Physicians, Pathologists: Job Description
Diagnose diseases and conduct lab tests using organs, body tissues, and fluids. Includes medical examiners.
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What Do Physicians, Pathologists Perform?
The day-to-day responsibilities of physicians, pathologists include:
- 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).
Key Skills and Knowledge
Successful physicians, pathologists rely on a mix of skills and domain knowledge.
Key Skills
The abilities that matter most in this role, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:
Core Knowledge
Types of Physicians, Pathologists Jobs
This career also goes by job titles like:
- Anatomic Pathologist
- Animal Pathologist
- Autopsy Pathologist
- Chemical Pathologist
- Clinical Pathologist
- Cytologist
- Cytopathologist
- DO Physician (Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine Physician)
Employment and Demand
There are about 2,340,386 physicians, pathologists working in the United States today. This occupation is expected to decline by -4.7% over the projection horizon.
Physicians, Pathologists Pay
| Statistic | Value |
|---|---|
| Annual median | $120,724 |
| Hourly median | $58.04 |
| 10th percentile | $71,947 |
| 25th percentile | $96,336 |
| 75th percentile | $145,113 |
| 90th percentile | $169,502 |
Wages vary widely based on experience, location, and industry.
How Much Do Physicians, Pathologists Make in Different U.S. States?
| State | Annual median salary |
|---|---|
| Alabama | $238,020 |
| South Carolina | $228,850 |
| District of Columbia | $228,300 |
| New York | $215,740 |
| Missouri | $213,430 |
| Maryland | $190,370 |
| California | $165,940 |
Pay by U.S. Region
Compensation for physicians, pathologists shift depending on where you work. Top regions by median wage:
| Region | Median annual wage | Share of U.S. jobs | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|
| Plains States | $171,785 | 8.3% | 2.65 |
| Middle Atlantic | $145,064 | 16.1% | 1.03 |
| Far Western US | $132,025 | 27.6% | 1.50 |
| Southeast | $57,867 | 8.5% | 0.64 |
Where the Jobs Cluster
| Metro area | State | Median annual wage | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | MA | $228,050 | 200 |
| Kansas City, MO-KS | MO | $225,550 | 90 |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | NY | $216,420 | 900 |
| St. Louis, MO-IL | MO | $199,990 | |
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | IL | $106,270 | 220 |
| Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY | NY | $73,120 |
Top Industries Employing Physicians, Pathologists
The largest employers of physicians, pathologists are found across these industries:
| Industry | Employment | Median annual wage |
|---|---|---|
| Health Care and Social Assistance | 10,350 | n/a |
| Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 350 | $154,800 |
| Educational Services | 350 | $224,840 |
| Wholesale Trade | 30 | $177,130 |
The table below shows some of the most common industries where those employed in this career field work.
Tools and Technology
- Data base user interface and query software: Microsoft Access (hot technology)
- Spreadsheet software: Microsoft Excel (hot technology)
- Office suite software: Microsoft Office software (hot technology)
- Presentation software: Microsoft PowerPoint (hot technology)
- Enterprise resource planning ERP software: SAP software (hot technology)
Work Environment
Daily working conditions for physicians, pathologists reflects the following characteristics:
- Face-to-Face Discussions with Individuals and Within Teams
- Time Pressure
- Importance of Being Exact or Accurate
- Telephone Conversations
Getting Started in This Career
This career aligns with Extensive Preparation Needed (Job Zone 5), indicating the level of preparation typically expected.
Related Careers
Similar Occupations
- Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists (Supplemental)
- Clinical Neuropsychologists (Primary-Long)
- Anesthesiologists (Supplemental)
- Cardiologists (Primary-Short)
- Dermatologists (Supplemental)
- Emergency Medicine Physicians (Primary-Long)
- General Internal Medicine Physicians (Supplemental)
- Neurologists (Supplemental)
Where to Study
Aspiring physicians, pathologists typically earn programs in:
18 programs across 3 majors
- Multiple-Pathway Medical Fellowship Programs
- Dermatology Residency/Fellowship Programs
- Pathology Residency/Fellowship Programs
Health Professions and Related Programs
2 programs across 1 majors
References
This profile draws on the following authoritative sources:
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics — Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) for employment and wage data by state and industry.
- BLS Employment Projections for total employment and growth forecasts.
- O*NET (Occupational Information Network) for skills, knowledge, tasks, work activities, work context, technology, and education-zone data.
SOC code: 29-1222.00 (Physicians, Pathologists).
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