What is a Coroner?

by Kristin Higgins - February 19, 2026

There are a lot of jobs on the ballot that people might not know what they do. Today we highlight the job of a county coroner.

County Coroner in Arkansas

When someone dies in Arkansas, the county corner has a role in responding and documenting what happened. The county coroner is one of nine elected executive positions in Arkansas though it's an appointed position in some counties.

Term in Office: A constitutional amendment approved by voters in 2016 changed the term of a county coroner from two years to four years. The pay for the job varies depending on the population of the county, and is set by the Quorum Court using minimums and maximums in state law.

The Association of Arkansas Counties reported salaries ranging from $5,261 to $150,884 in their in their 2024 county government salary survey.

Act 194 of 2017 created a tiered pay for coroners, allowing Quorum Courts the ability to pay a higher salary for corners with specific training. 

Eligibility Requirements:

• United States citizen
• At least 18 years old
• Registered to vote in their county
• No fraud or felony convictions

Job Duties:

Over their four-year term, a county coroner is responsible for:

• Investigating deaths 24 hours a day, 365 days a week
• Determining cause of death
• Maintaining death records
• Controlling county jails when a sheriff is imprisoned there

Additional Reading

Arkansas Coroners 2022 Procedures Manual - Association of Arkansas Counties

Sign Up for "Introduction to County Government in Arkansas" Course

Want to know more about how county government operates in Arkansas? Sign up at https://learn.uada.edu/ for a free account to register for our new County Government in Arkansas course to learn about the roles and responsibilities of county offices and how local government is funded.