SOC 29-1222.00Bright outlook

    Physicians, Pathologists

    Diagnose diseases and conduct lab tests using organs, body tissues, and fluids.

    Median pay
    $312,400
    Growth
    +4.8%
    As fast as average
    Openings a year
    300
    Typical education
    Doctoral or professional degree

    Data verified Nov 2026 · CollegesRef 2026–27 edition

    Source: BLS 2025 wages · 2025–35 projections

    See the pathway

    Annual pay range

    Lowest 10% earn less than
    $92,540
    Median
    $312,400
    Highest 10% earn more than
    $449,970
    National wages for all workers in this occupation. BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025.

    11,110 people work in this occupation.

    In short

    Pathologists are medical doctors who diagnose diseases by examining body tissues, fluids, and organs in laboratory settings. This highly specialized medical career offers a median annual pay of $312,400.

    Written with AI from the BLS, O*NET and CareerOneStop data on this page. Every figure is checked against that data before it is published.

    What physicians, pathologists do

    Job Zone 5: Extensive preparation

    Diagnose diseases and conduct lab tests using organs, body tissues, and fluids. Includes medical examiners.

    Most need a graduate degree, such as a master's, PhD, MD or JD.

    What the work is like

    Pathologists spend their days analyzing biological samples to identify illnesses and determine cause of death. They examine tissues, cells, and fluids, which requires strong skills in science, critical thinking, reading comprehension, and complex problem solving. These professionals must make critical decisions by evaluating information to ensure it complies with medical standards. Day-to-day tasks include processing data, documenting findings, and communicating with other healthcare professionals.

    This role is highly investigative, appealing to those with deep intellectual curiosity and a strong interest in biology, chemistry, and medicine. Pathologists must possess excellent attention to detail, dependability, and integrity. Because they often deal with complex or unclear medical cases, they need a high tolerance for ambiguity, great self-control, and strong stress tolerance. They also need to be comfortable working with computers and managing administrative tasks to keep laboratory records accurate.

    How to get there

    Entering this career requires extensive academic and clinical preparation. Candidates typically need a doctoral or professional degree, such as a Doctor of Medicine (MD) or Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (DO). Relevant college majors that lead to this field include medicine and multiple-pathway medical fellowship programs.

    After completing medical school, pathologists undergo residency and fellowship training to specialize in their field. Some states list a license for this work, which is standard for practicing physicians. Additionally, professionals can earn specialized credentials to demonstrate their expertise. Available certifications include the Certification in Clinical Pathology and the Certification in Pathology: Molecular Genetic Pathology, both offered by the American Board of Pathology. Other credentials include the Diplomate in Laboratory Management and the Qualification in Immunohistochemistry from the American Society for Clinical Pathology.

    Pay and outlook explained

    In 2025, the median annual pay for pathologists was $312,400. Individual earnings vary based on experience, location, and subspecialty; the lowest 10% of earners make less than $92,540, while the highest 10% earn more than $449,970.

    There are 11,110 people employed in this field. Between 2025 and 2035, employment is projected to grow by 4.8%, which is as fast as the average for all occupations. This growth is expected to result in 300 job openings each year.

    Interest profile

    Realistic (R)
    64 / 100
    Investigative (I) · strongest
    100 / 100
    Artistic (A)
    6 / 100
    Social (S)
    43 / 100
    Enterprising (E)
    13 / 100
    Conventional (C)
    62 / 100
    How strongly each interest area describes the work, from O*NET (scores rescaled to 0–100). The interest code lists the strongest areas in order.

    Interest code IRC. Compare it with yours

    What you'd do

    Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge
    94
    Processing Information
    90
    Documenting/Recording Information
    90
    Getting Information
    89
    Making Decisions and Solving Problems
    89
    Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events
    88
    Evaluating Information to Determine Compliance with Standards
    83
    Working with Computers
    82
    Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates
    82
    Analyzing Data or Information
    77
    Work activities rated by importance for this occupation, O*NET (0–100).

