If you’re choosing where to start or grow a mortician career, raw job count is only part of the picture. California has the most jobs — but pays below the national median. Ohio has the same number as Texas but pays $12,600 more per year.
This page ranks all 50 states by mortician employment using BLS OEWS May 2024 data, with salary context so you can evaluate real opportunity — not just headcount.
2-Minute Version
- Most jobs: California (2,670) — but median salary is only $47,170, below the national $49,800
- Best volume + pay combo: New York (1,390 jobs, $62,590), Illinois (1,120, $60,680), Pennsylvania (1,120, $55,940)
- Highest job density: Iowa — mortician jobs are 2.17x more concentrated there than the national average, with $63,770 median pay
- Avoid for pay: Texas (1,530 jobs, $36,760 median) — second most jobs, lowest pay among large states
Top 10 States by Job Count
| Rank | State | Jobs | Median Salary | LQ | Per 1,000 Workers |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | California | 2,670 | $47,170 | 0.89 | 0.148 |
| 2 | Ohio | 1,530 | $49,360 | 1.66 | 0.277 |
| 2 | Texas | 1,530 | $36,760 | 0.66 | 0.111 |
| 4 | New York | 1,390 | $62,590 | 0.87 | 0.145 |
| 5 | Florida | 1,160 | $58,960 | 0.71 | 0.118 |
| 6 | Illinois | 1,120 | $60,680 | 1.10 | 0.184 |
| 6 | Pennsylvania | 1,120 | $55,940 | 1.11 | 0.186 |
| 8 | North Carolina | 940 | $58,860 | 1.15 | 0.192 |
| 9 | Missouri | 790 | $44,830 | 1.62 | 0.269 |
| 10 | Michigan | 760 | $60,700 | 1.04 | 0.174 |
The California problem: 2,670 jobs sounds great until you see the $47,170 median — 5% below the national average. California’s high cost of living makes this gap even more significant in real terms.
Ohio vs Texas: Both have 1,530 jobs, but Ohio pays $49,360 vs Texas’s $36,760 — a $12,600 annual difference. Ohio also has a Location Quotient of 1.66, meaning mortician jobs are more concentrated there relative to the overall workforce.
Job Count vs Job Density: Why Both Matter
Raw job count tells you how many openings exist. Job density (Location Quotient) tells you how easy it is to find those jobs relative to the local labor market.
Location Quotient (LQ): A ratio comparing the concentration of mortician jobs in a state to the national average. LQ > 1.0 means above-average concentration — more mortician jobs per worker than typical.
| State | Jobs | LQ | What It Means |
|---|---|---|---|
| California | 2,670 | 0.89 | Lots of jobs, but below-average density |
| Ohio | 1,530 | 1.66 | High volume AND high density |
| Iowa | 560 | 2.17 | Fewer jobs, but easiest market to break into |
| Texas | 1,530 | 0.66 | High volume, low density — competitive |
| Missouri | 790 | 1.62 | Mid-size market, high density |
For new graduates, a high LQ state means less competition per opening. Iowa’s LQ of 2.17 means mortician jobs are more than twice as concentrated there as the national average — and it pays $63,770 median.
Top 10 States by Job Density (LQ)
These states have the highest concentration of mortician jobs relative to their overall workforce:
| Rank | State | LQ | Jobs | Median Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Iowa | 2.17 | 560 | $63,770 |
| 2 | Kentucky | 1.98 | 660 | $45,640 |
| 3 | South Dakota | 1.68 | 130 | $58,990 |
| 4 | Ohio | 1.66 | 1,530 | $49,360 |
| 5 | Missouri | 1.62 | 790 | $44,830 |
| 6 | Arkansas | 1.56 | 340 | $35,970 |
| 7 | Hawaii | 1.51 | 160 | $38,040 |
| 8 | Montana | 1.48 | 130 | $49,140 |
| 9 | West Virginia | 1.44 | 170 | $50,210 |
| 10 | North Dakota | 1.40 | 100 | $76,720 |
Iowa stands out: Highest job density in the country and above-median pay ($63,770). For new graduates willing to relocate, Iowa offers the best combination of job availability and compensation.
High density ≠ high pay: Arkansas (LQ 1.56) and Hawaii (LQ 1.51) have dense mortician job markets but pay well below the national median. Density reflects cultural and demographic factors — not necessarily employer willingness to pay.
Best States for New Graduates
Combining job volume, job density, and salary into a practical ranking for someone entering the field:
| State | Jobs | LQ | Median | Why It Works |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Iowa | 560 | 2.17 | $63,770 | Highest density + above-median pay |
| Ohio | 1,530 | 1.66 | $49,360 | Most jobs per capita, large market |
| New York | 1,390 | 0.87 | $62,590 | Large market, strong pay |
| Illinois | 1,120 | 1.10 | $60,680 | Large market, above-median pay |
| Pennsylvania | 1,120 | 1.11 | $55,940 | Large market, above-median pay |
| North Dakota | 100 | 1.40 | $76,720 | Small market, highest pay outside Delaware |
If you want volume: Ohio, New York, Illinois, Pennsylvania all offer 1,000+ jobs with above-median pay.
If you want the easiest entry: Iowa — highest density, good pay, lower competition per opening.
If you want maximum pay: North Dakota ($76,720) or Delaware ($80,290) — but both are small markets with under 110 jobs each.
