Hourly Wage for Physician/Doctor, Pathologist Salary in the United States

What is the hourly salary range of Physician/Doctor, Pathologist?

As of January 01, 2026, the average hourly rate for a Physician/Doctor, Pathologist in the United States is $157, which translates to an annual salary of about $327,130.

However, the hourly wage can vary significantly based on several factors. Here’s a detailed look at the typical pay range per hour:

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $189 per hour
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $148 to $174 per hour
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $139 per hour
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View as table View as graph 25% $148 10% $139 90% $189 75% $174 $157 50%(Median) Didn’t find job title? Click

Physician/Doctor, Pathologist Salaries by Percentile

Annual
Salary
Monthly
Pay
Weekly
Pay
Hourly
Wage
75th Percentile $361,490 $30,124 $6,952 $174
Average $327,130 $27,261 $6,291 $157
25th Percentile $307,700 $25,642 $5,917 $148
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Key Factors That Influence Physician/Doctor, Pathologist Salaries

A Physician/Doctor, 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, education and company size can directly affect your earning potential.

How Experience Level Affects Physician/Doctor, Pathologist Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a Physician/Doctor, 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:

  • Entry-Level (less than 1 year): $319,300
  • Early Career (1-2 years): $320,750
  • Mid-Level (2-4 years): $322,200
  • Senior-Level (5-8 years): $324,230
  • Expert (over 8 years): $329,694
Levels Salary
Entry Level Physician/Doctor, Pathologist$319,300
Intermediate Level Physician/Doctor, Pathologist$320,750
Senior Level Physician/Doctor, Pathologist$322,200
Specialist Level Physician/Doctor, Pathologist$324,230
Expert Level Physician/Doctor, Pathologist$329,694
$319,300 0 yr
$320,750 < 2 yrs
$322,200 2-4 yrs
$324,230 5-8 yrs
$329,694 > 8 yrs
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What Am I Worth?

Top Paying Cities for Physician/Doctor, Pathologists

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:

  • San Jose: $412,610
  • San Francisco: $408,560
  • Oakland: $399,490

What Skills Can Increase a Physician/Doctor, Pathologist's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Leadership (Mentioned in 4.06% Job Postings): Knowledge of and ability to employ effective strategies that motivate and guide other members within our business to achieve optimum results.
  • Acute Care (Mentioned in 4.27% Job Postings): Acute care is a branch of secondary health care where a patient receives active but short-term treatment for a severe injury or episode of illness, an urgent medical condition, or during recovery from surgery. In medical terms, care for acute health conditions is the opposite from chronic care, or longer term care. Acute care services are generally delivered by teams of health care professionals from a range of medical and surgical specialties. Acute care may require a stay in a hospital emergency department, ambulatory surgery center, urgent care centre or other short-term stay facility, along with the assistance of diagnostic services, surgery, or follow-up outpatient care in the community. Hospital-based acute inpatient care typically has the goal of discharging patients as soon as they are deemed healthy and stable. Acute care settings include emergency department, intensive care, coronary care, cardiology, neonatal intensive care, and many general areas where the patient could become acutely unwell and require stabilization and transfer to another higher dependency unit for further treatment.
  • Medical Education (Mentioned in 2.97% Job Postings): Medical education is a course of study directed toward imparting knowledge and skills required for the prevention and treatment of diseases to persons seeking to become physicians.
See More Skills
Skills Demand Percentage
Leadership 4.06%
Acute Care 4.27%
Medical Education 2.97%
What skills can make your compensation higher?
Mastering certain specialized skills can lead to a significant increase in pay. Here are examples of skills and the potential impact they can have on a Physician/Doctor, Pathologist's salary.
  • Interpersonal Relationships: Can increase your salary by up to 8%.
  • Customer Service: Can increase your salary by up to 7%.
  • Medical Services: Can increase your salary by up to 7%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Interpersonal Relationships
$353,300
8%
Customer Service
$350,029
7%
Medical Services
$350,029
7%
Commitment
$350,029
7%
Communication Skills
$346,758
6%
Verbal Communication
$343,487
5%
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How Education impacts a Physician/Doctor, Pathologist's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Physician/Doctor, Pathologists enter the field with a JD, MD, PhD or Equivalent degree, higher education can lead to more specialized and higher-paying roles.

