Coroner

Your Fit

Income

$108K

Preparation

Medium

Growth

4.6%

Definition
Your fit with this career
How much they earn
What they do
Job satisfaction
How to become

What is a Coroner?

A Coroner is a medical professional who investigates deaths, particularly those occurring under unusual or suspicious circumstances. They determine the cause, manner, and circumstances of death.

Sample job titles:

Autopsy Facilities Manager, Coroner, MDI (Medicolegal Death Investigator), Medical Examiner

Your test results

Why this fit score?

The fit report shows your areas of fit and misfit with Coroner.

Fit report

Test scores

The scores report summarizes what we learned about you. It shows your results on everything measured in the career test.

Scores report

How much does a Coroner earn

Income data is from Employment and Social Development Canada's 2024 wage tables. The closest match for this career in Canada’s occupational classification system is Coroner.

Bottom 10%	Bottom 25%	Median (average)	Top 25%	Top 10%
$78K per year	$97K per year	$108K per year	$118K per year	$127K per year

Compared to other careers: Median is $43K above the national average.

See income by country/state/province

What does a Coroner do?

Work environment

Coroners work in various environments including morgues, crime scenes, and offices. They often collaborate with law enforcement, forensic teams, and medical personnel.

Quick task list

Conducts or supervises autopsies.
Collects and examines evidence from the deceased.
Determines cause and manner of death.
Testifies in court as an expert witness.
Coordinates with law enforcement and medical professionals.

See full list of tasks with expert relevance ratings

Areas of specialization

Forensic Pathology: Specializing in determining cause of death through autopsy.
Legal Medicine: Focusing on the legal aspects of death investigations.
Toxicology: Specializing in identifying poisons and toxins in death cases.

Description

Coroners play a crucial role in the justice system by determining how and why a person died. This involves conducting autopsies, analyzing medical history, and examining the scene where the body was found. They need to have a strong medical background, as well as an understanding of the legal implications of their findings.

Their work is not just scientific but also involves a significant amount of interaction with grieving families, requiring empathy and strong communication skills. Coroners may also be involved in public health, identifying trends in deaths that could indicate larger societal issues.

Given the nature of their work, Coroners often deal with distressing scenes and must be emotionally resilient. They also need to be detail-oriented and methodical in their approach to ensure accurate and reliable conclusions.

Job Satisfaction

Sources of satisfaction

Contributing significantly to criminal investigations and public health.
Solving complex medical puzzles.
The satisfaction of providing answers to families of the deceased.

You might make a good Coroner if you are...

Fascinated by medical science and forensics.
Emotionally resilient and able to handle distressing situations.
Detail-oriented with strong analytical skills.
Comfortable with the legal aspects of death investigation.
Empathetic and capable of handling sensitive situations.

Pros:

Highly respected and essential role in the justice system.
Intellectual challenge and varied work.
Opportunity to impact public health and safety.

Cons:

Potential exposure to distressing and traumatic situations.
High responsibility and the need for absolute accuracy.
Long and irregular hours, especially when dealing with unexpected deaths.

How to become a Coroner

Typical education

Typically, Coroners have a medical degree (about 8 years of post-secondary education), though some jurisdictions may require less, such as a degree in forensic science or mortuary science.

High school preparation

Courses:

Biology and Chemistry for a strong science foundation.
Psychology to understand human behavior and cope with emotional aspects.
Law and Government classes to understand the legal side of the role.

Extra-Curricular Activities:

Joining science clubs or forensic science camps.
Volunteering at hospitals or health-related organizations.
Participating in debate teams to develop analytical and communication skills.

Preparation after high school

Earn a bachelor's degree in a scientific field like biology or forensic science.
Attend medical school to become a licensed physician.
Obtain certification in forensic pathology.
Gain experience in medical or legal professions.

More resources

National Association of Medical Examiners (NAME) - Professional organization providing resources and certification information.
American Academy of Forensic Sciences (AAFS) - Offers educational resources in forensic science.
Forensic Science Education Programs Accreditation Commission (FEPAC) - Lists accredited forensic science education programs.

Similar careers

Similarity is based on what people in the careers do, what they know, and what they are called. The process of establishing similarity lists is described in this white paper.