How to Become a Coroner: Coroner Training, Requirements, and Salary Information

According to O*NET Online, a coroner is an individual who directs activities such as autopsies, pathological and toxicological analyses, and inquests relating to the investigation of deaths occurring within a legal jurisdiction to determine the cause of death or to fix responsibility for accidental, violent, or unexplained deaths.

Coroners are often the person who decides to initiate an investigation if they determine the cause of death to be questionable.

How to Become a Coroner

Some areas allow coroners the authorization to issue a subpoena and call a jury if necessary.

Coroners must work closely with law enforcement officials and public health officials.

Coroner Responsibilities

Local law determines the responsibilities of the coroner.

In some areas, coroners are called medical examiners, and the person performing coroner duties is a physician within the community.

There are some communities that do not require coroners to be physicians, and the individual will direct others to perform the necessary medical tests.

Coroners have many responsibilities, including directing investigations to find the causes of deaths that are violent, accidental, or unexplained.

The coroner will direct the technologist and physicians who perform tests and autopsies.

Additionally, a coroner may perform an autopsy or other tests to determine the time and cause of death and complete the certificate of death.

Education Requirements

Coroner training will require some type of formal education.

This includes a bachelor’s degree in a field such as criminology, anatomy, medicine, forensic science, experimental pathology, pathology, physiology, or pre-medicine.

For those who are interested in becoming a coroner, it is recommended that they start preparing for college while still in high school.

Taking college preparatory courses, especially in the science and math fields, can be extremely beneficial.

Some helpful courses to take in high school include physiology, anatomy, computer applications, foreign languages such as Latin, first aid, and an introduction to health care course.

Coroner Requirements by State

This table lists the coroner requirements for all 50 U.S. states:

StateRequirementsPosition TypeCertification RequiredCounty / State System
AlabamaMust be a resident and registered voter; no specific medical background requiredElectedNoCounty
AlaskaNo coroners; medical examiners must be licensed physiciansAppointedYesState
ArizonaMedical examiner system; must be a licensed physicianAppointedYesCounty
ArkansasMust be at least 18 years old and a resident; no specific medical background requiredElectedNoCounty
CaliforniaCoroners can be elected or appointed; in some counties, must be a physician; sheriff-coroner model in many areasElected or AppointedVariesCounty
ColoradoMust be a resident; some counties require medicolegal death investigator trainingElectedYes (in some counties)County
ConnecticutMedical examiner system; must be a licensed physician specializing in forensic pathologyAppointedYesState
DelawareState medical examiner system; must be a licensed physicianAppointedYesState
FloridaMust be a licensed physician with forensic pathology trainingAppointedYesDistrict
GeorgiaMust be 25+, high school diploma or equivalent, resident for 2+ yearsElectedYesCounty
HawaiiMedical examiner system in Honolulu; must be a licensed physician, preferably with forensic trainingAppointedYesCounty
IdahoMust be at least 21 and a resident; no medical degree required, training providedElectedYesCounty
IllinoisMust complete training; in Cook County, medical examiner must be a physicianElectedYesCounty
IndianaMust be a resident and complete basic training courseElectedYesCounty
IowaMust be licensed physician or designate a physician as medical examinerAppointedYesCounty
KansasCounty coroners appointed by board; must be licensed physiciansAppointedYesCounty
KentuckyMust be U.S. citizen, high school diploma or equivalent, and complete trainingElectedYesCounty
LouisianaMust be a resident physician or have a medical license depending on parishElectedYesParish
MaineMust be licensed physician with forensic pathology trainingAppointedYesState
MarylandOffice of the Chief Medical Examiner; all must be licensed physicians with forensic trainingAppointedYesState
MassachusettsChief Medical Examiner and associates must be licensed physicians with pathology specializationAppointedYesState
MichiganCounty medical examiner system; must be licensed physicianAppointedYesCounty
MinnesotaCounty medical examiners or coroners; coroners must be physicians, examiners are appointedElected or AppointedYesCounty
MississippiMust be 21, U.S. citizen, diploma or equivalent, and complete trainingElectedYesCounty
MissouriCoroners elected; in urban areas, medical examiners must be physiciansElected or AppointedYesCounty
MontanaMust undergo training; no specific requirements otherwiseElectedYesCounty
NebraskaCoroners are county attorneys by default; no medical training requiredBy default (county attorneys)NoCounty
NevadaCounty medical examiners; must be licensed physiciansAppointedYesCounty
New HampshireMedical examiner system; must be licensed physicians with forensic trainingAppointedYesState
New JerseyCounty medical examiner system; must be licensed physiciansAppointedYesCounty
New MexicoOffice of the Medical Investigator; must be licensed physicians with forensic trainingAppointedYesState
New YorkMedical examiners and coroners vary by county; some elected, some appointedElected or AppointedVariesCounty
North CarolinaMedical examiner system; physicians and pathologists, appointedAppointedYesCounty
North DakotaCounty coroners must be licensed physicians or designate a physicianAppointedYesCounty
OhioMust be licensed physicians with forensic trainingElectedYesCounty
OklahomaChief Medical Examiner must be licensed physician with forensic trainingAppointedYesState
OregonCounty medical examiners must be physicians or physician assistantsAppointedYesCounty
PennsylvaniaCoroners elected; some counties require licensed physicianElected or AppointedYesCounty
Rhode IslandMedical examiner system; must be licensed physician with forensic trainingAppointedYesState
South CarolinaMust be U.S. citizen, diploma or equivalent, and complete trainingElectedYesCounty
South DakotaCoroners appointed or elected; must complete trainingElected or AppointedYesCounty
TennesseeCounty medical examiners appointed; must be licensed physiciansAppointedYesCounty
TexasVaries by county; medical examiners are physicians; coroners may be JPsElected or AppointedYesCounty
UtahState medical examiner system; must be licensed physicians with forensic trainingAppointedYesState
VermontAppointed medical examiners; must be physicians or trained individuals under supervisionAppointedYesState
VirginiaMedical examiner system; must be licensed physicians with forensic trainingAppointedYesState
WashingtonMedical examiners in urban areas must be physicians; rural coroners have fewer requirementsElected or AppointedYesCounty
West VirginiaCounty coroners elected; must complete training; some are physiciansElectedYesCounty
WisconsinCoroners elected; in larger counties, medical examiners must be licensed physiciansElected or AppointedYesCounty
WyomingCoroners are elected; must complete training; no degree requiredElectedYesCounty

