Physicians, Pathologists Salary in the United States
The median annual wage for physicians, pathologists in the U.S. is $312,400 ($150.19 per hour), according to the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics program, May 2025 estimates.
- Median annual wage
- $312,400
- Mean annual wage
- $285,420
- Median hourly wage
- $150.19
- Employment
- 11,110
11,110 employed
Wage percentiles
| Percentile | Annual wage | Hourly wage |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $92,540 | $44.49 |
| 25th percentile | $186,300 | $89.57 |
| Median (50th) | $312,400 | $150.19 |
| 75th percentile | $372,780 | $179.22 |
| 90th percentile | $449,970 | $216.33 |
Highest-paying states for physicians, pathologists
| State | Median annual wage | Employment |
|---|---|---|
| Pennsylvania | $413,370 | 210 |
| West Virginia | $400,070 | 50 |
| Nevada | $384,350 | 40 |
| Illinois | $381,770 | — |
| Minnesota | $362,270 | 550 |
| New Jersey | $355,970 | 230 |
| Texas | $345,830 | 1,530 |
| Indiana | $340,300 | 380 |
| Arizona | $338,290 | 270 |
| Kentucky | $324,390 | — |
Lowest-paying states
- Wisconsin: $83,610 median annual wage
- California: $186,300 median annual wage
- Vermont: $188,250 median annual wage
- Georgia: $211,800 median annual wage
- Arkansas: $214,100 median annual wage
About this occupation
Diagnose diseases and conduct lab tests using organs, body tissues, and fluids. Includes medical examiners.
Typical tasks
- Communicate pathologic findings to surgeons or other physicians.
- Review cases by analyzing autopsies, laboratory findings, or case investigation reports.
- 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).
- Read current literature, talk with colleagues, or participate in professional organizations or conferences to keep abreast of developments in pathology.
- Educate physicians, students, and other personnel in medical laboratory professions, such as medical technology, cytotechnology, or histotechnology.
- Diagnose infections, such as Hepatitis B and Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS), by conducting tests to detect the antibodies that patients' immune systems make to fight such infections.
Education of the current workforce — typical entry: Doctoral or professional degree
| Education level | Share of workers |
|---|---|
| Doctoral or professional degree | 100.0% |
Occupation profile data from CareerOneStop, sponsored by the U.S. Department of Labor.
Related occupations
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- Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses$64,400
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- Physicians, All Other$265,930
- Clinical Laboratory Technologists and Technicians$62,930
- Nurse Practitioners$132,300
- Pharmacists$140,910
- Physical Therapists$102,760
About this data
- Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics — data period May 2025, retrieved August 13, 2026.
- Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics — data period May 2025, retrieved August 13, 2026.
- CareerOneStop Occupation Profiles — data period 2026-08, retrieved August 14, 2026.
Figures are shown exactly as published by the source or derived by the documented formulas on our methodology page. Where a source suppresses an estimate, we show “—” rather than a substitute value.