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Physicians, Pathologists in California

Thinking about a career as a Physicians, Pathologists in California? Here’s what you need to know. Diagnose diseases and conduct lab tests using organs, body tissues, and fluids. Includes medical examiners.

What do Physicians, Pathologists Make in California?

For physicians, pathologists working in California, the typical annual salary is $165,940 per year (or roughly $79.78/hour).

Wage Statistic	Annual	Hourly
10th percentile	$78,450	$37.72
25th percentile	$129,640	$62.33
Median (50th)	$165,940	$79.78
75th percentile	n/a	n/a
90th percentile	n/a	n/a

Location quotient — how concentrated this career is in California nationwide is 1.58, meaning that physicians, pathologists are more concentrated here than the national average.

National Wage Comparison

Nationally, physicians, pathologists earn a median of $120,724 per year ($58.04/hour), higher than the California median.

Employment Outlook

National employment for 2,340,386 physicians, pathologists across the United States. In California alone, about 2,180 people work in this role. That puts the state above the typical state, which employs around 200 physicians, pathologists.

Top California Metros for Physicians, Pathologists

These are the California metros with the most physicians, pathologists in California.

Metro Area	Number Employed	Annual Median Salary
Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA	610	n/a
San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA	120	n/a
Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA	60	n/a
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA	30	n/a

Top States for Physicians, Pathologists Employment

These states have the highest employment of physicians, pathologists work.

State	Number Employed
California	2,180
Texas	1,100
New York	940
Ohio	660
Missouri	660
Florida	450
Arizona	440
Illinois	400
Indiana	380
Pennsylvania	300
Washington	280
Massachusetts	270
Oregon	230
Michigan	230
Wisconsin	200
New Jersey	180
South Carolina	150
Nebraska	120
Arkansas	90
Virginia	90

Highest-Paying States for Physicians, Pathologists

The highest-paying states for physicians, pathologists.

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

Skills

Top physicians, pathologists skills, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:

Knowledge Areas

Important knowledge areas for this occupation, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:

Abilities

Key abilities for physicians, pathologists, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:

Daily Tasks

Physicians, Pathologists typically:

• 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).
• Review cases by analyzing autopsies, laboratory findings, or case investigation reports.
• Manage medical laboratories.
• Develop or adopt new tests or instruments to improve diagnosis of diseases.
• Educate physicians, students, and other personnel in medical laboratory professions, such as medical technology, cytotechnology, or histotechnology.

Work Activities

• Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge
• Processing Information
• Documenting/Recording Information
• Getting Information
• Making Decisions and Solving Problems
• Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events
• Evaluating Information to Determine Compliance with Standards
• Working with Computers
• Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates
• Analyzing Data or Information
• Interpreting the Meaning of Information for Others
• Organizing, Planning, and Prioritizing Work

Tools & Technology

Common tools and software used in this occupation include: Hot technologies: Microsoft Access

What Major Will Prepare You For This Career?

Programs that train for this career include:

• Medicine
• Multiple-Pathway Medical Fellowship Programs
• Dermatology Residency/Fellowship Programs
• Pathology Residency/Fellowship Programs

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Related Careers

Other careers like physicians, pathologists include:

• Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists
• Clinical Neuropsychologists
• Anesthesiologists
• Cardiologists
• Dermatologists
• Emergency Medicine Physicians

Also Known As

Anatomic Pathologist, Animal Pathologist, Autopsy Pathologist, Chemical Pathologist, Clinical Pathologist, Cytologist, Cytopathologist, DO Physician (Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine Physician), Dermatopathologist, Forensic Pathologist, Hematopathologist, Histopathologist, Immunopathologist, Medical Pathologist, Molecular Genetic Pathologist.

References

• U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics — https://www.bls.gov/oes/
• O*NET Online — https://www.onetonline.org/
• BLS Employment Projections — https://www.bls.gov/emp/
• O*NET-SOC code: 29-1222.00