Physicians, Pathologists: Salary, Job Outlook & How to Become One (2026 Parent Guide)

Physicians, Pathologists fall under the Healthcare Practitioners and Technical category in the U.S. occupational classification. Physicians, Pathologists earn a median salary of $312,400 per year, ranking in the top 1% of all U.S. occupations. The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects +4.8% job growth through 2035, projected to grow at roughly the US average. Entry into this field typically requires a bachelor's degree followed by a master's or doctoral degree, with specific licensing or certification depending on the state and employer. For parents whose teenager is exploring this path, the most actionable step is mapping the education requirements to specific colleges and majors before junior year — not waiting until application season.

What do physicians, pathologists earn?

The median annual wage for physicians, pathologists is $312,400. That puts physicians, pathologists at #10 on the BLS ranked list of all U.S. occupations by median pay. Physicians, Pathologists sit firmly in the top tier of U.S. earnings. Pay this high almost always requires extensive postgraduate education, board certification, or executive-level responsibility. Actual pay varies meaningfully by state, employer type, and years of experience — entry-level salaries are typically 30–40% below the median, while top-decile earners often exceed it by 50% or more.

Is physicians, pathologists a growing career?

The 10-year outlook for physicians, pathologists is +4.8%, projected to grow at roughly the US average. Employment is projected to move from approximately 11K positions in 2024 to 12K in 2034, a net change of 1K. Average growth signals a healthy, resilient occupation that mirrors broader U.S. employment trends. Job availability tends to track regional economic conditions.

What do physicians, pathologists do every day?

According to O*NET task surveys of working physicians, pathologists, these are the core responsibilities most professionals perform. This is what your teen would actually be doing in this role.

1. 1.Examine microscopic samples to identify diseases or other abnormalities.
2. 2.Write pathology reports summarizing analyses, results, and conclusions.
3. 3.Plan and supervise the work of the pathology staff, residents, or visiting pathologists.
4. 4.Diagnose diseases or study medical conditions, using techniques such as gross pathology, histology, cytology, cytopathology, clinical chemistry, immunology, flow cytometry, or molecular biology.
5. 5.Educate physicians, students, and other personnel in medical laboratory professions, such as medical technology, cytotechnology, or histotechnology.
6. 6.Perform autopsies to determine causes of deaths.
7. 7.Consult with physicians about ordering and interpreting tests or providing treatments.
8. 8.Identify the etiology, pathogenesis, morphological change, and clinical significance of diseases.

Top skills for physicians, pathologists

O*NET ranks these as the most important skills for this occupation, on a 1–5 importance scale derived from worker surveys.

What education does my child need to become physicians, pathologist?

Becoming a physicians, pathologist typically requires a bachelor's degree followed by a master's, doctoral, or professional degree, plus state licensure or board certification depending on specialty. For parents helping a teen prepare, the highest-leverage step before junior year is identifying colleges and programs that feed reliably into this occupation — Solyo's college search lets parents filter by major and admissions data side by side.

Related careers your child might also consider

• Prosthodontists
  $311,180 median
• Ophthalmologists, Except Pediatric
  $300,080 median
• Obstetricians and Gynecologists
  $292,910 median
• Orthodontists
  $289,140 median
• Psychiatrists
  $281,870 median
• Physicians, All Other
  $265,930 median

Common questions parents ask about physicians, pathologists