Also called: Medical Examiner, Coroner Physician
A doctor who performs autopsies to figure out how and why someone died.
Forensic pathologists examine bodies in suspicious, violent, or unexplained deaths, study wounds and toxicology, and testify in court about cause of death. There is a national shortage of them.
Estimate; shortage drives high pay.
Professional degree (MD, JD, DVM…), about 13 years after high school. Medical school plus pathology residency and a forensic pathology fellowship (about 13 years after high school).
Ways in: 4-year college, Professional school. Training cost: Over $150k.
Majors to look at: Biology, Chemistry, Pre-Medicine.
Growing about average (about 3% over 10 years).
Low risk for 10 years. AI may help read scans and slides, but autopsies, cause-of-death rulings and court testimony stay with licensed doctors amid a shortage.
Classes: AP Biology, AP Chemistry, Anatomy & Physiology, Mock Trial.
Official data: O*NET occupation 29-1222.
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.