Coroner

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Work Tasks

CORONERS perform medical examinations and autopsies on dead bodies. They interview other people present at time of death and testify at court hearings and trials. They observe, record, and preserve any objects or personal property related to the person who died. They also prepare death certificates.

Salary, Size & Growth

• $55,500 average per year ($26.75 per hour)
• A large occupation (164,400 workers in 2010)
• Expected to grow rapidly (3.1% per year)

Entry Requirements

Depending upon the jurisdiction and the law defining the CORONER'S duties, the coroner may not be trained in the medical sciences. The coroner may employ physicians, pathologists, or forensic pathologists to perform autopsies when necessary. In some jurisdictions, the coroner is the physician, but in many areas, the coroner is not required to be a physician nor trained in medicine.