Occupation · SOC 13-1041.06
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.
Median wage
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Projected growth
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Annual openings
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per year
Employed (US)
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Job Zone 3
Typical preparation
Medium preparation
Stackable credential programs
478 mapped
Core skills
SpeakingCritical ThinkingReading ComprehensionActive ListeningCoordinationSocial PerceptivenessWritingJudgment and Decision Making
Knowledge areas
English LanguageMedicine and DentistryCustomer and Personal ServiceLaw and GovernmentAdministration and Management
Technology & tools
Graphics or photo imaging softwareData base user interface and query softwareAnalytical or scientific softwareOffice suite softwareCustomer relationship management CRM software
Representative tasks
Complete death certificates, including the assignment of cause and manner of death.Perform medicolegal examinations and autopsies, conducting preliminary examinations of the body to iInterview persons present at death scenes to obtain information useful in determining the manner of Complete or review death certificates, including the assignment of cause and manner of death.Observe and record the positions and conditions of bodies and related evidence at the scene, through documentation or photographs.
Competency framework
Skill expectations by proficiency level.
emerging
Death certificate forms — complete under direct supervision by assigning preliminary cause and manner of death in routine, clearly documented cases.Body position and condition — observe and record accurately at a death scene under the guidance of an experienced coroner.Personal property and medication containers — identify, log, and preserve items related to a death scene using established evidence-handling protocols.Deceased individuals — assist in locating and documenting visible trauma markers during a preliminary body examination under close oversight.Body removal procedures — support the supervised removal and transport of remains to the morgue using approved equipment and supplies.Death scene witnesses — gather basic contact information and initial statements from persons present, following a structured interview checklist.Case management software — enter death investigation data into database or document management systems under supervisor review.Medicolegal terminology — read and comprehend autopsy reports, medical records, and legal statutes with guidance from senior staff.Family notifications — relay factual, pre-approved information about the circumstances of a death to next of kin under supervisory direction.Photography and imaging tools — capture standardized scene photographs using graphics or photo imaging software following departmental protocols.
developing
Death certificates — complete independently, including accurate cause-and-manner-of-death determinations, for routine cases in a county coroner's office.Preliminary medicolegal examinations — conduct body assessments to identify victims, document trauma, and estimate time of death with minimal oversight.Witness interviews — conduct structured interviews with family members, first responders, and bystanders at death scenes to build a coherent investigative narrative.Evidence chain of custody — observe, tag, photograph, and preserve physical evidence such as suicide notes and prescription bottles in compliance with jurisdictional standards.Scene reports — produce clear, well-organized written documentation of body positions, environmental conditions, and evidentiary findings for case files.Body removal coordination — direct contracted mortuary personnel in the proper removal and transportation of remains, ensuring safe and dignified handling.Decedent identity — apply inductive reasoning to correlate physical descriptors, personal effects, and available records to establish identity in standard cases.Analytical software — use scientific or forensic analytical tools to support toxicology and pathology data review in ongoing investigations.Bereaved family communication — explain cause-of-death findings and procedural next steps to relatives using clear, compassionate language appropriate to the situation.Time management — prioritize concurrent active cases and administrative deadlines, including certificate filings and court submission schedules, with reduced supervisory input.
proficient
Complex death certificates — determine and certify cause and manner of death autonomously in ambiguous, multi-factor cases including natural, accidental, homicide, and undetermined rulings.Full medicolegal autopsies — perform comprehensive postmortem examinations, integrating biological, toxicological, and circumstantial evidence to reconstruct the sequence of fatal events.Non-routine death investigations — apply critical thinking and deductive reasoning to investigate deaths with conflicting evidence, contested circumstances, or public-safety implications.Decedent identification — lead identification efforts in mass-casualty or decomposed-remains cases, coordinating with forensic odontology, DNA, and fingerprint specialists.Legal and judicial proceedings — prepare detailed expert reports and provide sworn testimony in coroner's inquests, civil depositions, and criminal trials.Interdisciplinary collaboration — coordinate with law enforcement, public health officials, hospital pathologists, and medical examiners to ensure investigative integrity and information accuracy.Evidence preservation protocols — develop and implement scene-specific strategies for collecting, documenting, and maintaining chain of custody for all physical and digital evidence.Public health surveillance — identify and report death patterns indicative of emerging disease outbreaks, drug epidemics, or occupational hazards to appropriate health authorities.Family liaison — guide families through the full investigative and certification process, managing emotionally charged disclosures about traumatic or contested deaths with professional sensitivity.Continuous learning — apply active learning strategies to integrate updated forensic science literature, legislative changes, and evolving medicolegal standards into daily practice.
advanced
Jurisdictional death investigation policy — develop, revise, and implement coroner office policies and standard operating procedures that align with current law, science, and community standards.Staff development and training — design and deliver instructional programs for emerging and developing coroner staff, building competency in examination techniques, legal documentation, and witness interviewing.Quality assurance systems — establish audit processes that review death certificate accuracy, evidence handling compliance, and investigative thoroughness across the entire office caseload.Interagency leadership — represent the coroner's office in multi-agency task forces addressing homicide trends, substance-abuse fatalities, or disaster preparedness at the regional or state level.Forensic technology strategy — evaluate and implement new analytical software, imaging platforms, and database systems that improve investigation efficiency and data integrity office-wide.Legislative and regulatory engagement — advise elected officials, public health boards, and law-enforcement agencies on proposed changes to medicolegal statutes and death-reporting requirements.Organizational resource management — oversee budget planning, staffing allocations, and equipment procurement for a coroner's office to ensure sustainable investigative capacity.Community trust and public communication — lead transparent public communication strategies regarding high-profile or sensitive death investigations, maintaining public confidence and institutional integrity.Research and evidence-based practice — direct or contribute to applied research projects that advance forensic methodology, publish findings, and integrate outcomes into occupational training curricula.Mentorship and succession planning — identify high-potential staff, create individualized development pathways, and ensure organizational knowledge transfer to sustain long-term coroner office effectiveness.
Also known as
18 alternate job titles map to this occupation.
ExaminerParamedical ExaminerForensic Medical ExaminerCertified Medical ExaminerDeath InvestigatorMedical ExaminerMedical Legal Death InvestigatorMDI (Medicolegal Death Investigator)Coroner InvestigatorCoronerCounty CoronerAutopsy Facilities ManagerMedicolegal InvestigatorMobile Medical ExaminerMedical Examiner Investigator (MEI)Medical InvestigatorForensic PathologistMLI (Medical Legal Investigator)