Also called: Morgue Technician, Forensic Autopsy Assistant
Assists pathologists during autopsies at medical examiner offices and hospital morgues, preparing bodies, taking X-rays and collecting samples.
Prepares bodies, takes X-rays and photos, assists the pathologist with the examination, collects samples, and cleans the suite afterward.
Estimate.
Approximate: anchored on Bureau of Labor Statistics data for a broader job group.
High school diploma, about 1 year after high school. High school diploma; associate in mortuary science or biology helps.
Ways in: On-the-job training, 2-year college. Training cost: Get paid while you train.
Majors to look at: Mortuary Science (associate), Biology.
Growing faster than average (about 5% over 10 years). Estimate.
Low risk for 10 years. Preparing bodies and assisting autopsies is hands-on; virtual autopsy CT adds work rather than replacing it.
Age 18+. One way to start: Apply on your county medical examiner or hospital jobs page for morgue or autopsy assistant openings First: Government or hospital background check; hiring usually takes several weeks and openings are few
Classes: Biology, Anatomy and physiology, Health science CTE.
Official data: O*NET occupation 31-9099.
Career Universe is an early version. Pay, training and AI-risk figures are estimates to start your own research, not verified facts. The research was written with AI research assistants, checked by validation scripts and spot-checked by hand. Check anything important with schools, employers and official sources. How the numbers work.