Life As a Pathologist
Pathologist Job Description Diagnose presence and stage of diseases using laboratory techniques and patient specimens. Study the nature, cause, and development of diseases. May perform autopsies.
Pathologist Responsibilities
- Diagnose diseases or study medical conditions using techniques such as gross pathology, histology, cytology, cytopathology, clinical chemistry, immunology, flow cytometry, or molecular biology.
- Read current literature, talk with colleagues, or participate in professional organizations or conferences to keep abreast of developments in pathology.
- Identify the etiology, pathogenesis, morphological change, and clinical significance of diseases.
- Examine microscopic samples to identify diseases or other abnormalities.
- Conduct genetic analyses of deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) or chromosomes to diagnose small biopsies and cell samples.
- Plan and supervise the work of the pathology staff, residents or visiting pathologists.
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Pathologist Needed Skills
When polled, Pathologists say the following skills are most frequently used in their jobs:
Critical Thinking: Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
Active Listening: Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
Writing: Communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience.
Speaking: Talking to others to convey information effectively.
Reading Comprehension: Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.
Science: Using scientific rules and methods to solve problems.
Types of Pathologist Jobs
- Medical Director
- Pediatric Pathologist
- Cytologist
- Autopsy Pathologist
- Chemical Pathologist
Pathologist Job Outlook
There were about 372,400 jobs for Pathologist in 2016 (in the United States). New jobs are being produced at a rate of 11.4% which is above the national average. The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts 42,300 new jobs for Pathologist by 2026. Due to new job openings and attrition, there will be an average of 14,300 job openings in this field each year.
The states with the most job growth for Pathologist are Arizona, Alaska, and Utah. Watch out if you plan on working in Connecticut, Rhode Island, or Illinois. These states have the worst job growth for this type of profession.
Pathologist Salary
The salary for Pathologists ranges between about $60,280 and $208,000 a year.
Pathologists who work in Alaska, Arizona, or Colorado, make the highest salaries.
Below is a list of the median annual salaries for Pathologists in different U.S. states.
| State | Annual Mean Salary |
|---|---|
| Alabama | $183,510 |
| Alaska | $244,220 |
| Arizona | $229,090 |
| Arkansas | $165,290 |
| California | $208,740 |
| Colorado | $219,310 |
| Connecticut | $221,870 |
| Delaware | $216,600 |
| District of Columbia | $182,910 |
| Florida | $205,020 |
| Georgia | $235,060 |
| Hawaii | $228,470 |
| Idaho | $241,670 |
| Illinois | $183,780 |
| Indiana | $237,470 |
| Iowa | $219,300 |
| Kansas | $191,430 |
| Kentucky | $223,770 |
| Louisiana | $183,920 |
| Maine | $257,550 |
| Maryland | $196,210 |
| Massachusetts | $207,990 |
| Michigan | $181,760 |
| Minnesota | $245,040 |
| Mississippi | $174,340 |
| Missouri | $203,440 |
| Montana | $247,260 |
| Nebraska | $161,880 |
| Nevada | $227,500 |
| New Hampshire | $275,840 |
| New Jersey | $208,820 |
| New Mexico | $229,100 |
| New York | $171,060 |
| North Carolina | $198,040 |
| North Dakota | $266,510 |
| Ohio | $212,160 |
| Oklahoma | $155,130 |
| Oregon | $202,750 |
| Pennsylvania | $195,810 |
| Rhode Island | $209,580 |
| South Carolina | $185,210 |
| South Dakota | $227,710 |
| Tennessee | $231,960 |
| Texas | $199,370 |
| Utah | $218,210 |
| Vermont | $176,520 |
| Virginia | $199,080 |
| Washington | $239,080 |
| West Virginia | $222,270 |
| Wisconsin | $239,610 |
| Wyoming | $234,610 |
What Tools & Technology do Pathologists Use?
Although they’re not necessarily needed for all jobs, the following technologies are used by many Pathologists:
- Microsoft Excel
- Microsoft Office
- Laboratory information system LIS
- Sunquest Information Systems Sunquest Laboratory
- STARLIMS
- CPSI CPSI System
- Orchard Software Orchard Harvest LIS
- Healthvision TDSynergy LIS
- Clinical Software Solutions CLIN1 Suite
- Comp Pro Med Polytech
- Custom Software Systems StarLab
- Elekta Impac Software IntelliLab
- EpicLab Laboratory Information System
- Fletcher-Flora Health Care Systems FFlex eSuite LIS
- Fletcher-Flora Health Care Systems LabPak LIS
- GE Healthcare Centricity Laboratory
- HEX Laboratory Systems LAB/HEX
- ClinLab LIS
- Iatric Systems MobiLab
- LabSoft LabNet
How to Become a Pathologist
Education needed to be a Pathologist:
How many years of work experience do I need?
Where Pathologists Are Employed
The table below shows some of the most common industries where those employed in this career field work.
Other Jobs You May be Interested In
Those interested in being a Pathologist may also be interested in:
Those who work as a Pathologist sometimes switch careers to one of these choices:
References:
More about our data sources and methodologies.
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