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Medical examiner vs forensic toxicologist

The differences between medical examiners and forensic toxicologists 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 toxicologist takes usually requires 2-4 years. Additionally, a medical examiner has an average salary of $156,092, which is higher than the $70,179 average annual salary of a forensic toxicologist.

The top three skills for a medical examiner include EKG, medical history and vital signs. The most important skills for a forensic toxicologist are ms, laboratory equipment, and GC.

Medical examiner vs forensic toxicologist overview

Medical ExaminerForensic Toxicologist
Yearly salary$156,092$70,179
Hourly rate$75.04$33.74
Growth rate16%11%
Number of jobs47,428807
Job satisfaction-5
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 35%Bachelor's Degree, 81%
Average age3738
Years of experience124

Medical examiner vs forensic toxicologist salary

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

Medical ExaminerForensic Toxicologist
Average salary$156,092$70,179
Salary rangeBetween $78,000 And $308,000Between $39,000 And $123,000
Highest paying CityBoston, MA-
Highest paying stateMassachusetts-
Best paying companyBexar County-
Best paying industry--

Differences between medical examiner and forensic toxicologist education

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

Medical ExaminerForensic Toxicologist
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 35%Bachelor's Degree, 81%
Most common majorNursingChemistry
Most common college-University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Medical examiner vs forensic toxicologist demographics

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

Medical ExaminerForensic Toxicologist
Average age3738
Gender ratioMale, 33.0% Female, 67.0%Male, 53.1% Female, 46.9%
Race ratioBlack 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, 9.9% Unknown, 6.2% Hispanic or Latino, 15.8% Asian, 10.1% White, 56.9% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.1%
LGBT Percentage6%8%

Differences between medical examiner and forensic toxicologist 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.
  • Show more

Forensic toxicologist example responsibilities.

  • Perform Headspace GC analysis for presence and concentration determination of alcohols and other volatile substances in biological samples.
  • Used laboratory information management system (LIMS) to track casework and release results.
  • SOP's have to be constantly update and follow to detail to prepare the samples accurately before extraction.
  • Prepare samples for analysis through extraction of control substances from biological matrices.
  • Duplicate VHS tapes and various other types of media to DVD.
  • Perform confirmatory semen testing (p30 ELISA and microscopic slide searches for spermatozoa) on casework samples.

Medical examiner vs forensic toxicologist skills

Common medical examiner skills
  • EKG, 16%
  • Medical History, 10%
  • Vital Signs, 8%
  • Blood Pressure, 7%
  • Medical Exams, 7%
  • Death Certificates, 6%
Common forensic toxicologist skills
  • Ms, 23%
  • Laboratory Equipment, 13%
  • GC, 10%
  • LC, 9%
  • Sops, 7%
  • Immunoassay, 7%

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