Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, aged to 2026 using compounded market movement. State selections show BLS state-level figures where published. Actual pay varies with experience, industry, and organization size.
Examine microscopic samples to identify diseases or other abnormalities.
Diagnose diseases or study medical conditions, using techniques such as gross pathology, histology, cytology, cytopathology, clinical chemistry, immunology, flow cytometry, or molecular biology.
Write pathology reports summarizing analyses, results, and conclusions.
Communicate pathologic findings to surgeons or other physicians.
Identify the etiology, pathogenesis, morphological change, and clinical significance of diseases.
Top skills:Reading ComprehensionWritingCritical ThinkingScienceComplex Problem SolvingActive Listening
Includes information from O*NET OnLine by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (CC BY 4.0).
Physicians, Pathologists pay by experience level
Entry level$96,000
Typical starting pay (about the 10th percentile)
Early career$193,000
A few years in (about the 25th percentile)
Experienced$323,500
Mid-career median pay
Senior$386,000
Seasoned professionals (about the 75th percentile)
Top earners$465,500
Highest earners (about the 90th percentile)
Experience tiers are derived from the BLS wage percentile distribution for this occupation, aged to 2026. Actual pay varies by employer, location, and specialization.
Job outlook
+4.2%
projected change in jobs, 2024–2034
400
projected openings per year
Growing about as fast as average
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections program (2024–2034). Openings include growth and replacement needs.
Physicians, Pathologists salary by industry
Ambulatory Health Care Services
7,150 workers
$315,500
Offices of Physicians
3,940 workers
$299,000
Medical and Diagnostic Laboratories
3,140 workers
$336,000
Hospitals
2,200 workers
$291,000
General Medical and Surgical Hospitals
2,090 workers
$293,000
Hospitals, Privately Owned
2,020 workers
$301,500
Federal, State, and Local Government, excluding State and Local Schools and Hospitals and USPS
650 workers
$239,500
Educational Services
580 workers
$196,500
Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools
580 workers
$197,500
Local Government, excluding Schools and Hospitals (OEWS Designation)
520 workers
$225,000
National sector-level figures, BLS OEWS May 2025, aged to 2026.
Related occupations from O*NET OnLine, U.S. Department of Labor.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a Physicians, Pathologists make?
The average base salary for a Physicians, Pathologists in the United States is $295,500 per year, or about $142.07 per hour.
What is the typical salary range?
Pay typically falls between $193,000 and $386,000 per year (25th to 75th percentile) depending on experience, location, industry, and organization size.
How does this compare with other Healthcare Practitioners and Technical roles?
The Healthcare Practitioners and Technical job family averages $162,000 across 91 roles tracked by WePayFairly.
Need a defensible market price for this role? WePayFairly data is compiled from published survey sources and maintained by compensation professionals.
