your firm in particular?
43.
Do you feel you are fairly compensated? (If yes, answer why. If no, answer why not.)
Yes
No
Other (please specify)
44.
If you do not subscribe to Funeral Service Insider and you filled out this survey, please provide your email address so we can send you the results when published. Thank you.
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