Physicians, pathologists salary
| Measure | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $92,540 | $44.49 |
| Median (50th percentile) | $312,400 | $150.19 |
| Mean (average) | $285,420 | $137.22 |
| 90th percentile | $449,970 | $216.33 |
These wages describe everyone employed in the occupation, from new entrants to experienced workers. They are not starting salaries and not earnings of graduates from any particular program. Verified data
Physicians, pathologists pay by state and metro area
Table: median wage and employment for all 36 states and territories
| State | Median | 10th pct | 90th pct | Employment | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Arizona | $338,290 | $97,920 | $506,410 | 270 | 1.18 |
| Arkansas | $214,100 | $194,860 | $295,420 | 130 | 1.34 |
| California | $186,300 | $105,750 | $387,760 | 1,790 | 1.37 |
| Colorado | $294,510 | $77,330 | $442,560 | 50 | 0.23 |
| Florida | $313,510 | $67,740 | $477,310 | 370 | 0.53 |
| Georgia | $211,800 | $54,610 | $365,740 | 170 | 0.47 |
| Illinois | $381,770 | $136,990 | $546,740 | ||
| Indiana | $340,300 | $174,840 | $359,420 | 380 | 1.67 |
| Iowa | $323,460 | $82,150 | $350,950 | 80 | 0.75 |
| Kansas | $224,280 | $127,770 | $480,090 | 30 | 0.32 |
| Kentucky | $324,390 | $208,420 | $341,420 | ||
| Maryland | $253,670 | $125,560 | $396,980 | 70 | 0.33 |
| Massachusetts | $285,240 | $97,640 | $459,920 | 320 | 1.24 |
| Michigan | $303,070 | $81,190 | $373,430 | 140 | 0.44 |
| Minnesota | $362,270 | $80,860 | $486,990 | 550 | 2.62 |
| Mississippi | $261,570 | $228,870 | $350,420 | 50 | 0.62 |
| Missouri | $261,830 | $196,360 | $371,290 | ||
| Nebraska | $229,140 | $71,000 | $465,980 | 90 | 1.25 |
| Nevada | $384,350 | $61,750 | $384,550 | 40 | 0.39 |
| New Hampshire | Data unavailable | 70 | 1.4 | ||
| New Jersey | $355,970 | $75,340 | $422,520 | 230 | 0.76 |
| New York | $321,550 | $91,680 | $493,460 | 1,220 | 1.76 |
| North Carolina | $248,940 | $220,330 | $420,870 | 340 | 0.96 |
| North Dakota | Data unavailable | 30 | 1.05 | ||
| Ohio | $309,480 | $71,230 | $450,920 | 600 | 1.52 |
| Oklahoma | $317,850 | $201,280 | $412,160 | 130 | 1.03 |
| Oregon | Data unavailable | 150 | 1.08 | ||
| Pennsylvania | $413,370 | $187,010 | $455,420 | 210 | 0.49 |
| Rhode Island | $322,950 | $228,590 | $362,900 | ||
| South Carolina | $236,950 | $168,110 | $452,510 | 80 | 0.49 |
| Texas | $345,830 | $105,560 | $407,800 | 1,530 | 1.52 |
| Vermont | $188,250 | $62,780 | $492,180 | ||
| Virginia | $240,780 | $134,790 | $347,470 | 110 | 0.38 |
| Washington | $300,680 | $93,310 | $460,870 | 200 | 0.79 |
| West Virginia | $400,070 | $64,350 | $407,990 | 50 | 0.91 |
| Wisconsin | $83,610 | $47,470 | $397,980 | 130 | 0.62 |
A location quotient above 1 means the occupation is more concentrated in that state than in the nation overall.
Metro areas with the most jobs
Highest paying metro areas
Job outlook for physicians, pathologists
- Average annual openings, 2025 to 2035: 300. Openings include new jobs plus replacement needs when workers retire or leave the occupation. Official projection
- Share of workers who are self-employed (2025): 3.6%.
- Read the official BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook profile.
These are official BLS projections. ConnectPrep does not alter them or present its own forecasts as official statistics.
