Coroners
Direct activities such as autopsies, pathological and toxicological analyses, and inquests relating to the investigation of deaths occurring within a legal jurisdiction to determine cause of death or to fix responsibility for accidental, violent, or unexplained deaths.
Also called: Autopsy Facilities Manager · Coroner · County Coroner · Death Investigator · Forensic Pathologist · MDI (Medicolegal Death Investigator)
Median pay (national)
$78,420
$46,230–$130,030 (10th–90th)
Employed (US)
397,770
BLS OEWS, May 2024
Outlook 2024–34
+3%
~33,300 openings/yr
Typical entry
Bachelor's degree
What the numbers say
Refit analysis ·Pay for coroners shows an unusually wide range: the top 10% earn $130,030 versus $46,230 at the bottom 10% — 2.8x. The median of $78,420 leaves roughly 66% of headroom to the 90th percentile, which is where seniority, specialization, and the skills below tend to pay off.
Refit analysis ·Employment is projected to change +3% from 2024 to 2034 — about as fast as the 3% all-occupation average. Even so, BLS projects about 33,300 openings a year, mostly to replace workers who retire or change careers.
Refit analysis ·Where you work moves the number a lot. Across the 53 states with released data, District of Columbia pays the most for this role (median $103,010, +31% vs the national median), while Puerto Rico sits lowest at $46,570 — a 121% spread for the same job title.
Refit analysis ·O*NET rates Speaking, Critical Thinking, Reading Comprehension as the highest-importance skills here — so a resume aimed at this role should lead with evidence of those, not a generic skills list. On the tools side, O*NET flags Microsoft Office software as in-demand technologies for this role.
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Top skills employers ask for
Ranked by O*NET importance for this occupation.
- Speaking
- Critical Thinking
- Reading Comprehension
- Active Listening
- Writing
- Active Learning
- Science
- Monitoring
- Learning Strategies
- Mathematics
What they actually do
Core O*NET tasks for this role.
- Complete death certificates, including the assignment of cause and manner of death.
- Perform medicolegal examinations and autopsies, conducting preliminary examinations of the body to identify victims, locate signs of trauma, and identify factors that would indicate time of death.
- Interview persons present at death scenes to obtain information useful in determining the manner of death.
- Observe and record the positions and conditions of bodies and related evidence.
- Provide information concerning the circumstances of death to relatives of the deceased.
- Remove or supervise removal of bodies from death scenes, using the proper equipment and supplies, and arrange for transportation to morgues.
- Inquire into the cause, manner, and circumstances of human deaths and establish the identities of deceased persons.
- Observe, record, and preserve any objects or personal property related to deaths, including objects such as medication containers and suicide notes.
- Complete reports and forms required to finalize cases.
- Arrange for the next of kin to be notified of deaths.
Tools & technology
- Microsoft Office software
- Git
- Google Android
- Linux
- Microsoft SQL Server Reporting Services SSRS
- Structured query language SQL
- Transact-SQL
- UNIX
- Zoom
- 3D graphics software
- Alcestis
- Autopsy information databases
- Bite analysis software
- Corel WordPerfect Office Suite
- Douglas Associates Forensic Filer
- EMC Documentum
Knowledge areas
- English Language
- Medicine and Dentistry
- Customer and Personal Service
- Law and Government
- Administration and Management
- Biology
- Education and Training
- Administrative