How to Earn Six Figures as a Coroner

A coroner is a highly specialised medical position and, as such, it comes with a pretty high salary. Responsible for investigating sudden, unexplained, or suspicious deaths, a coroner’s job is to determine the cause and, where needed, contribute evidence to criminal/civil investigations.

All told, it’s a job that combines the complexities of law and medicine – two huge areas of study. It takes a lot of work to become a coroner but the rewards speak for themselves.

Becoming a Coroner

If you want to become a coroner in the UK then you’ll need at least five years experience in law – generally as a barrister or solicitor. After that, you’ll need to start out as an assistant coroner before becoming a full coroner.

Beyond this, there isn’t a strict path you have to take. It’s considered helpful to also have a medical background of some form but this is not a necessity.

All of this to say that becoming a coroner certainly isn’t a path to earning six figures over night. While they are paid extremely well, this is because they have a lot of experience. Being a coroner is a niche but it’s a niche that’s only available to those who are already highly trained professionals.

How Much Do Coroners Earn?

As we’ve alluded to, coroners generally earn six figures. On the low end they earn around £100,000 with experienced coroners earning as much as £150,000. 

Of course, you don’t become a coroner without a couple of years as an assistant coroner. Assistant coroners aren’t paid an annual salary but a daily rate, usually around £450-£500. As a result many assistant coroners continue to work as solicitors, splitting their time between both duties before they can transition to becoming a coroner full time.

It’s also worth noting that getting a full time coroner position does depend on where you live. In urban areas with higher population density there is more demand and therefore more need for full time coroners. In rural areas it’s fairly common for people to stay working both jobs for many years as there simply isn’t a full time coroner position available.

Then again, for some solicitors this is a good way to increase their earnings without completely changing their career path.

It’s also worth noting the importance of experience and connections. A good coroner can turn an entire legal case and if you’ve got a reputation for handling difficult cases, people will want to work with you.

Why Being a Coroner is an Excellent Career Choice

Choosing a career as a coroner offers more than just competitive pay – although the wages are good. Beyond financial incentives, the role provides intellectual challenge, public service, and the chance to make a tangible impact on the community.

As a coroner, you’ll be working at the intersection of law, medicine, and public safety. Your work will inform policy changes, improve public health measures, and even bring closure to grieving families.

In short, despite being a highly paid position, most people don’t become coroners for the money. They do it because the work is both fascinating and rewarding.

As a solicitor, it’s easy to get caught up in contracts, especially if you’re chasing the money. Many solicitors end up working in areas like corporate law because it’s the best financial use of their time. But if you’re looking for a career that’s well-paid but that really puts your skills to the test, where every day is different and you’re always facing new, interesting problems, then this is the way to go.

Many career choices lock you in. They set you on a path that’s hard to change from. One of the joys of working as a coroner is that you’re still a solicitor. It’s a job you can pick up and, if it doesn’t suit you, you can always put it down again. So if you’re a solicitor thinking of changing paths, then why not give it a try?

On the other hand, if you’re just starting your legal career then it’s a great long-term goal that you don’t have to settle on right away. After all, five years is a long time and you may find other areas of law that interest you more in the meanwhile. Take the time to do some research and try to speak with some full-time coroners to learn more about the job.