County of Mecklenburg, NC logo
County of Mecklenburg, NC
Charlotte, North Carolina

Forensic Pathologist

PathologyNo callFull-Time

Listed compensation

$233k-$279k

The week · per this posting · weekdays assumed

Ask the employer about the work setting, weekend coverage, nights and shift pattern and time off.

Posted 1mo ago

Job Description

Follow Your Calling, Find Your Career!

Salary Range: $233,000.00 - $279,000.00+ annually. This is an exempt position. Pay rates are based on education, skill, experience level and internal equity.

Mecklenburg County is home to nearly 1.23 million residents and is the most populous county between Atlanta, Georgia and Washington, D.C. The County includes the City of Charlotte as well as Cornelius, Davidson, Huntersville, Matthews, Mint Hill, and Pineville.

The Charlotte region is an attractive destination for corporate headquarters and is home to eight of the thirteen Fortune 500 companies in North Carolina.

Charlotte Douglas International is the world’s 7th busiest airport and American’s Airline’s second largest hub, making Charlotte attractive to both residents and employers.

With a world-renowned park and recreation system, a range of professional and minor league sports teams, and diverse communities, people who come to Mecklenburg County find an energized downtown and a variety of living options.

Come be a part of Mecklenburg County Government and help us provide a community of pride and choice for people to LIVE, LEARN, WORK, and RECREATE.

Overview of the Mecklenburg County Medical Examiner’S Office (Mcmeo)

MCMEO is a County operated department that functions as part of a state-wide medical examiner system in NC. The office serves the residents of Mecklenburg County and one other regional county under contract with the State of NC.

The office is located on the northern side of Charlotte with easy access by several major highways. The free-standing state-of-the-art facility was completed in late 2008 and still remains in great condition with some recent remodels and upgrades including the addition of a LODOX machine.

The staff currently perform approximately 1,500 autopsies / examinations annually. Caseload is kept within NAME guidelines. The office is supported by a business manager, 2 administrative staff, 13 medicolegal death investigators, a morgue technician/assistant, and 3 forensic autopsy technicians.

Position Summary

The position will be responsible for performing forensic examinations, completing appropriate forms/autopsy reports in a timely manner, certifying the death in the State electronic death registration system, collection, and release of evidence to law enforcement, and testifying in court.

Essential Functions

  • Perform autopsies and physical examination to determine the cause and manner of death
  • Prepare clear, concise narrative descriptions of autopsy findings
  • Maintain Medical Examiner records and establish policies for the documentation of the chain of custody for decedents’ person effects, evidence and human remains
  • Interpret histological, toxicological, chemical, hematological and microbiological laboratory results

Testify in deposition and in court as an expert witness, effectively presenting and communicating findings in a logical manner

Maintain cooperative liaison with all elements of criminal justice system as well as with funeral directors and their staff

Assist in establishing, evaluating and monitoring policies and operational procedures for handling potentially infectious autopsy cases and hazardous chemicals and equipment to assure optimal protection of personnel

Conduct regular evaluations of facilities and equipment to ensure that facilities and equipment are properly maintained and meet applicable operational standards

Provide information to citizens, news media and the general public in accordance with County, department, and division policy

Minimum Qualifications

Experience: Minimum of one year of related work experience.

Education

Graduation from accredited school of medicine or osteopathy and forensic pathology training. Must be certified by the American Board of Pathology in Anatomic Pathology and Forensic Pathology, or take and pass the board examinations within two years of hire. Must have an active license to practice medicine in the State of North Carolina as required.

Licenses: Obtain and maintain a NC Medical License. May require maintaining a valid NC or SC driver’s license and a County Driving Privileges.

Preferred Qualifications

  • Working experience beyond the fellowship year
  • Board certification is a plus
  • Specialized training in pediatrics/child abuse, neuropathology, or other area
  • Prior supervisory experience

Benefits

The department covers NC medical license renewal, costs of CME programs/conferences, costs of obtaining/maintain ABP board certification, NAME membership, and other approved professional activities.

Mecklenburg County offers a generous benefits package to include medical, dental, vision, life, short- and long-term disability, accident, cancer, critical illness, medical bridge, and pet insurance; paid holiday, vacation, and sick leave; NC Local Governmental Retirement Benefit (pension); 401K/457 retirement plans with 5% employer match.

Reasonable Accommodations Statement

To accomplish this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform, with or without reasonable accommodation, each essential function satisfactorily. Reasonable accommodations may be made to help enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Disclaimer Statement

This is not intended to be an all-inclusive list of job-related responsibilities, duties, skills, requirements or working conditions. Other duties may be assigned based on business need and the supervisor’s request. Mecklenburg County reserves the right to revise the job description at any time. Designated positions may be required to assist in emergency and/or disaster situations.

