Coroner Job Description, Skills, and Salary
Get to know about the duties, responsibilities, qualifications, and skills requirements of a Coroner. Feel free to use our Coroner job description template to produce your own. We also provide you with information about the salary you can earn as a Coroner.
Who is a Coroner?
The coroner oversees the examination of the dead to determine the cause of death. In the event of an unexpected or suspicious death, the coroner will also identify the responsible parties. To determine the circumstances surrounding a death, a coroner might visit the scene of death, coordinate with forensic experts, and work with investigators, toxicologists, and pathologists.
As elected officials, coroners are often employed at the county level. They inspect the bodies of the dead and use their expertise to determine the identity and cause of death. They are expected to prepare death certificates after completing an extensive examination.
They must be available at all hours of the day and also work closely with law enforcement officers to report on their findings and any evidence found.
Most coroners work with the sheriff’s office and are responsible for identifying the body and notifying the family. They also sign the death certificate.
The coroner’s office, also known as “crowner”, dates back to medieval times when the crowner was responsible to look into the deaths of the King to ensure that death duties were being paid.
In modern times, the coroner’s primary responsibility is to inquire into the death and complete a certificate of death. The coroner assigns the cause and manner of death to each person and then lists them on the certificate. The coroner can also determine if the death was caused by natural circumstances, suicide, homicide, or other undetermined circumstances. The coroner can determine if the death was caused by foul play.
The coroner may be or not be trained in medical sciences depending on the jurisdiction and law that defines the coroner’s duties. When there is a question about the cause or manner in which a death occurred, the coroner can employ forensic pathologists to investigate the case.
While the coroner may be considered a doctor in some jurisdictions, this is not the same in all cases. In many places, however, the coroner does not need to be a doctor or be trained in medicine. The non-physician coroner might have trouble identifying subtle, non-violent, and violent deaths if they lack medical expertise.
The coroner in rural areas may be simply a local business owner. Some states and counties have the sheriff, justice of the peace, or county district attorney assigned to serve as a coroner. This is because the job description allows them to do so. Many coroners in the United States do not have medical degrees. However, they are trained in areas such as medicine, criminology, and pre-medicine.
Coroners are responsible for the identification of the body, notifying the next of kin, signing death certificates, and returning personal belongings to the family. An inquest may be ordered or conducted by a coroner to determine the cause or manner of death.
The United States has more than 1,500 coroners’ offices and death records of people who died in the jurisdiction of the coroner will be kept by the office.
There are three types of coroner jobs: deputy coroners and coroner technicians.
- Deputy Coroner
The deputy coroners are responsible for working with local law enforcement to determine the cause and manner in which a person died at the site of sudden death. They also handle deceased bodies and personal belongings, as well as speaking with the family members and helping pathologists perform autopsies. These jobs are generally performed by the local and regional governments.
If a physician is not present at the funeral, or if the deceased dies in suspicious circumstances, sudden death can be determined. The chief responsibility for investigating the cause of death and the scene is the deputy coroner. The deputy coroner may be required to notify the next-of-kin and answer any questions that the family might have about the death. He also catalogs any personal items found on the deceased’s body and releases them into the care of their family after the investigation is complete.
This person may be present to assist with autopsies on bodies found at sudden-death scenes and may also be present to answer questions that the pathologist may have about the condition of the body and the location where it was discovered. A deputy coroner can also be called upon to testify before a court about any information regarding the body, the location where it was found, or relevant medical information that was discovered during the autopsy. He may hold the highest coroner position in the morgue and may be responsible for other employees.
- Coroner Technician
The coroner technician supports the deputy coroner with his duties and the management of the local morgue. This position can be used to gain experience and allow you to transition to higher-level coroner positions. This position is responsible for all paperwork related to the deceased. It includes filing the death certificate after it has been completed and cataloging the deceased’s possessions. This technician is also responsible for preparing the bodies for autopsy and overseeing the release of the bodies to the family once the investigation is complete.
Some offices might also have coroner investigators. These coroner jobs report to the deputy coroner and help with the filing and completion of reports on the cause of death. Other duties may include transporting bodies to the morgue, if necessary.
Coroner Job Description
Below are the Coroner job description examples you can use to develop your resume or write a Coroner job description for your employee. Employers can also use it to sieve out job seekers when choosing candidates for interviews.
The duties and responsibilities of a Coroner include the following:
- Collecting and monitoring evidence
- Obtaining death reports from doctors or law enforcement detectives
- Collecting medical records of the deceased
- Interviewing witnesses and relatives
- Notifying your family or making arrangements for notification
- Ordering autopsies
- Keeping records of death certificates
- Conducting preliminary investigations to determine the causes of death
- Sending the body to a laboratory or conducting an autopsy
- Respecting the privacy laws of the state
- Answering public records requests and inquires
- Assisting law enforcement in the investigation
- Filling out death certificates
- Talking with the family members of the deceased
- Enhancing job knowledge by redesigning processes, studying, and implementing changes.
- Recording findings, documenting evidence, and filing information are all important steps in maintaining records
- Providing valuable information to help relatives get insurance or burial benefits.
