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Coroner

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AVG. SALARY

$68,420

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EDUCATION

Bachelor's degree

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JOB OUTLOOK

Stable

What They Do

Coroners Career Video

About This Career

Directs 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.

This career is part of the Health Science cluster Therapeutic Services pathway.

A person in this career:

  • Performs 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.
  • Inquires into the cause, manner, and circumstances of human deaths and establishes the identities of deceased persons.
  • Completes death certificates, including the assignment of cause and manner of death.
  • Collects and documents any pertinent medical history information.
  • Arranges for the next of kin to be notified of deaths.
  • Completes reports and forms required to finalize cases.
  • Inventories personal effects recovered from bodies, such as jewelry or wallets.
  • Observes, records, and preserves any objects or personal property related to deaths, including objects such as medication containers and suicide notes.
  • Observes and records the positions and conditions of bodies and related evidence.
  • Interviews persons present at death scenes to obtain information useful in determining the manner of death.

Working Conditions and Physical Demands

People who do this job report that:

  • You would often handle loads up to 10 lbs., sometimes up to 20 lbs. You might do a lot of walking or standing, or you might sit but use your arms and legs to control machines, equipment or tools.
  • Work in this occupation involves use of protective items such as safety shoes, glasses, gloves, hearing protection, a hard hat, or personal flotation devices
  • Exposed to disease and infections more than once a month through work such as patient care, laboratory work, and sanitation control
  • Work in this occupation requires being inside most of the time
  • Work in this occupation requires being outside most of the time

Working in this career involves (physical activities):

  • Seeing clearly at a distance
  • Seeing clearly up close
  • Speaking clearly enough to be able to be understood by others
  • Identifying and understanding the speech of another person

Work Hours and Travel

  • Irregular hours
  • Overtime work

Specialty and Similar Careers

Careers that are more detailed or close to this career:

  • County Coroner
  • Deputy Coroner
  • District Medical Examiner
  • Medical Examiner
  • Medical Legal Investigator (MLI)
  • Coroner Investigator
  • County Medical Examiner
  • Medicolegal Death Investigator