Understanding Funeral Director Salary in the UK

If you are considering a career as a funeral director or are already working in the profession, knowing the typical pay levels is essential for negotiating your salary or planning your finances. The funeral director salary in the UK varies by experience, location, and employer type. This guide uses the latest official data from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings (ASHE) and the National Living Wage rates to give you a clear picture.

What the Data Says: Median and Percentile Salaries

According to ONS ASHE 2024 data for Standard Occupational Classification (SOC) code 6232, the median full-time gross annual salary for a funeral director in the UK is approximately £28,000. This means half of funeral directors earn less than this amount and half earn more. The 25th percentile (entry-level or less experienced) sits at £23,000, while the 75th percentile (experienced or senior roles) reaches £34,000.

To put these figures into hourly terms, we use the standard conversion: annual salary ÷ (hours per week × 52 weeks). Assuming a typical full-time week of 37.5 hours:

• Median (£28,000) ≈ £14.36 per hour
• 25th percentile (£23,000) ≈ £11.79 per hour
• 75th percentile (£34,000) ≈ £17.44 per hour

These hourly rates are before tax and National Insurance. Use our hourly calculator to convert your own rate.

How Funeral Director Pay Compares to National Benchmarks

The National Living Wage (NLW) for employees aged 21 and over was £12.21 per hour in April 2025, rising to £12.71 per hour in 2026/27. The median funeral director hourly rate of £14.36 is comfortably above the NLW. However, the entry-level rate of £11.79 is below the 2026/27 NLW – this may reflect that some lower-paid roles are part-time, trainee positions, or include apprentices who are entitled to a lower minimum wage (£7.55 per hour for under-18s or first-year apprentices).

For context, the overall UK median full-time gross annual salary across all occupations was £39,039 in April 2025 (ONS ASHE). Funeral director pay is therefore below the national median, which is typical for roles in the caring and personal service sector.

Regional Differences in Funeral Director Salary

While ONS ASHE provides regional breakdowns for many occupations, specific regional data for funeral directors is not published in the latest release. However, general patterns from ONS show that salaries in London and the South East are typically 10–20% higher than the UK average, reflecting higher living costs. It is reasonable to expect that funeral directors in London earn more than the national median of £28,000, while those in the North East or Wales may earn slightly less. If you are considering relocating, check local job adverts or use our salary data tool to compare.

Seniority and Experience: From Trainee to Director

Funeral director pay increases with experience and responsibility. A trainee or assistant funeral director may start near the 25th percentile (£23,000), while a fully qualified funeral director with several years’ experience can expect the median. Senior funeral directors, those managing teams or branches, often reach the 75th percentile (£34,000) or higher. Additional qualifications, such as those from the National Association of Funeral Directors (NAFD), can also boost earning potential.

Overtime, On-Call Allowances, and Other Pay

Base salary figures from ASHE do not include overtime or additional allowances. Many funeral directors work on-call rotas, especially for out-of-hours services. On-call allowances and call-out pay are taxable earnings and can add several thousand pounds to annual income. Some employers also provide a company vehicle or car allowance, which may be a benefit-in-kind. Always review your contract to understand how overtime is calculated and whether on-call time is paid or compensated with time off in lieu.

How to Calculate Your Hourly Rate from Annual Salary

To convert an annual salary to an hourly rate, divide by the number of weeks worked per year (typically 52) and then by your weekly contracted hours. For a funeral director working 37.5 hours per week:

Hourly rate = Annual salary ÷ (37.5 × 52)

For example, £28,000 ÷ 1,950 = £14.36 per hour. If you work more or fewer hours, adjust accordingly. Our Hourly to Salary guide provides more examples.

Summary

The funeral director salary in the UK is around £28,000 at the median, with a range from £23,000 to £34,000 depending on experience and location. While below the national average for all full-time employees, the role offers stability and the potential for additional earnings through on-call work. Use the official ONS data and your own contract to get an accurate picture of your worth.

For more insights on UK pay benchmarks, visit our salary articles covering various occupations.