Morgue assistants expose themselves to the investigation of death, particularly those resulting from non natural causes. They handle bodies, record their arrival and may assist medical examiners and pathologists in the investigation. This may include taking specimens, photographs were otherwise preparing the body for examination. The mean pay for morgue assistants stands at $29,910 in the United States, C$62,081 ($48,374 USD) in Canada and £36,518 ($49,548 USD) in the United Kingdom. These workers make on a mean basis AU$94,063 ($70,246 USD) in Australia. The common morgue assistant salary is NZD$78,922 ($54,628 USD) in New Zealand.
How Much Does a Morgue Assistant Salary Make?
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Morgue Assistant Salary Determinant Factors
Morgue assistants typically work in government agencies, often in a medical examiner’s office. As a result, the resources and budget priorities of the governing body can shape the pay for these assistants. Experience also has a role and enhancing the pay prospects for Morgue Assistants. On average, pay rises as morgue assistants work longer.
1. How Much Does a Morgue Assistant Salary Make by Country?
Morgue Assistant Salary in US
According to PayScale, the mean hourly rate for an autopsy assistant in the United States stands at $14.38. On a full-time yearly basis, the salary registers at $29,910. Total pay for autopsy assistants runs between $21,978 and $40,585.
Morgue Assistant Salary in Canada
SalaryExpert sets the mean pay for morgue attendants in Canada at C$62,081. The pay range runs from C$45,156 to C$76,166.
Morgue Assistant Salary in UK
In the United Kingdom, morgue assistants reap on a mean basis pay of £36,518. Those at the lower part of the scale, as reported by SalaryExpert, earn on average £26,563. Higher-end wage earners have salaries of £44,804 on average.
The National Careers Service classifies morgue assistants or mortuary technicians in the United Kingdom as anatomical pathology technicians. The pay range for these workers spans from £15,000 to £35,000, according to the National Careers Service.
Morgue Assistant Salary in Australia
Morgue attendants make on a mean basis AU$94,063 in Australia. The range reported by SalaryExpert starts at AU$68,531 and climbs to an average of AU$115,592 for the top earners.
Morgue Assistant Salary in New Zealand
For morgue attendants in New Zealand, the mean salary rests at NZD$78,922, with pay running between NZD$57,454 and NZD$96,909.
2. How Much Does a Morgue Assistant Salary Make According to Experience?
Entry-level morgue assistants in Canada earn on a mean basis C$45,156. With eight or more years in the field, mean pay rises to C$76,166.
According to the National Careers Service, starters, or trainees, in the anatomical pathology technician occupation in the United Kingdom earn between £15,000 and £17,000. Those who achieve the “experienced” status can expect to make from £20,000 to £28,500. “Highly experienced” technicians, who often work as “mortuary managers,” can fetch £35,000. SalaryExpert says that average for entry-level morgue attendants in the United Kingdom stands at £26,563. Those working as senior-level technicians can enjoy pay on average of £44,804.
For Australia’s morgue assistants, those with three or fewer years of experience can anticipate an average pay of AU$68,531. With at least eight years in the field, the earnings can reach a mean level of AU$115,592. At these experience levels, the respective mean salaries for morgue assistants in New Zealand are NZD$57,454 and NZD$96,909.
3. How Much Does a Morgue Assistant Salary Make According to Work Environment?
As a general proposition, autopsy and morgue assistants can generally expect higher pay either in the federal, national or state government agencies or with larger municipal governments. Even then, pay depends on the policies of the governing board or council members.
Where morgue assistants are employed in the medical field, private sector technicians typically have an edge over those in national healthcare systems. In the United Kingdom, anatomical pathology technologists work for the National Health Service. They typically begin pay.on Band 3, resulting in a pay range of £16,968 to £19,852. With experience and performance, these technologist can reach the Band 4 level, resulting in pay from £19,409 to £22,683.
Working Hours
As a general rule, morgue assistants work full time hours. For instance, in the United Kingdom, anatomical pathology technicians and other morgue assistants usually can expect work weeks to run from 37 to 40 hours. Job Bank Canada says that nearly 81% of medical laboratory technicians and pathologist assistant in Canada, which may include morgue assistants, work full time. This corresponds with the full-time rate for all workers in Canada.
Work schedules can extend beyond traditional office hours, as incidents resulting in death can occur virtually at any time. This may require morgue assistants to be on call or man morgues and other autopsy facilities on evenings or weekends. Depending upon the employer, the assistant may be expected to go to the scene of the death.
Bonuses and Benefits
PayScale reports various extra benefits for autopsy assistants in the United States. Bonuses run between nearly $50 and $2,000. Commissions can reach as much as $6,183. As for health benefits, the coverage rate for medical care stands at 63 perceht. Nearly one in every two autopsy assistants have dental coverage, while nearly 41 percent enjoy vision benefits.
According to SalaryExpert, morgue assistants in Canada have an average bonus of C$1,148 per year. The figure registers at AU$1,740 for those in Australia and NZD$1,460 for those in New Zealand.
Career Prospects
The services of morgue assistants will be needed as medical examiners, death investigators and law enforcement must handle cases of suspicious deaths or address diseases that cause death.
Even with rising crime, accident or disease rates, finding work as a morgue attendant may prove difficult. In some areas, the challenge lies in the number of available positions. For instance, Careers New Zealand rates as “poor” the job prospects for forensic scientist, who often use the services of morgue attendants.
According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment of forensic science technicians, which may serve as or perform duties associated with morgue attendants, should climb by 17 percent on 2026. However, because the United States only had 15400 of these technicians in 2016, that growth in employment ranslates to only 2600 new positions by 2026.
Overall, government entities often have few positions in medical examiner’s and similar offices. This is especially the case in rural areas, where the medical examiner may actually work on a contract basis and perform Services as needed.
Conclusion
In certain countries, work as a morgue attendant or assistant can yield a healthy salary, though generally staying under six figures. The prospects for finding employment may be limited, especially in places that do not have large or full-time forensic or medical examiner offices.
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