States to Approach With Caution
High job count doesn’t always mean good opportunity:
| State | Jobs | Median | Issue |
|---|---|---|---|
| California | 2,670 | $47,170 | Below-median pay + very high cost of living |
| Texas | 1,530 | $36,760 | Second-lowest median among large states |
| Florida | 1,160 | $58,960 | Good pay, but LQ of 0.71 means below-average density |
California and Texas together account for 4,200 jobs — 15% of all mortician employment nationally — but both pay below or near the bottom of the national range.
Complete State Rankings by Job Count
| State | Jobs | Median | LQ |
|---|---|---|---|
| California | 2,670 | $47,170 | 0.89 |
| Ohio | 1,530 | $49,360 | 1.66 |
| Texas | 1,530 | $36,760 | 0.66 |
| New York | 1,390 | $62,590 | 0.87 |
| Florida | 1,160 | $58,960 | 0.71 |
| Illinois | 1,120 | $60,680 | 1.10 |
| Pennsylvania | 1,120 | $55,940 | 1.11 |
| North Carolina | 940 | $58,860 | 1.15 |
| Missouri | 790 | $44,830 | 1.62 |
| Michigan | 760 | $60,700 | 1.04 |
| Tennessee | 690 | $44,670 | 1.27 |
| Kentucky | 660 | $45,640 | 1.98 |
| Indiana | 660 | $60,430 | 1.25 |
| New Jersey | 620 | $44,010 | 0.87 |
| Massachusetts | 590 | $48,300 | 0.97 |
| Georgia | 570 | $49,100 | 0.71 |
| Iowa | 560 | $63,770 | 2.17 |
| Minnesota | 520 | $76,490 | 1.07 |
| Wisconsin | 490 | $50,020 | 1.01 |
| Virginia | 490 | $60,360 | 0.72 |
| South Carolina | 490 | $40,160 | 1.30 |
| Alabama | 480 | $48,450 | 1.39 |
| Louisiana | 440 | $38,890 | 1.38 |
| Washington | 430 | $60,010 | 0.73 |
| Arizona | 420 | $37,970 | 0.79 |
| Maryland | 400 | $46,080 | 0.87 |
| Oklahoma | 360 | $51,610 | 1.26 |
| Connecticut | 350 | $54,590 | 1.25 |
| Arkansas | 340 | $35,970 | 1.56 |
| Utah | 320 | $61,190 | 1.11 |
| Colorado | 300 | $57,420 | 0.63 |
| Nevada | 270 | $49,740 | 1.04 |
| Mississippi | 200 | $40,280 | 1.04 |
| Nebraska | 220 | $65,310 | 1.28 |
| Oregon | 280 | $48,370 | 0.84 |
| Kansas | 180 | $46,920 | 0.74 |
| West Virginia | 170 | $50,210 | 1.44 |
| Idaho | 160 | $61,270 | 1.16 |
| Hawaii | 160 | $38,040 | 1.51 |
| New Mexico | 110 | $45,970 | 0.76 |
| Delaware | 90 | $80,290 | 1.18 |
| New Hampshire | 100 | $61,000 | 0.85 |
| North Dakota | 100 | $76,720 | 1.40 |
| Montana | 130 | $49,140 | 1.48 |
| South Dakota | 130 | $58,990 | 1.68 |
| Wyoming | 40 | $49,840 | 0.82 |
| Vermont | 40 | $52,000 | 0.76 |
| Rhode Island | 40 | $51,990 | 0.51 |
| Maine | 70 | $63,790 | 0.65 |
| Alaska | N/A | N/A | N/A |
Alaska: BLS does not publish data for states with fewer than 10 employed in the occupation.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which state has the most mortician jobs?
California, with 2,670 employed morticians as of BLS May 2024. However, California pays below the national median ($47,170 vs $49,800 nationally), so volume doesn’t translate to better pay.
Which state is best for a new mortician?
Iowa offers the best combination: highest job density in the country (LQ 2.17) and above-median pay ($63,770). For larger markets, Ohio (1,530 jobs, LQ 1.66) and Illinois (1,120 jobs, $60,680) are strong options.
Why does Texas have so many mortician jobs but low pay?
Texas has a large population and high death volume, creating demand for morticians. But the state has no income tax and generally lower wages across many occupations. The LQ of 0.66 also suggests the market isn’t as concentrated as states like Ohio or Iowa — more competition per opening.
Are there enough mortician jobs to find work easily?
Nationally, yes — BLS projects ~5,800 annual openings through 2034, mostly from retirements and turnover rather than net new positions. In high-density states (Iowa, Ohio, Kentucky), finding work is relatively straightforward for licensed graduates. In low-density states (Colorado, Texas, California), competition is higher.
Find Your Best Market
Job density tells you where to look. The Mortician Salary Toolkit adds the salary side — every percentile for all 50 states, COL-adjusted real purchasing power, and a state comparison template to evaluate any move.
One-time download, $24.99. See what’s included →
Data Source
All figures from BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2024. SOC code 39-4031 (Morticians, Undertakers, and Funeral Arrangers). Location Quotient (LQ) is relative to all U.S. employment.
→ See also: Mortician Salary by State (Full Data) | How Much Do Morticians Make? | Mortician Salary vs Cost of Living