Occupation Summary

Coroners

O*NET 13-1041.06

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.

Annual Wages:
$78,542.00
Employment Rate:
Employment is expected to increase by 14.68%.
Education Level:
Bachelor's Degree. According to O*Net, the majority of people employed in this occupation have this level of education.
Endorsement:
Public Service

  1. 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.
  2. Inquire into the cause, manner, and circumstances of human deaths and establish the identities of deceased persons.
  3. Complete death certificates, including the assignment of cause and manner of death.
  4. Observe and record the positions and conditions of bodies and related evidence.
  5. Collect and document any pertinent medical history information.
  6. Observe, record, and preserve any objects or personal property related to deaths, including objects such as medication containers and suicide notes.
  7. Complete reports and forms required to finalize cases.
  8. Remove or supervise removal of bodies from death scenes, using the proper equipment and supplies, and arrange for transportation to morgues.
  9. Interview persons present at death scenes to obtain information useful in determining the manner of death.
  10. Testify at inquests, hearings, and court trials.
  11. Provide information concerning the circumstances of death to relatives of the deceased.
  12. Locate and document information regarding the next of kin, including their relationship to the deceased and the status of notification attempts.
  13. Confer with officials of public health and law enforcement agencies to coordinate interdepartmental activities.
  14. Inventory personal effects recovered from bodies, such as jewelry or wallets.
  15. Coordinate the release of personal effects to authorized persons and facilitate the disposition of unclaimed corpses and personal effects.
  16. Arrange for the next of kin to be notified of deaths.
  17. Record the disposition of minor children, as well as details of arrangements made for their care.
  18. Collect wills, burial instructions, and other documentation needed for investigations and for handling of the remains.
  19. Witness and certify deaths that are the result of a judicial order.
  20. Direct activities of workers conducting autopsies, performing pathological and toxicological analyses, and preparing documents for permanent records.

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National Industry Employment Patterns


Industry % of Coroners employed Annual Growth Rate
Insurance carriers 4.1 0.63
Management, scientific, and technical consulting services 3.3 1.08
Employment services 2.3 0.23
Colleges, universities, and professional schools 2.3 0.34
General medical and surgical hospitals 2.1 0.37
Agencies, brokerages, and other insurance related activities 2.1 1.41


Labor Market Information


2024 Statewide average hourly wage $37.76
2024 National average hourly wage $40.86
2022 National employment 377,500
2022 Texas employment 33,838
Texas projected employment by 2032 38,804
Texas projected annual employment and Turnover openings through 2032 3,250




TEXAS COUNTY MAP BY WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT AREA
* Due to confidentiality rules, not all regions may have the data displayed. The sum of all the regions may not be equal to the state total.


Top 10 Relevant Knowledge Areas Relevant Importance Levels
English Language
Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
92.00%
Medicine and Dentistry
Knowledge of the information and techniques needed to diagnose and treat human injuries, diseases, and deformities. This includes symptoms, treatment alternatives, drug properties and interactions, and preventive health-care measures.
91.00%
Customer and Personal Service
Knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services. This includes customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction.
88.40%
Law and Government
Knowledge of laws, legal codes, court procedures, precedents, government regulations, executive orders, agency rules, and the democratic political process.
83.00%
Biology
Knowledge of plant and animal organisms, their tissues, cells, functions, interdependencies, and interactions with each other and the environment.
78.00%
Administration and Management
Knowledge of business and management principles involved in strategic planning, resource allocation, human resources modeling, leadership technique, production methods, and coordination of people and resources.
78.00%
Education and Training
Knowledge of principles and methods for curriculum and training design, teaching and instruction for individuals and groups, and the measurement of training effects.
77.00%
Administrative
Knowledge of administrative and office procedures and systems such as word processing, managing files and records, stenography and transcription, designing forms, and workplace terminology.
76.00%
Public Safety and Security
Knowledge of relevant equipment, policies, procedures, and strategies to promote effective local, state, or national security operations for the protection of people, data, property, and institutions.
75.00%
Sociology and Anthropology
Knowledge of group behavior and dynamics, societal trends and influences, human migrations, ethnicity, cultures, and their history and origins.
71.00%


Top 10 Relevant Skill Areas Relevant Importance Levels
Speaking
Talking to others to convey information effectively.
82.40%
Critical Thinking
Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions, or approaches to problems.
82.40%
Reading Comprehension
Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work-related documents.
80.00%
Active Listening
Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
77.60%
Coordination
Adjusting actions in relation to others' actions.
75.00%
Social Perceptiveness
Being aware of others' reactions and understanding why they react as they do.
72.40%
Writing
Communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience.
72.40%
Judgment and Decision Making
Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.
70.00%
Active Learning
Understanding the implications of new information for both current and future problem-solving and decision-making.
67.60%
Complex Problem Solving
Identifying complex problems and reviewing related information to develop and evaluate options and implement solutions.
67.60%


Top 10 Relevant Abilities Relevant Importance Levels
Oral Comprehension
The ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences.
82.40%
Written Comprehension
The ability to read and understand information and ideas presented in writing.
82.40%
Oral Expression
The ability to communicate information and ideas in speaking so others will understand.
80.00%
Written Expression
The ability to communicate information and ideas in writing so others will understand.
80.00%
Deductive Reasoning
The ability to apply general rules to specific problems to produce answers that make sense.
80.00%
Inductive Reasoning
The ability to combine pieces of information to form general rules or conclusions (includes finding a relationship among seemingly unrelated events).
80.00%
Information Ordering
The ability to arrange things or actions in a certain order or pattern according to a specific rule or set of rules (e.g., patterns of numbers, letters, words, pictures, mathematical operations).
77.60%
Problem Sensitivity
The ability to tell when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong. It does not involve solving the problem, only recognizing that there is a problem.
77.60%
Near Vision
The ability to see details at close range (within a few feet of the observer).
77.60%
Flexibility of Closure
The ability to identify or detect a known pattern (a figure, object, word, or sound) that is hidden in other distracting material.
75.00%


