Medical examiner vs forensic pathologist

The differences between medical examiners and forensic pathologists can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 6-12 months to become a medical examiner, becoming a forensic pathologist takes usually requires 1-2 years. Additionally, a medical examiner has an average salary of $156,092, which is higher than the $57,239 average annual salary of a forensic pathologist.

The top three skills for a medical examiner include EKG, medical history and vital signs. The most important skills for a forensic pathologist are body fluids, , and .

Medical examiner vs forensic pathologist overview

	Medical Examiner	Forensic Pathologist
Yearly salary	$156,092	$57,239
Hourly rate	$75.04	$27.52
Growth rate	16%	16%
Number of jobs	47,428	20,624
Job satisfaction	-	-
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 35%	Bachelor's Degree, 67%
Average age	37	46
Years of experience	12	2

Medical examiner vs forensic pathologist salary

Medical examiners and forensic pathologists have different pay scales, as shown below.

	Medical Examiner	Forensic Pathologist
Average salary	$156,092	$57,239
Salary range	Between $78,000 And $308,000	Between $26,000 And $122,000
Highest paying City	Boston, MA	-
Highest paying state	Massachusetts	-
Best paying company	Bexar County	-
Best paying industry	-	-

Differences between medical examiner and forensic pathologist education

There are a few differences between a medical examiner and a forensic pathologist in terms of educational background:

	Medical Examiner	Forensic Pathologist
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 35%	Bachelor's Degree, 67%
Most common major	Nursing	Biology
Most common college	-	Stanford University

Medical examiner vs forensic pathologist demographics

Here are the differences between medical examiners' and forensic pathologists' demographics:

	Medical Examiner	Forensic Pathologist
Average age	37	46
Gender ratio	Male, 33.0% Female, 67.0%	Male, 47.6% Female, 52.4%
Race ratio	Black or African American, 10.3% Unknown, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 20.7% Asian, 9.3% White, 54.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8%	Black or African American, 8.7% Unknown, 4.3% Hispanic or Latino, 11.4% Asian, 6.6% White, 68.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8%
LGBT Percentage	6%	12%

Differences between medical examiner and forensic pathologist duties and responsibilities

Medical examiner example responsibilities.

Adhere to OSHA guidelines while performing instrument sterilization in addition to managing medical inventory.
Perform medical exams such as EKG's, blood work, vitals and review medical history and paperwork with patients.
Assist in DNA case file management.
Train in phlebotomy and OSHA/HIPPA regulatory compliance procedures.
Perform independent thesis research to compare paraffin embed healthy and malignant tissue using mitochondrial and nuclear DNA testing.
Audit income and financial resources of elderly adults and disable applicants to determine financial eligibility for various levels of Medicaid coverage.

Forensic pathologist example responsibilities.

Supervise and manage pathology, microbiology and biochemistry laboratory.
Work independently under protocols for treatment to provide STI risk assessment, treatment, and prophylaxis including emergency contraception.
Work independently under protocols for treatment to provide STI risk assessment, treatment, and prophylaxis including emergency contraception.

Medical examiner vs forensic pathologist skills

Common medical examiner skills

EKG, 16%
Medical History, 10%
Vital Signs, 8%
Blood Pressure, 7%
Medical Exams, 7%
Death Certificates, 6%

Common forensic pathologist skills

Body Fluids, 100%

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Medical Examiner vs Forensic Pathologist

Updated January 8, 2025

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