Careers / Physicians, Pathologists
Physicians, Pathologists — Career Decision Dashboard
United States
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Report generated from official BLS OEWS and O*NET data — United States.
Median annual wage
$312,400
United States, 2025
Employment
11,110
United States, 2025
Typical education
Post-Doctoral Training
Job Zone 5
Skills identified
35
10 related careers
Career overview
Diagnose diseases and conduct lab tests using organs, body tissues, and fluids. Includes medical examiners.
- O*NET code
- 29-1222.00
- Job zone
- 5
- Experience required
- Over 4 years, up to and including 6 years
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).
Choose a location
Salary analysis — United States
10th percentile
$92,540
25th percentile
$186,300
75th percentile
$372,780
90th percentile
$449,970
Most important skills
- Reading Comprehension4.3
- Writing4.1
- Critical Thinking4.1
- Science4.0
- Complex Problem Solving4.0
- Active Listening4.0
- Active Learning4.0
- Judgment and Decision Making3.9
- Speaking3.9
- Monitoring3.5
- Instructing3.3
- Time Management3.3
What skills do you need?
Select the skills you already have
Skills listed are those O*NET rates at importance 3.0 or above for this occupation. Set your own level on the same 0–7 O*NET scale.
Skill coverage
0%
0 of 22 identified skills
Matched
0
Missing
22
Your selected skills cover approximately 0% of the skills identified for this occupation in O*NET. This is a coverage measure of listed skills only — it is not a qualification, hiring or interview outcome.
Skills to develop
| Skill | Importance | Required level | Your level | Gap |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Reading Comprehension | 4.3 | 5.6 | Not selected | 5.6 |
| Writing | 4.1 | 5.0 | Not selected | 5.0 |
| Critical Thinking | 4.1 | 4.6 | Not selected | 4.6 |
| Active Learning | 4.0 | 4.8 | Not selected | 4.8 |
| Complex Problem Solving | 4.0 | 4.6 | Not selected | 4.6 |
| Judgment and Decision Making | 3.9 | 4.8 | Not selected | 4.8 |
| Speaking | 3.9 | 4.6 | Not selected | 4.6 |
| Active Listening | 4.0 | 4.4 | Not selected | 4.4 |
| Science | 4.0 | 4.0 | Not selected | 4.0 |
| Instructing | 3.3 | 4.4 | Not selected | 4.4 |
| Monitoring | 3.5 | 4.0 | Not selected | 4.0 |
| Time Management | 3.3 | 3.9 | Not selected | 3.9 |
| Learning Strategies | 3.1 | 3.8 | Not selected | 3.8 |
| Management of Personnel Resources | 3.1 | 3.6 | Not selected | 3.6 |
| Social Perceptiveness | 3.1 | 3.5 | Not selected | 3.5 |
| Systems Analysis | 3.0 | 3.6 | Not selected | 3.6 |
| Systems Evaluation | 3.0 | 3.6 | Not selected | 3.6 |
| Coordination | 3.0 | 3.5 | Not selected | 3.5 |
| Persuasion | 3.0 | 3.1 | Not selected | 3.1 |
| Mathematics | 3.0 | 3.1 | Not selected | 3.1 |
| Service Orientation | 3.0 | 3.0 | Not selected | 3.0 |
| Negotiation | 3.0 | 3.0 | Not selected | 3.0 |
Ordered by required level gap multiplied by O*NET importance. No prediction or recommendation is implied.
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Compare with Physicians, PathologistsHow salary varies by location
| Location | Median | Employment | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| PA | $413,370 | 210 | 2025 |
| WV | $400,070 | 50 | 2025 |
| Las Vegas, NV | $384,550 | 30 | 2025 |
| NV | $384,350 | 40 | 2025 |
| IL | $381,770 | — | 2025 |
| Corpus Christi, TX | $373,420 | — | 2025 |
| Philadelphia, PA | $365,830 | 90 | 2025 |
| Austin, TX | $362,620 | — | 2025 |
| Tampa, FL | $362,470 | 100 | 2025 |
| MN | $362,270 | 550 | 2025 |
| NJ | $355,970 | 230 | 2025 |
| Phoenix, AZ | $349,470 | 220 | 2025 |
| TX | $345,830 | 1,530 | 2025 |
| Indianapolis, IN | $342,090 | 260 | 2025 |
| IN | $340,300 | 380 | 2025 |
| AZ | $338,290 | 270 | 2025 |
| Chicago, IL | $336,660 | — | 2025 |
| San Diego, CA | $333,330 | 90 | 2025 |
| Miami, FL | $332,570 | 90 | 2025 |
| Louisville/Jefferson County, KY | $329,970 | — | 2025 |
Career transition paths
Compare the skills of a career you hold today with Physicians, Pathologists to see shared skills, target-only skills and skill overlap.
Build a transition comparisonCareer and skills data: O*NET 31.0.
Salary and employment data: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS, 2025 (May 2025 release).
Figures are periodic published survey snapshots, not real-time market rates.