According to our 100% employer-reported salary data, the median salary for a Physician/Doctor, Pathologist with a JD, MD, PhD or Equivalent is between $299,471 and $329,223).

Physician/Doctor, Pathologist Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Physician/Doctor, Pathologist
Degree Level % of user with this level of education
No Diploma 0.7%
High School 0.7%
Associates 3.4%
Bachelors 4.1%
Masters 3.4%
Doctorate 91.9%
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Physician/Doctor, Pathologist Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how a Physician/Doctor, 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.

Last Updated on January 01, 2026

Salary Trends for Physician/Doctor, Pathologist

Salaries for a Physician/Doctor, Pathologist can change over time, reflecting shifts in market demand and the overall economy. The median salary decreased from $139,340 in 2023 to around $133,332 in 2025, reflecting changes in demand, location, experience, and the wider economy. For a detailed analysis of Physician/Doctor, Pathologist salary trends, .

Average Annual Salary of Physician/Doctor, Pathologist Over Time

2022
$???
2023
$139,340
2024
$137,907
2025
$133,332
2026
$???
2027
$???
Year Average Annual Salary
2022
View More
2023 $139,340
2024 $137,907
2025 $133,332
2026
View More
2027
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Most common benefits for Physician/Doctor, Pathologist

Social Security
401(k)
Disability
Healthcare
Pension
Time Off (days)
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Common company salaries for Physician/Doctor, Pathologist

Here are companies hiring for Physician/Doctor, Pathologist and their salaries, click below for more details.

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FAQ about Physician/Doctor, Pathologist

1. Which state pays pathologists the most?

The top 5 highest paying states for pathologists are Arizona, Missouri, Minnesota, Indiana, and Arkansas. The salary range for pathologists typically falls between a minimum of $266,390, a mid-range of $313,260, and a maximum of $372,920, reflecting the competitive compensation in this medical specialty.

2. How many years of school does it take to be a pathologist?

To become a pathologist, you need a minimum of 11 years of education, which includes four years of undergraduate studies, four years of medical school, and three to four years of residency. In terms of salary, pathologists can expect to earn between $266,390 and $372,920, with a median salary of $313,260.

3. What is the hardest doctor to become?

Neurosurgery is often regarded as one of the most challenging and competitive medical specialties. It involves complex surgical procedures on the brain, spine, and nervous system, addressing conditions like brain tumors and spinal cord injuries. In terms of compensation, pathologists earn a salary ranging from $266,390 to $372,920, with a median of $313,260, reflecting the high level of expertise required in the field.

4. What are the highest paid doctor categories?

Among the highest-paid doctor categories, Pathologists earn competitive salaries, with a minimum of $266,390, a mid-range salary of $313,260, and a maximum of $372,920. This places them among the top earners in the medical field, alongside other specialists like anesthesiologists and orthopedic surgeons.

5. How much is a pathologist paid in the USA?

In the USA, pathologists earn an annual salary ranging from $266,390 to $372,920. The average salary is approximately $313,260, translating to a monthly pay of about $26,105. This reflects the competitive compensation for this medical specialty, with top earners making significantly more.

6. What is the highest paying Doctor job in USA?

The highest paying doctor job in the USA is often a Pathologist, with a salary range from $266,390 to $372,920. The median salary for this specialty is approximately $313,260. Other high-paying roles include Cardiologists, Orthopaedic Surgeons, and Urologists, but Pathologists typically rank among the top earners in the medical field.

Where Does Our Salary Data Come From?

Salary.com salary estimates, histograms, trends, and comparisons are derived from both employer job postings and third-party data sources. We also provide multiple percentiles of salary information for your reference, click here to know Why the Salary Midpoint Formula Is Crucial to Getting Pay Equity Right. With more online, real-time compensation data than any other website, Salary.com helps you determine your exact pay target.

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