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Pathology Lab Technician Salary in the United States

How much does a Pathology Lab Technician make in the United States?

As of September 01, 2026, the average salary for a Pathology Lab Technician in the United States is $39,291 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $19.

However, a Pathology Lab Technician's salary can vary significantly. Here’s a look at the typical salary range:

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $44,827
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $36,483 to $42,189
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $33,927
Salary Factors Salary-Boosting Skills Salary by Experience Related Job Salaries Top Paying Cities Explore Related Jobs

Key Factors That Influence Pathology Lab Technician Salaries

A Pathology Lab Technician'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 Pathology Lab Technician Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a Pathology Lab Technician'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): $39,876
  • Early Career (1-2 years): $76,067
  • Mid-Level (2-4 years): $101,906
  • Senior-Level (5-8 years): $130,825
  • Expert (over 8 years): $174,929
Levels Salary
Pathology... Level Pathology Lab Technician$39,876
Patient A... Level Pathology Lab Technician$76,067
Patient A... Level Pathology Lab Technician$101,906
Patient A... Level Pathology Lab Technician$130,825
Patient A... Level Pathology Lab Technician$174,929
View as Graph

How Do Pathology Lab Technician Salaries Vary from State to State?

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 Pathology Lab Technicians. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:
  • District of Columbia: $43,503.
  • California: $43,338.
  • Massachusetts: $42,760.

Top Paying Cities for Pathology Lab Technicians

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: $49,557
  • San Francisco: $49,015
  • Oakland: $47,982

What Skills Can Increase a Pathology Lab Technician's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Customer Service (Mentioned in 16% Job Postings): Customer service is the provision of service to customers before, during and after a purchase. The perception of success of such interactions is dependent on employees "who can adjust themselves to the personality of the guest". Customer service concerns the priority an organization assigns to customer service relative to components such as product innovation and pricing. In this sense, an organization that values good customer service may spend more money in training employees than the average organization or may proactively interview customers for feedback. From the point of view of an overall sales process engineering effort, customer service plays an important role in an organization's ability to generate income and revenue. From that perspective, customer service should be included as part of an overall approach to systematic improvement. One good customer service experience can change the entire perception a customer holds towards the organization.
  • HIPAA (Mentioned in 2.02% Job Postings): The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 is a federal law that required the creation of national standards to protect sensitive patient health information from being disclosed without the patient's consent or knowledge.
  • Healthcare Services (Mentioned in 1.75% Job Postings): The improvement of health via the prevention, diagnosis, treatment, amelioration or cure of disease, illness, injury and other physical and mental impairments in people. Health care is delivered by health professionals and allied health fields.
Skills Demand Percentage
Customer Service 16%
HIPAA 2.02%
Healthcare Services 1.75%
See More Skills

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 Pathology Lab Technician's salary.

  • Healthcare Industry: Can increase your salary by up to 9%.
  • Analysis: Can increase your salary by up to 7%.
  • Leadership: Can increase your salary by up to 7%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Healthcare Industry $42,827
9%
Analysis $42,041
7%
Leadership $42,041
7%
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Pathology Lab Technician Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For Pathology Lab Technician roles, the industry you choose can impact your earning potential by as much as 40% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries). Data shows that the highest-paying industry, Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit, offers compensation 20% above the average. Conversely, Pathology Lab Technician positions in Healthcare typically offer lower base pay, as this sector often view Pathology Lab Technician as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industry for a Pathology Lab Technician

Industry Sector Average Annual Salary Average Hourly Rate Pay vs.Avg
Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit$47,149$23.020%

How Education impacts a Pathology Lab Technician's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Pathology Lab Technicians enter the field with a High School Diploma or Technical Certificate 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 Pathology Lab Technician with a High School Diploma or Technical Certificate is between $42,488 and $44,992).

Pathology Lab Technician Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Pathology Lab Technician
Degree Level % of user with this level of education
No Diploma 1.6%
High School 50.8%
Associates 23.0%
Bachelors 22.3%
Masters 2.3%
Doctorate 0.0%
View as Graph

Pathology Lab Technician Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how a Pathology Lab Technician'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 September 01, 2026
$36,483
Average $39,291/year
$42,189
$3,040
Average $3,274/month
$3,516
$702
Average $756/week
$811
$18
Average $19/hour
$20
Annual Salary Monthly Pay Weekly Pay Hourly Wage
75th Percentile $42,189 $3,516 $811 $20
Average $39,291 $3,274 $756 $19
25th Percentile $36,483 $3,040 $702 $18

Most common benefits for Pathology Lab Technician

  • Social Security
  • 401 (k)
  • Disability
  • Healthcare
  • Pension
  • Time Off (days)

Common company salaries for Pathology Lab Technician

Here are companies hiring for Pathology Lab Technician and their salaries, click below for more details.

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FAQ about Pathology Lab Technician

1. What industry pays the highest salary for Pathology Lab Technician?

The Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit industry offers the highest average compensation for Pathology Lab Technician roles, with salaries approximately 20% above the market median.

Where Does Our Salary Data Come From?

Salary.com provides salary estimates, histograms, trends, and comparisons using data from employer job postings and third-party sources.

We offer detailed salary information across multiple percentiles for your reference. (Click here to learn Why the Salary Midpoint Formula Is Crucial for Achieving Pay Equity.)

With the most extensive online, real-time compensation data available, Salary.com helps you pinpoint your exact pay target.

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