- Testifying in court trials and hearings to provide information
- Examining human remains to determine the cause and time of death
- Issuing official death certificates
- Participating in court proceedings relating to death, and possibly testimony
- Investigating sudden, unnatural, and unexplained death.
- Analyzing evidence from crime scenes and medical records.
- Interviewing witnesses, doctors, family members, and other sources.
- Performing autopsies to determine the cause of death.
Qualifications
There might be some requirements for a position in the coroner’s office, depending on where you apply or what level you are looking to achieve. These requirements are:
Education
While some coroners are medical examiners while others supervise a crime scene investigation, there are different roles for coroners. The type of coroner you are interested in will determine the educational requirements. All coroner positions require a bachelor’s degree in a field like forensics, criminal sciences, pre-medicine, or anatomy.
A bachelor’s degree is not enough. Some states require licenses to practice medicine in the United States. You must complete a board exam and graduate from medical school to obtain a medical license. An M.D. is required for coroners. Coroners with an M.D. are paid on average more than those without. Some states require coroners to be licensed medically and have them trained as physician’s assistants, paramedics, registered nurses, or physician’s assistants.
Training
Many coroners will need to complete job training, in addition to their education and certification requirements. Some jurisdictions require that coroners pass the POST (Police Officer Selection Test). This basic skills test demonstrates your ability to complete many tasks in law enforcement. Certain states offer specialized training or courses for coroners. All coroners need to be trained in different fields of crime scene investigation, such as forensics and postmortem.
Certification
Some jurisdictions require certified death investigators and forensic examiners to be higher-ranking coroners. To further their knowledge, coroners can complete a variety of certifications. These are the most popular:
- Certified Death Investigator
You must apply to the American Board of Medicolegal Dead Investigators to obtain a certification as a death investigator. You will first need to apply. Then, you will have to study for and pass a four-hour multiple-choice test. This exam measures your knowledge of forensics and communication skills, as well as your understanding of the rules and regulations governing crime scene investigations. Additionally, you will need to have at least 640 hours of experience in crime scene or death investigation as a coroner/medical examiner. You will also need to complete the Performance Training Guidebook Checklist.
- Certificates in Specialized Criminalistics
American Board of Criminalistics (ABC), offers certifications in molecular biology, drug analysis, hairs and fibers, fire debris analysis, and Comprehensive Criminalistics Examination. These certifications could allow coroners to take on more specific roles in crime scene investigations.
Essential Skills
- Attention to detail
Crime scenes are often chaotic, and coroners must make sense of it. They must assess the vital information on the scene as well as the deceased’s body. The outcome of a case can be affected by the smallest details.
- Ability to work under pressure
Coroners must be able to conduct thorough, careful investigations even when there’s a danger. Coroners must maintain their composure in court, at crime scenes, and during investigations.
- Analytical skills
Coroners need to be able to analyze all information surrounding them to collect and identify evidence from a crime scene. To determine the cause of death, a coroner examines evidence and reports.
- Ability to follow laws and procedures
A crime scene investigation requires many procedures. The coroner must ensure that all parties to the investigation are following those procedures. Coroners must be familiar with the legal requirements for crime scene investigations. Legal ramifications can result from the improper handling of forensic evidence.
- Leadership
Forensic teams are often supervised by coroners. They must manage all aspects of the investigation and ensure that everyone is doing their job.
- Pathology Skills
Although each local government may have different requirements, most require at least basic skills in forensic pathology. In some states, like Louisiana, Ohio, and Kansas, coroners must obtain certification as forensic pathologists. However, in North Dakota’s highly populated counties, coroners must also be licensed doctors. In most cases, you won’t be performing autopsies as a coroner, but you will need to describe how the deceased died. Instead of stating that the deceased fell from a ladder, you could describe the cause as head trauma caused by a fall. Accidental deaths are also handled by most coroners. Pennsylvania is one example of a state where the coroner must hire a pathologist to conduct an autopsy and report the findings.
- People Skills
To be elected to this position, you will need to have a friendly disposition and a strong handshake. You must also be sensitive to grieving families. They often turn to the coroner for information about the death and next steps. The coroner is also responsible for ensuring that the deceased’s possessions are returned to their families. They often act as witnesses at cremations. It takes patience and gentleness to deal with grieving families.
How to Become a Coroner
- Get a high school diploma
This position requires a solid foundation in English, math, science, and history. It is a good idea to start planning in high school and take challenging courses to prepare. You might consider taking college prep courses or advanced placement courses that focus on science and math. Many high schools offer courses in anatomy, physiology, and introduction to healthcare. All of these courses will help you prepare for college and introduce you to the field.
- Completion of a relevant college degree program
A bachelor’s degree is required for coroners in any of the natural sciences such as biology, Chemistry, or Forensic Science. A graduate degree might be an option. American Academy of Forensic Sciences maintains a list of accredited educational institutions that offer degrees in forensic sciences. A coroner must have a medical degree to be licensed as a physician.
- Earn certifications
Depending on the law in your area, coroners might need to be certified as death investigators by an association such as the American Board of Medicolegal Dead Investigators.
Where to Work
Coroners work in offices, medical facilities and can also be found in crime scenes. They are often found in law enforcement, healthcare, and government.
Coroner Salary Scale
The average salary earned by a coroner in the U.S. is $66,425 annually.