  • Getting Information
    -- Observing, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources.
  • Documenting/Recording Information
    -- Entering, transcribing, recording, storing, or maintaining information in written or electronic/magnetic form.
  • Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates
    -- Providing information to supervisors, co-workers, and subordinates by telephone, in written form, e-mail, or in person.
  • Communicating with People Outside the Organization
    -- 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.
  • Making Decisions and Solving Problems
    -- Analyzing information and evaluating results to choose the best solution and solve problems.
Other Activities


  • Achievement
    - Occupations that satisfy this work value are results oriented and allow employees to use their strongest abilities, giving them a feeling of accomplishment. Corresponding needs are Ability Utilization and Achievement.
  • Independence
    - Occupations that satisfy this work value allow employees to work on their own and make decisions. Corresponding needs are Creativity, Responsibility and Autonomy.



Tools

Autopsy chisels or osteotomes: Skull chisels;

Autopsy dissection forceps for general use: Dissection forceps; Toothed forceps;

Autopsy fluid collection vacuum aspirators or tubing: Autopsy fluid collection vacuum aspirators;

Autopsy hanging scales: Digital autopsy scales; Specimen scales;

Autopsy knives or blades: Dissecting knives; Autopsy knives;

Autopsy saws: Rib cutters; Stryker saws; Autopsy saws; Bone cutters; Autopsy bone saws;

Autopsy scissors: Autopsy scissors; Dissection scissors; Enterotomes;

Autopsy specimen bags or containers: Specimen collection containers;

Benchtop centrifuges: Tabletop centrifuges;

Binocular light compound microscopes: Binocular light compound microscopes;

Biological evidence collection kits: Autopsy evidence collection kits;

Bone dust collectors: Bone dust collectors;

Cadaver lifter or transfer devices: Cadaver lifts;

Desktop computers: Desktop computers;

Dictation machines: Dictation equipment;

Digital camcorders or video cameras: Digital video cameras;

Digital cameras: Digital cameras;

Facial shields: Protective eye shields;

Floor or platform scales: Floor scales;

Laboratory staining dishes or jars: Staining dishes;

Medical staff aprons or bibs: Protective coveralls;

Medical x ray units for general diagnostic use: Portable x ray machines;

Microscope slides: Microscope slides;

Notebook computers: Laptop computers;

Personal computers: Personal computers;

Postmortem blood detection kits or supplies: Postmortem blood drawing syringes;

Postmortem fingerprint or impression materials: Postmortem fingerprint equipment;

Postmortem needles: Postmortem suturing needles;

Still cameras: 35 millimeter cameras;

Surgical gloves: Surgical gloves;

Surgical isolation or surgical masks: Surgical masks;

Surgical scalpels or knives or blades or trephines: Surgical scalpels;

Triple beam balances: Triple beam balances;


Technology

Analytical or scientific software: Bite analysis software;

Customer relationship management CRM software: Customer relationship management CRM software;

Data base reporting software: Microsoft SQL Server Reporting Services SSRS;

Data base user interface and query software: Structured query language SQL; Toxicology databases; Transact-SQL; Rapid Medical Examiners System; Douglas Associates Forensic Filer; Alcestis; Autopsy information databases; Fingerprint databases; Genetic database software; Ingenuware CoronerBase;

Document management software: EMC Documentum;

Electronic mail software: Email software;

File versioning software: Git;

Graphics or photo imaging software: 3D graphics software; Graphics software; Mideo Systems EZDoc Plus;

Internet browser software: Web browser software;

Office suite software: Corel WordPerfect Office Suite; Microsoft Office software;

Operating system software: Linux; Google Android; UNIX;

Presentation software: Microsoft PowerPoint;

Spreadsheet software: Microsoft Excel; Spreadsheet software;

Video conferencing software: Zoom;

Word processing software: Word processing software; Microsoft Word;


Related O*NET occupational titles for Coroners include:
  • 13-1041.00 Compliance Officers
  • 33-3021.00 Detectives and Criminal Investigators
  • 13-1041.01 Environmental Compliance Inspectors
  • 19-4092.00 Forensic Science Technicians
  • 13-1041.04 Government Property Inspectors and Investigators
  • 29-2072.00 Medical Records Specialists
  • 33-3051.00 Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers
  • 33-3021.02 Police Identification and Records Officers
  • 33-9021.00 Private Detectives and Investigators
  • 13-1041.07 Regulatory Affairs Specialists


Sources of Additional Information
  • For more information about compliance careers in federal, state, or local government, contact the appropriate government agency.
  • For more information about corporate compliance jobs, visit: Society of Corporate Compliance and Ethics
  • CareerOneStop

  • For career videos on compliance officers, visit: Compliance Officers
  • Equal Opportunity Representatives and Officers
  • Government Property Inspectors and Investigators
  • Compliance Officers
  • Coroners
  • Customs Brokers
  • Environmental Compliance Inspectors
  • Equal Opportunity Representatives and Officers
  • Government Property Inspectors and Investigators
  • Regulatory Affairs Specialists

  • Contact Texas Workforce Commission
    Labor Market and Career Information  |  101 E. 15th Street, Annex Room 0252  |  Austin, Texas 78778
    Official Website  |  1-800-822-PLAN (7526)  |  512.936.3200

    ** The information in this report may be derived from many sources like O*NET, BLS (Bureau of Labor Statistics), OOH (Occupational Outlook Handbook), and Career One Stop.