Education and training for physicians, pathologists
- Typical entry education
- Doctoral or professional degree
- Related work experience
- None
- On-the-job training
- Internship/residency
- O*NET Job Zone
- Job Zone Five: Extensive Preparation Needed
Highest education of people working in this occupation
O*NET describes this preparation level as: Most of these occupations require graduate school. For example, they may require a master's degree, and some require a Ph.D., M.D., or J.D. (law degree).
Degrees and programs that lead to this career
Programs officially mapped to this occupation in the NCES and BLS CIP to SOC crosswalk. A mapping means the program commonly prepares students for the occupation, not that every graduate works in it. Official crosswalk
- Medicine CIP 51.1201
- Osteopathic Medicine/Osteopathy CIP 51.1202
- Medical Toxicology Fellowship Program CIP 61.0208
- Dermatopathology Fellowship Program CIP 61.0502
- Combined Anatomic and Clinical Pathology Residency Program CIP 61.1801
- Anatomic Pathology Residency Program CIP 61.1802
- Clinical Pathology Residency Program CIP 61.1803
- Blood Banking/Transfusion Medicine Fellowship Program CIP 61.1804
- Chemical Pathology Fellowship Program CIP 61.1805
- Cytopathology Fellowship Program CIP 61.1806
- Forensic Pathology Fellowship Program CIP 61.1807
- Hematological Pathology Fellowship Program CIP 61.1808
- Immunopathology Fellowship Program CIP 61.1809
- Laboratory Medicine Fellowship Program CIP 61.1810
- Medical Microbiology Fellowship Program CIP 61.1811
- Molecular Genetic Pathology Fellowship Program CIP 61.1812
- Neuropathology Fellowship Program CIP 61.1813
- Pediatric Pathology Fellowship Program CIP 61.1814
- Radioisotopic Pathology Fellowship Program CIP 61.1815
- Pathology Residency/Fellowship Programs, Other CIP 61.1899
Skills, knowledge, and daily work
Most important skills
Most important knowledge areas
Typical tasks
- 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.
- Read current literature, talk with colleagues, or participate in professional organizations or conferences to keep abreast of developments in pathology.
- Consult with physicians about ordering and interpreting tests or providing treatments.
- Analyze and interpret results from tests, such as microbial or parasite tests, urine analyses, hormonal assays, fine needle aspirations (FNAs), and polymerase chain reactions (PCRs).
Technology skills
- Microsoft Access (hot technology)
- Microsoft Excel (hot technology)
- Microsoft Office software (hot technology)
- Microsoft PowerPoint (hot technology)
- SAP software (hot technology)
- Accounts receivables system software
- Anatomic pathology software
- Antek HealthWare LabDAQ
- Aspyra CyberLAB
- Aspyra CyberPATH
- Blood Bank Computer Systems Blood Bank Control System
- Blood bank information systems
- CPSI CPSI System
- CSS CLS-2000
- Cerner CoPathPlus
- Cerner Millennium PathNet
Transferable skills for career changers: Complex Problem Solving, Judgment and Decision Making, Instructing, Time Management, Social Perceptiveness, Management of Personnel Resources.
Common job titles: Anatomic Pathologist, Cytopathologist, Dermatopathologist, Forensic Pathologist, Hematopathologist, Neuropathologist, Oral Pathologist, Pathologist, Surgical Pathologist.
Is it worth it? Model the cost of getting there
Use the ROI calculator to compare the cost of the education this career usually requires against staying on your current path. It starts from the official wage distribution above, and you can change every assumption.
Frequently asked questions
How much do physicians, pathologists make?
The national median annual wage for physicians, pathologists was $312,400 in May 2025, according to the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics program. The lowest paid 10 percent earned less than $92,540 and the highest paid 10 percent earned more than $449,970. These figures cover all workers in the occupation, not only new entrants.
What education do physicians, pathologists need?
BLS lists doctoral or professional degree as the typical education needed to enter this occupation, with none of related work experience and internship/residency on-the-job training typically needed to become competent.
Is physicians, pathologists a growing career?
BLS projects employment of physicians, pathologists to change +4.8% from 2025 to 2035, compared with +3.5% for all occupations. About 300 openings are projected each year on average, including openings from workers who retire or change occupations.
Which states pay physicians, pathologists the most?
By median annual wage in May 2025, the highest paying states were Pennsylvania ($413,370), West Virginia ($400,070), Nevada ($384,350). Pay differences partly reflect differences in living costs.