Physician, Pathologists Salary: How Much Do They Make? (2026)

Median pay, hourly rates, salary ranges, and best-paying states for Physicians, Pathologists — from official U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data.

Official BLS wage data · Unknown vintage
Median Salary
$312,400
per year, national
Hourly Rate
$150.19
based on 2,080 hrs/yr
Top 10% Earn
$449,970
entry level starts ~$92,540
Pay Grade
A+
elite pay · 11,000 employed

How much does a Physician, Pathologists make?

A Physician, Pathologists earns a median annual salary of $312,400 in the United States, which works out to roughly $150.19 per hour for full-time work. Most Physicians, Pathologists earn between $92,540 at the entry level and $449,970 at the senior end, with the middle 50% taking home between $186,300 and $372,780 a year.

That is $251,010 more than the median across all occupations in BLS data ($61,390).

Physician, Pathologists salary range by percentile

Half of all Physicians, Pathologists earn between $186,300 and $372,780 a year.

Pay levelAnnual salaryHourly rate
10th percentile (entry level)$92,540$44.49
25th percentile (early career)$186,300$89.57
50th percentile (median)$312,400$150.19
75th percentile (experienced)$372,780$179.22
90th percentile (top earners)$449,970$216.33

Highest-paying states for Physician, Pathologists

Where you work matters more than almost anything else. Pennsylvania leads the country for Physician, Pathologists pay at $413,370 a year, followed by West Virginia ($400,070) and Nevada ($384,350). At the other end, Wisconsin posts the lowest median at $83,610 — a gap of $329,760 for the same job, driven by local demand, industry mix, and cost of living.

#StateMedian salaryHourlyvs national
1Pennsylvania$413,370$198.74+32%
2West Virginia$400,070$192.34+28%
3Nevada$384,350$184.78+23%
4Illinois$381,770$183.54+22%
5Minnesota$362,270$174.17+16%

Workforce and education

About 11,000 people work as Physicians, Pathologists in the United States. The mean (average) wage is $285,420 — below the median, unusual for salaried roles. On qualifications: a bachelor's degree (about 4 years of college) is the standard entry requirement, per O*NET occupation data.

Frequently asked questions

How much does a Physician, Pathologists make in the United States?
The median Physician, Pathologists salary in the United States is $312,400 per year, or about $150.19 per hour, according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates. Entry-level pay (10th percentile) starts around $92,540, while the top 10% of earners make $449,970 or more.
How does Physician, Pathologists pay compare to other jobs?
With a pay grade of A+ (elite pay), the Physician, Pathologists median of $312,400 is above the national median across all occupations tracked in BLS data ($61,390).
Which state pays Physicians, Pathologists the most?
Pennsylvania is the highest-paying state for Physicians, Pathologists, with a median salary of $413,370 per year, based on official state-level BLS wage estimates.
How long does it take to become a Physician, Pathologists?
Becoming a Physician, Pathologists typically requires about 4 years of college. A bachelor's degree (about 4 years of college) is the standard entry requirement.
How many Physicians, Pathologists work in the United States?
About 11,000 people were employed as Physicians, Pathologists in the United States in the latest BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics estimates.

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Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), Unknown vintage. Education requirements: O*NET (U.S. Department of Labor). Percentiles, employment, and state figures are official BLS estimates; hourly figures assume 2,080 hours/year. Individual pay varies by employer, experience, and location.