A forensic medical examiner specializes in examining the bodies of people that are victims of sudden and unexpected deaths. These are deaths that can usually be depicted as violent and in clearer terms, murdered. What a forensic medical examiner does is provide scientific evaluations for evidence that can be used to assist investigations done by law enforcement. Comparing DNA profiles and samples as well as documenting them. Let’s learn about ‘Salaries For Forensic Medical Examiner’.
Salaries For Forensic Medical Examiner
The level of importance that the job of a forensic medical examiner is quite high they would make a lot of money. Due to the importance of forensic medical examiners, their average salary in the United States is 96,000 dollars per year. Although it is not as high in demand in certain places and the salary can be as low as 14,000 dollars per year, there are places with higher demand where they can make as much as 425,000 dollars per year.
What are the steps to becoming a forensic medical examiner?
- As with most professions, the first step is to graduate from high school and get yourself an undergraduate degree in biological sciences, chemistry, and anything else that may be relevant.
- Finish medical school once you are done with the undergraduate degree as it is important.
- Earn your medical license because you cannot work without it.
- Start and finish a full-time residency so that you may practice more independently while also gaining experience.
- Apply for a fellowship to become a forensic medical examiner.
- Build your connections and widen your network as being a forensic medical examiner is quite competitive.
How much does a forensic medical examiner make in terms of salary?
Moving all outside factors aside, the average salary that a forensic medical examiner can make per year is 96,000 dollars. This is including the bonus where the base pay is 74,000 dollars per year and the bonus pay is 22,000 dollars per year. The quality of life and standard of living of a forensic medical examiner is high. Since the salary of a forensic medical examiner is around 6,500 dollars per month and renting an apartment with two bedrooms would cost 2,500 dollars per month, then a forensic medical examiner would take home 62% of their salary. Just a small percentage of 38% would go to the salary.
Which cities in the United States does a forensic medical examiner have it better or worse in terms of pay?
There are a few cities in the United States where jobs for a forensic medical examiner pay more or less than the United States average. Washington, DC, and Boston pay a large number more than the national average to the forensic medical examiners working in their cities, where jobs in Boston pay 11% more than the United States average and Washington, DC pays 26% more.
While these are the cities with the highest paying jobs for a forensic medical examiner, there are some cities with just a slightly lower raise in salary and a city with jobs that are not in demand as much for a forensic medical examiner and hence paid less. Jobs for a forensic medical examiner in Denver, New York, and Chicago pay 10%, 7%, and 8% respectively more than the United States average of 96,000 dollars.
Since Houston is the only city where a forensic medical examiner is paid 23% less than the average salary in the United States, it is safe to say that there are fewer opportunities and demand for a forensic medical examiner there.
What does the difference in percentage from the average mean for the quality of living of a forensic medical examiner?
Depending on which city you are in, the quality of life can differ greatly. Houston, for example, is where a forensic medical examiner gets paid less in by 23% of the United States average. This means that they get paid 74,000 per year which is the base pay. The reason it is not higher is due to not getting any bonuses in their line of work in this city only.
Despite the salary that is lower than the average, the money they take home per month is 5,000 dollars and the amount paid for an apartment is quite low, amounting only to 1,000 dollars per month. This would mean that a forensic medical examiner keeps 81% of their monthly payments. In the worst-case scenario where the cost of living would increase when taking care of a family, a forensic medical examiner would keep 1,300 dollars of their monthly salary while the rest goes to a home.
In Denver on the other hand, since a forensic medical examiner is paid 10% more amounting to 106,000 dollars per year, the base pay is 84,000 dollars per year while the bonus is roughly the same at 22,000 dollars per year. This is due to the high demand for this job and the quality of living is much better since a forensic medical examiner would take home 7,000 dollars per month and renting an apartment with two beds would cost 1,350 dollars per month. Even in the worst-case scenario of taking care of a family, the salary left per month would be around 2,500 dollars as income.
Washington, DC is where a forensic medical examiner would have more opportunities mainly due to the increase in base pay, reaching up to 98,000 dollars per year and a bonus of 23,000 dollars amounting to 121,000 dollars per year. The quality of life is just as good as renting an apartment with two bedrooms costs 1,500 dollars per month and they would only pay 20% of their 7,400 dollars per month in salary. Taking care of a family would leave a 1,800 dollar income.
Conclusion
Now we’ve learnt about ‘Salaries For Forensic Medical Examiner’, In conclusion, being a forensic medical examiner pays well in many states and allows you to live comfortably. Despite this, studying to become one is a long and hard road but the returns will be better, and the opportunities will be vast.
Frequently Asked Questions:
- How much is the base pay of a forensic medical examiner?
The average base pay is 74,000 dollars per year. That may differ by state.
- Does a forensic medical examiner get any bonuses?
The highest bonus an examiner can get is around 23,000 dollars per year.
- Which city offers the best opportunities?
Washington, DC has better opportunities for a forensic medical examiner.
