Physicians, Pathologists Career, Salary and Skills
Physicians, Pathologists have a BLS-reported national median annual wage of $312,400 based on the 2025 OEWS dataset, with reported national employment of 11,110. Wage data is published for 69 locations.
Occupation description
Diagnose diseases and conduct lab tests using organs, body tissues, and fluids. Includes medical examiners.
O*NET code
29-1222.00
Job zone
5
Typical education
Post-Doctoral Training
Experience
Over 4 years, up to and including 6 years
National salary and employment
Median annual
$312,400
Hourly median
$150.19
Employment
11,110
Data year
2025
National salary distribution
$92,540
10th
$186,300
25th
$312,400
Median
$372,780
75th
$449,970
90th
Top skills
| Skill | Importance | Level |
|---|---|---|
| Reading Comprehension | 4.25 | 5.62 |
| Critical Thinking | 4.12 | 4.62 |
| Writing | 4.12 | 5.00 |
| Science | 4.00 | 4.00 |
| Complex Problem Solving | 4.00 | 4.62 |
| Active Listening | 4.00 | 4.38 |
| Active Learning | 4.00 | 4.75 |
| Speaking | 3.88 | 4.62 |
| Judgment and Decision Making | 3.88 | 4.75 |
| Monitoring | 3.50 | 4.00 |
Typical tasks
- 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).
- Examine microscopic samples to identify diseases or other abnormalities.
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
- Cerner CoPathPlus
- Cerner Millennium PathNet
- Cerner Millennium PathNet Blood Bank Transfusion
- Cerner Millennium ProFit
- Clinical Information Systems CISLab CPS
- Clinical Software Solutions CLIN1 Suite
- ClinLab LIS
Physicians, Pathologists salary by location
Areas with the highest reported employment for this occupation.
- Physicians, Pathologists Salary in CAMedian $186,300 · Employment 1,790
- Physicians, Pathologists Salary in TXMedian $345,830 · Employment 1,530
- Physicians, Pathologists Salary in NYMedian $321,550 · Employment 1,220
- Physicians, Pathologists Salary in New York, NYMedian $327,770 · Employment 1,140
- Physicians, Pathologists Salary in OHMedian $309,480 · Employment 600
- Physicians, Pathologists Salary in MNMedian $362,270 · Employment 550
- Physicians, Pathologists Salary in Dallas, TXMedian $316,150 · Employment 480
- Physicians, Pathologists Salary in INMedian $340,300 · Employment 380
- Physicians, Pathologists Salary in FLMedian $313,510 · Employment 370
- Physicians, Pathologists Salary in NCMedian $248,940 · Employment 340
- Physicians, Pathologists Salary in Los Angeles, CAMedian $319,340 · Employment 330
- Physicians, Pathologists Salary in MAMedian $285,240 · Employment 320
Related careers
- Cardiovascular Technologists and TechniciansNational median $74,310
- Cytogenetic TechnologistsNational median not published
- AnesthesiologistsNational median $391,490
- UrologistsNational median $265,930
- General Internal Medicine PhysiciansNational median $256,560
- NeurologistsNational median $248,560
- DermatologistsNational median $328,730
- Medical Scientists, Except EpidemiologistsNational median $103,410
Career and skills data: O*NET 31.0 (onetcenter.org). Salary and employment data: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS, 2025 (bls.gov/oes). Figures are published survey estimates, not real-time market data.