Description
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.
Interests
- Investigative
- Conventional
- Realistic
Work Values
- Independence
- Achievement
- Support
Work Styles
- Integrity
- Attention to Detail
- Stress Tolerance
- Adaptability/Flexibility
- Dependability
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 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.
Work Activities
- Getting Information
- Documenting/Recording Information
- Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates
- Communicating with People Outside the Organization
- Making Decisions and Solving Problems
Detailed Work Activities
- Observing, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources.
- Entering, transcribing, recording, storing, or maintaining information in written or electronic/magnetic form.
- Providing information to supervisors, co-workers, and subordinates by telephone, in written form, e-mail, or in person.
- Communicating with people outside the organization, representing the organization to customers, the public, government, and other external sources. This information can be exchanged in person, in writing, or by telephone or e-mail.
- Analyzing information and evaluating results to choose the best solution and solve problems.
- Performing for people or dealing directly with the public. This includes serving customers in restaurants and stores, and receiving clients or guests.
- Keeping up-to-date technically and applying new knowledge to your job.
- Identifying information by categorizing, estimating, recognizing differences or similarities, and detecting changes in circumstances or events.
- Compiling, coding, categorizing, calculating, tabulating, auditing, or verifying information or data.
- Using computers and computer systems (including hardware and software) to program, write software, set up functions, enter data, or process information.
Technology Skills
- Data base user interface and query software
- Video conferencing software
- Graphics or photo imaging software
- Operating system software
- Office suite software
Abilities
- Oral Comprehension
- Written Comprehension
- Deductive Reasoning
- Inductive Reasoning
- Oral Expression
Skills
- Critical Thinking
- Speaking
- Reading Comprehension
- Active Listening
- Coordination
Knowledge
- English Language
- Medicine and Dentistry
- Customer and Personal Service
- Law and Government
- Administration and Management
Most Common Education Level
The “Most Common Education Level” refers to the level of education held by the majority of workers in a given occupation. For example, if the highest percentage of workers in a role have an Associate’s Degree, that suggests this is the typical educational requirement. Knowing this helps you plan how many years of education you may need to pursue that career.
Certificates
Certificate name
Medical Examiner CertificationCertifying Organization
Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration
Type
Advanced
Certificate name
Certified Medical Investigator IIICertifying Organization
American College of Forensic Examiners
Type
Advanced
Certificate name
National Board of Medical Examiners - DiplomateCertifying Organization
National Board of Medical Examiners
Type
Advanced
Certificate name
Certified Independent Medical ExaminerCertifying Organization
American Board of Independent Medical Examiners
Type
Specialty
Certificate name
Diplomate of the American Board of ToxicologyCertifying Organization
American Board of Toxicology, Inc.
Type
Advanced
Income Percentile
The income percentiles show how earnings are distributed within a profession. The 10th percentile means that 10% of workers earned less than that amount. The median (50th percentile) indicates that half of workers earned more, and half earned less. The 90th percentile reflects what the top 10% of earners in the field make.
| Income Percentile | Annual Income |
|---|---|
| Low (10%) | $50,211 |
| Median (50%) | $77,218 |
| High (90%) | $142,495 |
Income by Experience
This table shows how income typically grows with experience—from entry level (0–2 years), to mid-level (3–5 years), to senior level (6–8 years), to expert level (8+ years).
| Experience | Income |
|---|---|
Entry Level  | N/A |
| Mid Level | N/A |
| Senior Level | N/A |
| Expert Level | N/A |
Employability
There are currently 403,900 jobs in this career path. Over the next 10 years, that number is expected to increase to 425,800 positions, reflecting a projected growth of 5%.
The Projected Job Growth figure refers to the expected increase or decrease in employment within a specific career field over a certain period of time.
Projected Job Growth of 5%
Related Careers
The career information and data on this site incorporates information from O*NET Web Services, Lightcast, CareerOneStop, and the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). For more details regarding the data sources and the specific information sourced, click here.
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