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.
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 unexplaine. The role reports a median annual salary of $78,420 in the US and is projected to grow 3% over the next decade (about as fast as average). Entry typically requires a Bachelor's degree, and shows low AI exposure (0.35 on a 0-1 scale) — the role's core work resists automation. The most in-demand skills for the role include human anatomy, perform forensic examinations, compile legal documents, comply with legal regulations, provide testimony in court hearings.
Pay in the UK
UK: median £33,000 a year for National government administrative occupations (ONS ASHE 2025, full-time)
Middle half of full-time jobs: £29,021 to £41,617 a year
UK jobs are grouped differently; this is the closest UK occupation group (ONS SOC 2020 4111). ONS rates this estimate precise. 2025 provisional figures; ONS revises them a year later. Source: ONS Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings (Open Government Licence)
Pay in India (occupation group)
Average monthly earnings of salaried employees in the occupation group “Technicians and associate professionals” in India, from the Government of India's Periodic Labour Force Survey (January–December 2025). It covers everyone in this group, not only Coroners, and it is not US pay converted to rupees.
Source: MoSPI (Government of India), Periodic Labour Force Survey Annual Report 2025, Table 51 — average wage/salary earnings of regular wage/salaried employees, NCO-2015 division 3. Official India data gives one average per occupation group: there are no official India figures for single careers, experience levels or cities. Read the report
How to get here in India
No single fixed route is listed for this career. These Indian degrees lead to it, according to the US CIP–SOC education-to-occupation crosswalk; open a degree for its entrance exams and colleges.[1]
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Environmental Science — B.Sc / B.Sc (Hons) in Environmental Science (three or four years)
Entrance exams: CUET-UG
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Human Resource Management — BBA with an HR specialisation (three or four years)
Entrance exams: CUET-UG, IPMAT
Rules change: check the exam body's and regulator's current notice before you apply.
- CIP 2020 – SOC 2018 crosswalk (NCES / BLS) (read on 2026-09-27)
Top skills
Knowledge you'll build
- English Language
- Medicine and Dentistry
- Customer and Personal Service
- Law and Government
- Biology
- Administration and Management
- Education and Training
- Administrative
A day in the life
You start the morning reviewing reports of deaths that came in overnight, deciding which ones need further investigation. At a death scene you observe and record the position of the body and any signs that might explain what happened, then speak with the people who were present. You arrange for the body to be removed respectfully and taken to the mortuary. By late morning you carry out an examination, noting injuries and taking samples for toxicology tests. After lunch you review medical records and police reports to establish the person's identity and the circumstances of their death. Then you meet a grieving family, explaining gently what you have found so far and what will happen next. Later you complete a death certificate, recording the cause and manner of death, and prepare notes for an inquest. The work is emotionally heavy and demands great care, but giving families honest answers and supporting justice is deeply meaningful.
In India: In India inquests into sudden or suspicious deaths are usually conducted by the police or a magistrate, while post-mortem examinations are carried out by forensic medicine doctors, often in government hospitals.
Illustrative: one typical day, written from the O*NET task statements for this occupation. Real days vary by employer and seniority.
What you'd actually do
- Complete death certificates, including the assignment of cause and manner of death.
- Perform medicolegal examinations and autopsies, conducting preliminary examinations of the body to identify victims, locate signs of trauma, and identify factors that would indicate time of death.
- Interview persons present at death scenes to obtain information useful in determining the manner of death.
- Observe and record the positions and conditions of bodies and related evidence.
- Provide information concerning the circumstances of death to relatives of the deceased.
- Remove or supervise removal of bodies from death scenes, using the proper equipment and supplies, and arrange for transportation to morgues.
Tools & technology you'd use
Frequently asked questions
What does Coroners do?
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.
What does a typical day look like in Coroners?
You start the morning reviewing reports of deaths that came in overnight, deciding which ones need further investigation. At a death scene you observe and record the position of the body and any signs that might explain what happened, then speak with the people who were present. You arrange for the body to be removed respectfully and taken to the mortuary. By late morning you carry out an examination, noting injuries and taking samples for toxicology tests.
How much does Coroners earn?
The median annual salary for Coroners in the US is $78,420.
What is the job outlook for Coroners?
The role is projected to grow 3% over the next decade (about as fast as average). Current US employment is approximately 418,000 workers.
How do I become a coroners?
The typical entry education is a Bachelor's degree. Building a foundation in the top skills below will strengthen your application.
What skills does Coroners need?
The most in-demand skills for this role include human anatomy, perform forensic examinations, compile legal documents, comply with legal regulations, provide testimony in court hearings, maintain work area cleanliness. These are the skills O*NET identifies as most important for competent performance.
Will AI replace Coroners?
Our AI-durability model gives Coroners a score of 0.35 on a 0-1 scale (higher = more exposure). That places it at low AI exposure — the role's core work resists current-generation automation. It's a comparatively AI-durable choice within its field.
How hard is it to enter this field?
Coroners has moderate barrier to entry — moderately gated — a bachelor's degree or equivalent training is typically required.