Salary and Job Description

Forensic pathologists are for mostly medical professionals who generally specialize in pathology (the study of diseases in the body). Only recently have specific forensic pathology training programs emerged, due to the realization by the justice system of the need for full-time forensic pathologists.

Forensic pathologists are a combination of a doctor and a detective. They work with legal and crime departments to help find out the cause of death when it has been disputed, such as in cases of murder or suicide. Although the general skills required to be a forensic pathologist are practically the same as a clinical pathologist, there are considerable differences in the nature of work that is carried out. The end result that forensic pathologists are trying to achieve is the completion and solving of a criminal case through the judicial process.

Forensic pathologists play a vital role in the criminal justice system. Technically their main role is to undertake the post mortem autopsy of bodies found in ‘suspicious circumstances’, these include murder, infanticide and manslaughter. However, their judgment on a particular death can be a huge step in deciding who wins or loses a case, and these are usually for some of the most serious crimes in society.

Forensic pathologists are often called upon to give an expert opinion in court, which many can find very hard, as their opinions may have a huge affect on the outcome of a case – which is a huge responsibility for anyone. Forensic pathologists must be trained in the legal process of investigation on top of their extensive training in the medical field. In the past most forensic pathologists have just gained legal expertise from experience, but an increasing amount of training courses are including sections on the legal system. Many universities are now offering joint Law and Medicine courses, including the prestigious University of Melbourne.

Although forensic pathologists do help in investigating suspicious deaths, a large proportion of their role involves unconfirmed natural deaths. The majority of their work is with non-suspicious deaths.

When it comes to personality traits that a forensic pathologist should have to be successful, one of the most important is communication, as they often have to deal with the media as well as speaking in the courts. A well-spoken and outgoing forensic pathologist may be chosen as an expert to work in numerous court cases and as a guest speaker all around the world.

As you can see, the job description of a forensic pathologist is not a basic one! They have huge responsibilities within the community, and their research and investigations can have huge impacts on many victims of crime. This tough job description alongside up to 15 years of training is strongly reflected in the salaries that most forensic pathologists earn.

The salary for a forensic pathologist varies around the world and between jurisdictions and offices. In the USA, forensic pathologists generally earn between $75,000 – $200,000 per year, although the average is around $80,000 – $120,000 per year. Private forensic pathologist work can pay much higher but the workload and responsibilities are also much higher. In Australia, forensic pathologists earn upwards of around AU$120,000 per year.