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As of August 01, 2026, the average salary for a Pathologist in California is $361,700 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $174.
However, a Pathologist's salary can vary significantly. Here’s a look at the typical salary range:
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Pathologist Salaries by Percentile
| Annual Salary |
Monthly Pay |
Weekly Pay |
Hourly Wage |
|
| 75th Percentile | $399,100 | $33,258 | $7,675 | $192 |
| Average | $361,700 | $30,142 | $6,956 | $174 |
| 25th Percentile | $340,400 | $28,367 | $6,546 | $164 |
Spectrum Healthcare Resources - San Diego, CA
Staff Icons, LLC - Bakersfield, CA
Cedars Sinai - Los Angeles, CA
SCPMG Meetings and Events (KPSymposia) - Irvine, CA
A Pathologist's salary isn't a fixed number. It's shaped by several important factors. Below, we'll explore how your years of experience, geographic location, and company size can directly affect your earning potential.
Experience is a primary driver of a Pathologist's salary. As you build your skills and take on more complex tasks, your compensation generally increases. Here's how the average salary grows at different career stages:
| Levels | Salary |
|---|---|
| Entry Level Pathologist | $353,139 |
| Intermediate Level Pathologist | $354,720 |
| Senior Level Pathologist | $356,300 |
| Specialist Level Pathologist | $358,513 |
| Expert Level Pathologist | $364,464 |
What Am I Worth?
Your salary can change significantly depending on where you work. States with a higher cost of living and strong industrial sectors often pay more to attract Pathologists. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:
Salaries can also vary between different cities. Major metropolitan areas or cities with a high demand for technicians often offer more competitive pay. Here are a few examples of average annual salaries in different U.S. cities:
Pathologist salary potential scales significantly with company size. Data shows that Enterprise companies (5,000+ employees) pay the highest average salary at around $406,997. While startup companies pay approximate $345,688.
| Company Size | Employees | Average Salary |
|---|---|---|
| Startup | 1~50 | $345,688 |
| Growth Stage | 51~500 | $365,215 |
| Established | 501~5000 | $393,382 |
| Enterprise | 5000+ | $406,997 |
For Pathologist roles, the industry you choose can affect earning potential by as much as 45% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries). Data shows that the Healthcare and Biotechnology sectors offer the strongest compensation, at 25% above the average. In contrast, Pathologist positions in Pharmaceuticals or Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit typically offer lower base pay, as these industries often view Pathologist as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.
| Industry Sector | Average Annual Salary | Average Hourly Rate | Pay vs.Avg |
|---|---|---|---|
| Healthcare | $452,125 | $217.0 | 25% |
| Biotechnology | $397,870 | $191.0 | 10% |
Understanding how a Pathologist's annual salary breaks down can help with budgeting. Below, you can see the average hourly rate, weekly pay, and monthly pay for this role. Use the buttons to switch between different pay periods.
| Annual Salary | Monthly Pay | Weekly Pay | Hourly Wage | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 75th Percentile | $399,100 | $33,258 | $7,675 | $192 |
| Average | $361,700 | $30,142 | $6,956 | $174 |
| 25th Percentile | $340,400 | $28,367 | $6,546 | $164 |
Ready to take the next step in your career? Browse thousands of current Pathologist job openings on our job board. Use the search bar below to find your perfect match.
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3B Healthcare, Inc. | Hanford, CA
Travel Speech Pathologist. Speech Pathologist Job Type: Travel Minimum Guaranteed Hours: 40 Master's Degree in Speech-Language Pathology. Experience: None.... more
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Speech Pathologist. Job Type: Travel Minimum Guaranteed Hours: 40 Master's Degree in Speech-Language Pathology. Experience: None. Previous experience in an... more
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Accede Solutions Inc (accedesolution.com)
Lodi, CA
Accede Solutions Inc (accedesolution.com) | Lodi, CA
Speech Pathologist. Speech Pathologist evaluates, diagnoses, and treats individuals with speech, language, voice, and communication disorders. They develop... more
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Careers Integrated Resources Inc
El Segundo, CA
Careers Integrated Resources Inc | El Segundo, CA
Clinical Pathologist. Integrated Resources, Inc is a premier staffing firm recognized as one of the tri-states most well-respected professional specialty f... more
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Adelanto Elementary School District
Adelanto, CA
Adelanto Elementary School District | Adelanto, CA
Speech Language Pathologist. Materials/Test results required at the time of hire. All answers to the questions on the application also required to be consi... more
6 Days Ago
Stanislaus County
Modesto, CA
Stanislaus County | Modesto, CA
Forensic Pathologist Opportunity. The Stanislaus County Sheriff's Department is dedicated to serve and protect the community through the highest standards ... more
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