Note: Requirements may change periodically. Confirm with your local authority.

Becoming a Coroner

Most areas will require that the coroner be a medical doctor.

This means that someone seeking this position will need to go to medical school and become a licensed physician.

This can take up to 8 years of additional schooling beyond high school to complete.

To enter medical school, a person will first have to complete their bachelor’s degree.

It is recommended that a person major in pre-medicine or another type of science degree.

A person who chooses a liberal arts major will need to make sure to take the required chemistry, biology, and physics courses.

In addition to education requirements, to be a coroner, one will also need to have work experience in the medical field.

Most places require a person who is interested in becoming a coroner to have a certification in forensic pathology and a medical license.

On-the-job training is often required as well.

Coroner positions may be an appointed position or an elected position.

This will be determined by the area that a person lives in.

Most often, it is required that a coroner remain on call to help police officers and health officials when the need arises.

U.S. Average Salary: $75260

$45.6KK
$50.1KK
$75.3KK
$82.8KK
$91.1KK
10%
25%
50%
75%
90%

Salary Information by State

State Employed Avg. Annual Salary Avg. Hourly Pay Top 10% Annual Salary Bottom 10% Annual Salary
Alabama160$61,120$29.39$82,620$38,910
Arizona880$68,880$33.12$109,850$45,590
Arkansas170$48,610$23.37$62,370$39,680
California3,100$99,390$47.79$137,020$61,380
Connecticut120$82,350$39.59$105,530$40,450
Florida2,440$64,620$31.07$90,570$39,890
Georgia540$61,420$29.53$83,600$39,060
Idaho170$72,720$34.96$112,390$41,000
Illinois380$106,120$51.02$147,370$57,590
Indiana300$67,390$32.40$90,130$40,750
Iowa130$66,110$31.78$97,220$34,240
Kansas200$72,710$34.96$99,720$49,620
Kentucky60$57,210$27.51$70,670$46,980
Louisiana230- NA -- NA -- NA -- NA -
Maine30$62,310$29.96$74,320$44,470
Maryland410$82,730$39.78$110,760$58,440
Massachusetts270$80,590$38.74$105,010$60,560
Michigan690$85,070$40.90$198,320$36,500
Minnesota110$72,550$34.88$101,150$50,530
Mississippi120$57,480$27.64$82,890$36,950
Missouri280$64,690$31.10$87,420$45,360
Montana60$70,190$33.74$97,670$38,470
Nebraska120$63,880$30.71$80,080$45,140
Nevada330$82,350$39.59$127,890$52,350
New Jersey50$59,480$28.60$81,190$40,650
New Mexico200$65,990$31.73$96,410$44,490
New York1,120$80,470$38.69$101,370$60,680
North Carolina520$56,290$27.06$77,720$42,720
North Dakota30$74,900$36.01$95,680$54,410
Ohio470$89,330$42.95$118,100$50,720
Oklahoma110$65,750$31.61$95,690$43,990
Oregon110$81,460$39.17$129,220$53,090
Pennsylvania440$61,090$29.37$84,410$40,260
South Carolina130$52,170$25.08$69,510$37,490
South Dakota30$49,450$23.77$80,050$24,960
Tennessee320$78,510$37.75$127,040$45,830
Texas1,990$58,040$27.90$79,900$40,290
Utah210$66,970$32.20$88,940$45,960
Vermont30$71,560$34.41$91,540$54,680
Virginia740$73,340$35.26$107,210$46,900
Washington340$78,550$37.76$103,650$58,090
West Virginia90$59,760$28.73$80,550$38,190
Wisconsin280$66,100$31.78$95,470$50,210
Wyoming50$64,700$31.10$88,510$45,870

Annual Average Salary: Top 10 States

Illinois tops the list in this field, with an average salary of $106,120.

These are the leading 10 states in terms of earnings in the field:

Illinois - $106,120
California - $99,390
Ohio - $89,330
Michigan - $85,070
Maryland - $82,730
Connecticut - $82,350
Nevada - $82,350
Oregon - $81,460
Massachusetts - $80,590
New York - $80,470
* Salary information based on the May 2024 Occupational Employment Statistics (OES) Survey for Forensic Science Technicians, OCC Code 19-4092, BLS.
* Employment conditions in your area may vary.

Michael Morales
Michael is the Webmaster and Editor in Chief for Legalcareerpath.com. With a strong background in Web Publishing and Internet Marketing, he currently works as an independent consultant. A former paramedic and EMS educator, he enjoys punishing himself doing triathlons and endurance sports. Michael currently lives in sunny Northern California, home of the highest tax rates in the United States.

One Response to How to Become a Coroner: Coroner Training, Requirements, and Salary Information

  1. Casen Marsh #

    Coroners play a vital role in our legal system and society by helping to ensure that the truth is revealed in cases of suspicious or unexplained deaths.

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