Forensic Pathologist job description.
A Forensic Pathologist is a licensed physician who performs autopsies and examines evidence to determine cause and manner of death in cases involving sudden, violent, or unexplained deaths. They document findings for medical and legal purposes and may testify as an expert witness in court proceedings.
The Forensic Pathologist job description · $29
The full editable .docx — role summary, 8 worked responsibilities, qualifications, and skills, formatted for your letterhead. Delivered to your inbox within 24 hours — usually instantly.
Role: Forensic Pathologist Reports to: Chief Medical Examiner or County Coroner
A Forensic Pathologist is a licensed physician who performs autopsies and examines evidence to determine cause and manner of death in cases involving sudden, violent, or unexplained deaths. They document findings for medical and legal purposes and may testify as an expert witness in court proceedings.
- Perform autopsies to determine cause and manner of death
- Examine and document physical evidence found on or near the deceased
- Order and interpret toxicology, histology, and other diagnostic tests
What's inside the document.
One-paragraph plain-English explanation of the role's outcome and scope.
8 responsibilities phrased the way the work is actually done.
4 qualifications a candidate must have to perform on day 30.
3 qualifications that would make a candidate excellent in year two.
5 skill chips you can copy directly into your ATS.
Chief Medical Examiner or County Coroner
A complete document set.
- Word document (.docx) — fully editable
- PDF — signature-ready
- Google Docs — one-click copy to your Drive
- 12 months of updates to this document
- Commercial-use licence for internal and client work
The work, not the title.
- Perform autopsies to determine cause and manner of death
- Examine and document physical evidence found on or near the deceased
- Order and interpret toxicology, histology, and other diagnostic tests
- Prepare detailed autopsy reports for medical examiners, coroners, and law enforcement
- Testify as an expert witness in criminal or civil court proceedings as required
- Coordinate with law enforcement, coroners, and legal teams on death investigations
- Maintain chain-of-custody protocols for evidence and specimens
- Stay current with forensic pathology standards and best practices
Required — and what would make a candidate excellent.
- Doctor of Medicine (MD) or equivalent medical degree
- Completion of pathology residency and forensic pathology fellowship
- Current licensure/board certification as required by state and employer
- Strong analytical and report-writing skills
- Prior experience in a medical examiner or coroner's office
- Experience providing expert witness testimony
- Board certification in forensic pathology
Eight steps from download to publish.
- 01Open the Forensic Pathologist job description in Word or your one-click Google Docs copy.
- 02Replace placeholders for company name, reporting line, and location with your specifics.
- 03Tighten the summary to one paragraph that names the team's outcome, not just the role.
- 04Edit the responsibilities to match the actual scope of the seat — aim for 6 to 8 items, not 12.
- 05Separate required qualifications from preferred. Required is what a candidate must have to do the work on day 30; preferred is what would make them excellent in year two.
- 06Add salary range guidance using BLS, Payscale, or your own band data — do not copy generic figures.
- 07Have the hiring manager and one peer read it. Cut anything that wouldn't survive a candidate question.
- 08Publish to your ATS, intranet, and external careers page.
The right document at the right moment.
Use this Forensic Pathologist job description any time you are opening or reopening a seat at this level. The senior band sets the calibration — copy the document, tighten it to your specific scope, and circulate to the hiring panel before the first interview.
The reporting line (Chief Medical Examiner or County Coroner) and skills list are starting points. Override either if your org structure or stack differs from the norm — the template is a draft, not a contract.
Honest answers before you download.
- What licensure does a forensic pathologist need?
- Candidates need current licensure/board certification as required by the state and employer, typically including completion of a forensic pathology fellowship after residency.
- Who typically employs forensic pathologists?
- Medical examiner and coroner's offices, hospitals, and government agencies are the most common employers of this role.
Other documents in this neighbourhood.
Medical Examiner
A Medical Examiner investigates deaths that fall under legal jurisdiction, performing autopsies and forensic examinations to determine cause and manner of death.
Coroner
A coroner investigates deaths that occur under unclear, sudden, or suspicious circumstances to determine cause and manner of death.
Forensic Science Technician
A Forensic Science Technician collects and analyzes physical evidence from crime scenes to support criminal investigations.
This Forensic Pathologist job description is a professionally drafted starting point for your hiring process and is not legal advice. Hiring practice varies by jurisdiction (e.g. pay-transparency laws differ across US states and AU jurisdictions). Adapt this document for your specific location and have employment counsel review any clauses you add before publishing. Salary varies by region, employer type, and experience. Reference BLS or current industry surveys for ranges. Full disclaimer.