Key Responsibilities

The forensic pathologist is responsible for performing autopsies, determining the cause and manner of death, and certifying deaths in the state electronic system. Additionally, the role involves collecting evidence, maintaining chain of custody, and providing expert testimony in court proceedings.

Requirements

Candidates must hold a degree from an accredited school of medicine or osteopathy and possess forensic pathology training. Certification by the American Board of Pathology in Anatomic and Forensic Pathology is required, or must be obtained within two years of hire, along with an active North Carolina medical license.

Qualifications

Education
Professional certificate or licensure
Experience
2+ years of experience

Key Skills

Autopsy performanceDeath certificationEvidence collectionExpert witness testimonyHistological interpretationToxicological interpretationChain of custody managementMedical record maintenanceHazardous material handlingInfectious disease protocolsSupervisory skillsPediatric pathologyCommunication

Work-Life Balance Analysis

WeekdayDoc's proprietary algorithm rates Forensic Pathologist at County of Mecklenburg, NC a 6.1 out of 10 for work-life balance — classified as good. This places the position in the top 25% in Pathology — ranked against 240 active Pathology listings on WeekdayDoc. Contributing factors include no on-call duties.

Pathology — Physician Career Context

Physician pay on WeekdayDoc is down 2.6% vs. the prior quarter (through Oct 2026).

The cost-of-living index for North Carolina is 94.3 (US average = 100; BEA Regional Price Parities (2024)), so the posted ~$256k midpoint carries the purchasing power of roughly $271k in an average-cost state. 59.2% of North Carolina clinicians report burnout symptoms in WeekdayDoc's Burnout Index (2026-01 data).

Physician by the numbers
MeasureThis jobMarket
Work-life score6.1 / 10 · top 25% in pathologyranked against 240 Pathology listingslisting-based score, 0–10
Listed pay$233k–$279kPhysician median $335k (middle half $281k–$383k)21 comparable listings, Nov 2026
Cost-of-living adjusted pay~$271k in purchasing powerNorth Carolina index 94.3 (US = 100)BEA Regional Price Parities (2024)
All physician listings in North Carolina474 active22,316 nationallylive on WeekdayDoc, Nov 2026
Sign-on & loan repaymentnot statedNorth Carolina physician listings (all specialties): 28% state a sign-on bonus (median $30k) · 14% offer loan repayment474 active listings, Nov 2026
Pathology hiring demand#24 of 28 specialtiespostings stay open a median 37 daysWeekdayDoc Hiring Index, October 2026 · 88 postings, 75 closed
New Pathology listings64 in the last 30 days58 the 30 days before (+10%)U.S., first seen on WeekdayDoc, Nov 2026
Physician pay trend (all specialties)−2.6% vs prior quarter—through Oct 2026
Sources: WeekdayDoc live listing index (240 Pathology listings), BEA Regional Price Parities (2024), WeekdayDoc Hiring Index; as of Nov 2026. Same values as the Weekday Verdict and Market Insights on this page. North Carolina figures use all physicians: too few North Carolina Pathology postings state pay.

Top Pathologist Jobs

1 matches · ranked by pay
#1

Clinical Pathologist (North America Remote)

Antagene · California

$130k-$160k

Work-life snapshot

median 1.8this job 6.1
Better work-life than 80% of Pathology listings

Listing-based score, 0–10, across 240 comparable listings. Shaded area = the share scoring below this one.

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County of Mecklenburg, NC logo

About County of Mecklenburg, NC

Government Administration
Charlotte, NC
1,001-5,000 employees

Benefits & Perks

NC Medical License Renewal Covered
CME Programs/Conferences Covered
ABP Board Certification Costs Covered
NAME Membership
Medical Insurance
Dental Insurance
Vision Insurance
Life Insurance

Living in Charlotte

Typical 3-bedroom home value
$352k≈ 1.5× annual pay
Typical market rent
$1,729/mo≈ 9% of gross pay
Residents’ average commute
25 min
Metro price indexU.S. average = 100
97.3
State income tax
Up to 4.8%
Sources & methodology

Sources: Zillow home values (Sep 2026), Zillow market rents (Sep 2026), U.S. Census ACS 2024 five-year.

BEA 2024 · Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC metro prices. Housing figures are city-level.

Ratios use this listing’s gross annual pay. Not a cost-of-living guarantee.