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The differences between medical examiners and 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 pathologist takes usually requires 4-6 years. Additionally, a medical examiner has an average salary of $156,092, which is higher than the $61,808 average annual salary of a pathologist.
The top three skills for a medical examiner include EKG, medical history and vital signs. The most important skills for a pathologist are patients, patient care, and diagnosis.
| Medical Examiner | Pathologist | |
| Yearly salary | $156,092 | $61,808 |
| Hourly rate | $75.04 | $29.72 |
| Growth rate | 16% | 7% |
| Number of jobs | 47,428 | 20,340 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 35% | Bachelor's Degree, 40% |
| Average age | 37 | 48 |
| Years of experience | 12 | 6 |
A medical examiner works with deceased bodies to determine the cause and time of death. They analyze available information, testify in court, act as an expert witness in various criminal and civil cases, and provide forensic evidence. They are generally only expected to investigate deaths that occur under suspicious circumstances, as not all deaths will require an autopsy.
Pathologists are medical healthcare professionals who are responsible for conducting examinations of bodies and body tissues. These pathologists must perform laboratory tests of body fluids and tissues to help primary care doctors make a diagnosis about the health of patients who are with chronic conditions. They specialize in genetic testing that will examine a tissue biopsy to determine whether a tumor is benign or cancerous. Pathologists must also perform autopsies to inform family members of the deceased about the cause of death and help them take preventive action for their own health.
Medical examiners and pathologists have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Medical Examiner | Pathologist | |
| Average salary | $156,092 | $61,808 |
| Salary range | Between $78,000 And $308,000 | Between $25,000 And $148,000 |
| Highest paying City | Boston, MA | Anchorage, AK |
| Highest paying state | Massachusetts | Alaska |
| Best paying company | Bexar County | UT Medical Group, Inc. |
| Best paying industry | - | - |
There are a few differences between a medical examiner and a pathologist in terms of educational background:
| Medical Examiner | Pathologist | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 35% | Bachelor's Degree, 40% |
| Most common major | Nursing | Physiology And Anatomy |
| Most common college | - | Stanford University |
Here are the differences between medical examiners' and pathologists' demographics:
| Medical Examiner | Pathologist | |
| Average age | 37 | 48 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 33.0% Female, 67.0% | Male, 40.7% Female, 59.3% |
| 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, 5.2% Unknown, 4.5% Hispanic or Latino, 9.9% Asian, 20.4% White, 59.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2% |
| LGBT Percentage | 6% | 13% |