What Is the Yearly Salary of a Coroner?

A coroner's job is to investigate the circumstances involving a death. The coroner oversees investigative functions, such as autopsies and toxicological and pathological procedures. The coroner also testifies when necessary in court or at inquests. The coroner may be required to have medical or legal education depending on the requirements of the local community. A coroner's salary varies based on such factors as community size and location.

Considerations

• The average yearly salary range for a coroner spans from approximately $37,000 to $62,000, although large cities typically pay higher than the average. According to PayScale.com, an online career website, this salary may include bonus amounts ranging from $814 to $4,839 a year. This data is from October 2010. Twenty-three percent of the employed coroners are women and 77 percent are men. Women in this position have an average high salary of $51,270 compared to a high for men of $68,748.

Types

• A coroner's pay may vary based on the type of employer. Government positions tend to have a slightly higher salary range, from $43,170 to $66,209. A hospital pays in the range of $42,091 to $64,000. The lowest range is in public law offices, which pay from $39,767 to $61,608.

Politics

• Depending on where you live, you may have a coroner who was hired by the county or city or you may have an elected coroner. An example of this issue is highlighted in the "GazetteXtra" of Janesville, Wisconsin (see References). The decision by local officials may have an impact on the coroner's yearly salary. If the position is an elected position, the person may not be required to have a medical degree. A person hired for the position would typically need to have a degree and would require a higher salary.

Geography

• An important determination for the salary of a coroner is where the job is located. A large city has more demand for coroners and a person in the position may garner a larger wage. For example, PayScale.com shows that a coroner in New York City makes approximately $120,000 per year. As a state average, Texas pays approximately $80,000 a year.

Experience

• More experienced coroners tend to make more than inexperienced ones, although other factors, such as where a person works, may have a bigger effect on salary than experience alone. A person with one to four years of experience has a salary range of $29,810 to $55,028. A person with 20 or more years of experience has a salary range of $45,000 to $75,000.