    Skills and strengths

    Skills

    • Reading Comprehension
    • Critical Thinking
    • Writing
    • Active Learning
    • Active Listening
    • Complex Problem Solving
    • Science
    • Judgment and Decision Making
    • Speaking
    • Monitoring

    Knowledge

    • Medicine and Dentistry
    • Biology
    • English Language
    • Education and Training
    • Customer and Personal Service
    • Chemistry
    • Administration and Management
    • Computers and Electronics
    • Administrative
    • Personnel and Human Resources

    Abilities

    • Inductive Reasoning
    • Problem Sensitivity
    • Oral Comprehension
    • Written Expression
    • Deductive Reasoning
    • Oral Expression
    • Written Comprehension
    • Near Vision
    • Information Ordering
    • Speech Clarity

    Work styles

    • Attention to Detail
    • Intellectual Curiosity
    • Dependability
    • Integrity
    • Cautiousness
    • Achievement Orientation
    • Stress Tolerance
    • Self-Control
    • Perseverance
    • Tolerance for Ambiguity

    Also called

    Anatomic Pathologist · Animal Pathologist · Autopsy Pathologist · Chemical Pathologist · Clinical Pathologist · Cytologist · Cytopathologist · Dermatopathologist · DO Physician (Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine Physician) · Forensic Pathologist

    Career pathway

    From your interests to physicians, pathologists

    Interests that fit the work, the career, majors that lead there and colleges whose graduates in those majors earn the most. Hover or focus a step to follow one path.

    1. Interests

    2. This career

      • Physicians, Pathologists$312,400 median pay

    3. Majors

    NCES CIP–SOC crosswalk

    Majors that lead here

    Related programs by four-digit CIP code. They are common routes in, not the only ones.

    CareerOneStop

    Certifications, licenses and pay by state

    What physicians, pathologists may need beyond a degree, where a license is required, and what the work pays in each state.

    Certifications

    Core certifications employers recognise for this work.

    Search all certifications on CareerOneStop

    Training

    Programs of study that prepare people for this work. Showing 12 of 20.

    • Anatomic Pathology Residency Program
    • Blood Banking/Transfusion Medicine Fellowship Program
    • Chemical Pathology Fellowship Program
    • Clinical Pathology Residency Program
    • Combined Anatomic and Clinical Pathology Residency Program
    • Cytopathology Fellowship Program
    • Dermatopathology Fellowship Program
    • Forensic Pathology Fellowship Program
    • Hematological Pathology Fellowship Program
    • Immunopathology Fellowship Program
    • Laboratory Medicine Fellowship Program
    • Medical Microbiology Fellowship Program

    Find training near you on CareerOneStop

    Licenses by state

    53 states list a license for this work. Open your state for the license and the agency that issues it.

    Federal

    Check license requirements on CareerOneStop

    Data from CareerOneStop, sponsored by the U.S. Department of Labor (Employment and Training Administration, with the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development). Retrieved November 9, 2026.

    Your plan

    Build my pathway plan

    Courses, majors, colleges, scholarships and a timeline for this career, built from your profile.

    Related careers

    Careers with similar work, interests or skills.

    All careers

    Questions about physicians, pathologists

    Written with AI from the BLS, O*NET and CareerOneStop data on this page. Every figure is checked against that data before it is published.

    What are some alternative titles for a pathologist?

    Pathologists are known by various titles depending on their specialization, such as clinical pathologist, anatomic pathologist, forensic pathologist, cytopathologist, or dermatopathologist.

    What are the key skills needed for this career?

    Success in this field requires strong skills in reading comprehension, active learning, writing, and science. Pathologists must also excel at judgment, decision making, and active listening when collaborating with other medical staff.

    What are some related careers in the medical field?

    Related professions that require similar medical training include cardiologists, pediatric surgeons, radiologists, allergists and immunologists, orthopedic surgeons, and medical and clinical laboratory technologists.

    Sources and attribution

    Every figure on this page comes from these public datasets. Missing values are shown as not reported, never estimated.

    O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. CollegesRef has modified all or some of this information.

    Data from CareerOneStop, sponsored by the U.S. Department of Labor (Employment and Training Administration, with the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development). Retrieved November 9, 2026.

    Page data updated November 5, 2026.