Mortuary Cosmetologists

Overview

Mortuary Cosmetologists

Introduction

A mortuary cosmetologist is a licensed cosmetologist who performs a variety of cosmetic services to prepare a deceased person for funeral services. Sometimes called desairologists, mortuary cosmetologists are trained to use products to style or alter the hair, face, and nails to prepare a deceased person for viewing and/or burial. In doing so, mortuary cosmetologists may provide comfort to grieving family and friends by making their deceased loved one appear as they wish them to be remembered. Mortuary cosmetologists are pr...

Quick Facts


Median Salary

$54,100

Employment Prospects

Fair

Minimum Education Level

High School Diploma|Some Postsecondary Training


Experience

Experience as a general cosmetologist required


Skills

Drawing/Design|Interpersonal|Mechanical/Manual Dexterity


Personality Traits

Artistic|Conventional|Hands On

Earnings

The nature of the field of mortuary cosmetology, and indeed the field of cosmetology in general, is that earnings grow only as clientele increases. In any aspect of cosmetology, that means low earnings and hard work in the beginning. As cosmetologists develop client loyalty, their earnings will rise. In the mortuary cosmetologists case, proving the value of ones services to a funeral home or a ...

Work Environment

Cosmetic procedures are generally done in a well-ventilated, sterile preparation room. Mortuary cosmetologists generally are not left alone with the deceased; a member of the funeral home staff will generally greet the cosmetologist and be present throughout the services if the cosmetologist desires. Mortuary cosmetologists are not expected to perform cosmetic procedures to a body on a table; r...

Outlook

The U.S. Department of Labor predicts that employment of cosmetologists will grow by 7 percent from 2023 through 2033. This is faster than the average for all careers. Job opportunities for cosmetologists who work in death care services are expected to grow by 3.2 percent (as fast as the average) during this same time span. An increase in the number of expected deaths among the aging baby boome...