How Much Does A Pathologist Earn is a common question, and HOW.EDU.VN provides the answer. This article delves into pathologist compensation, offering data-driven insights to help you understand potential earnings and negotiate your salary effectively. Discover the average compensation for pathologists and related career information so you can connect with a professional for immediate consulting.
1. Determining Pathology Aggregate Stats
The pathologist data presented here comes from anonymous contributions to our database from mid-2023 to mid-2024. We understand that a larger data pool is ideal for comprehensive statistics, but with 71 contributions, we aim to provide valuable insights. Smaller datasets may not fully represent the broader picture, but we encourage you to use our free doctor salary and negotiation database for personalized comparisons.
Unless specified, the statistics focus on full-time attending pathologists, defined as working 36+ hours per week. Data from residents and fellows were excluded to provide a clearer view of practicing pathologist compensation.
We plan to regularly update these statistics with new contributions.
Contribute your physician salary and negotiation data to enrich this resource for your peers.
2. Pathologist Average Salary
The average annual salary for all pathologists who contributed to our database, including those in both part-time and full-time roles, was $367,000.
It’s important to understand the nuances behind a single average. Here’s a further breakdown to provide more relevant comparison points.
2.1. Full-Time Pathologist Average Salary
More than 90% of pathologists in our database work full-time. While we lack sufficient data for part-time salary analysis, here’s what we found regarding full-time pathologists:
The average full-time pathologist salary was $370,000. Here’s a salary range:
- Highest reported salary: $1,200,000 per year.
- Lowest reported salary: $200,000 per year.
- Median salary: $320,000.
3. Pathologist Earnings by Specialization
Our database includes pathologists from various sub-specialties, but data is currently insufficient to calculate average salaries for each. We often analyze qualitative data for trends, but this wasn’t feasible with the current pathology data.
Dermatopathology stands out, with members reporting consistently higher than average earnings. The highest salary reported came from a dermatopathologist. It’s important to note that some dermatopathologists also practice dermatology, which can skew these numbers, as dermatology salaries are generally higher.
4. Pathologist Pay by Gender
A comparison of earnings between female and male pathologists revealed:
Female pathologists: average salary of $377,000.
Male pathologists: average salary of $352,000.
Contrary to the trend in other medical fields, female pathologists in our data earned 7% more than their male counterparts.
We observed that female pathologists were more likely to be partners/owners in their practice (15% vs. 10% for males). Also, 74% of our pathology data came from women, and 15% from men (11% chose not to disclose). This may explain the differences.
Help us further explore these differences by contributing your anonymous physician salary and compensation data.
5. Pathologist Incomes by Practice Environment
Here’s a breakdown of average pay based on where pathologists work:
- Corporate group: $373,000
- Group private practice (including dermatopathologists): $510,000
- Group private practice (excluding dermatopathologists): $489,000
- Academic hospital employee: $276,000
- Non-academic hospital employee: $368,000
Pathologists in private practice earned the most, with those in group practices earning 39% more than those in non-academic hospitals and 85% more than those in academic hospitals.
However, 21% of pathologists in group private practices specialized in dermatopathology, potentially skewing the data.
Removing dermatopathologists, the average salary in group private practice drops to $489,000. Over 50% of these doctors were owners/partners, influencing salary.
Within hospitals, non-academic pathologists earned 33% more than those in academic settings.
Academic hospitals often offer Public Student Loan Forgiveness (PSLF), a major benefit in the overall compensation package.
With more data, we could compare non-private equity backed practices with private-equity backed practices.
6. Pathologist Pay by Employment Type
Salary can vary significantly depending on the type of employment.
Only one pathologist in our dataset reported working as a 1099 independent contractor, and we had no data on pathology locums salaries. Explore our locums pay and compensation database for this type of employment.
84% of pathologists were W2 employees, with an average salary of $324,000. 14% were partners/owners, with an average salary of $664,000. Partners/owners earned more than double that of W2 employees. The top salaries reported were by partners/owners.
The highest salary was for a partner/owner in dermatopathology. Without this subspecialty, W2 employees averaged $320,000, while partners/owners averaged 87% higher at $597,000.
This suggests strong earnings potential if you are willing to handle the administrative aspects of being an owner/partner.
All partners/owners worked for group private practices. In this setting, partners/owners earned 74% higher than W2 employees, who averaged $383,000. This underscores the importance of both practice environment and role.
7. Pathologist Pay by Location
Currently, we lack sufficient data to provide average salaries by state. We hope to add this section soon.
Contribute your physician salary and compensation data to help us expand this information.
8. Pathologist Salary and Hours Worked
Medicine can be an “eat what you kill” industry, so we analyzed average salaries based on reported hours:
- 36-40 hours a week: $505,000
- 41-45 hours a week: $346,000
- 46-50 hours a week: $378,000
- 51+ hours a week: $316,000
Pathology doesn’t consistently show that more hours equate to higher pay. This is partly because several partners/owners reported working 36-40 hours a week.
Looking only at W2 employees, we saw the reverse:
- 36-40 hours a week: $377,000
- 41-45 hours a week: $341,000
- 46-50 hours a week: $318,000
- 51+ hours a week: $297,000
Pathologists working the most hours often worked for academic hospitals. Academic pathologists made up 53% of those working 51-60 hours a week, 29% of those working 46-50 hours, and only 14% of the 36-40 hour group. Practice environment may influence salaries more than hours worked.
8.1. Pathologist Average Work Hours
The majority of pathologists work 41-50 hours a week, higher than other specialties we’ve covered in our series on how much doctors make by specialty. However, most pathologists reported no additional time charting at home, while other specialties often spend 5+ hours a week on this.
9. Changes in Pathologist Pay Over Time
The data analyzed includes contributions from mid-2023 to mid-2024, from our most recent database.
We examined our previous database, starting in 2018, to understand pay trends. We only looked at pathologists out of residency/fellowship working 36+ hours a week. For 2023, we combined data from the old and new databases, cutting off entries at the transition point.
- 2018-2019: $320,000
- 2020-2021: $313,000
- 2022-2023: $358,000
- 2024: $370,000
Salaries were stagnant from 2018-2021. Some members mentioned pay cuts during the pandemic, explaining the dip for 2020-2021. We saw a 14% increase for 2022-2023 and a slight 3% increase for 2024. As salary transparency increases, we hope to see salaries continue to rise.
10. Pathologist Compensation Packages: Key Insights
Besides salary, our database includes data on other compensation components. We plan a deeper dive later, but here are some insights:
10.1. Pathologist Sign-On and Relocation Bonuses
30% of pathologists reported receiving a sign-on bonus, averaging $28,000. This percentage is lower than in other specialties, but the bonus amount is average. Bonuses ranged from $10,000 to $150,000.
Signing bonuses are rising across specialties. 2024 bonuses averaged $35,000, compared to $15,000 in 2023. Sign-on bonuses more than doubled.
Learn more about signing bonuses for physicians and consult a contract review attorney for physicians to negotiate the best employment package.
42% of pathologists received a moving bonus, averaging $11,000. Bonuses ranged from $2,000 – $30,000.
10.2. Pathologist Average Vacation Days
Pathologists received an average of 27 vacation days annually. The median was 26 days. Vacation time ranged from two and a half weeks to ten weeks.
Some members noted:
- Unlimited vacation time (not always paid).
- Vacation time pooled with sick time and CME days.
- An allotted number of vacation days, but they are never able to take them all off.
10.3. CME Stipends for Pathologists
79% of pathologists received a CME stipend. Stipends ranged from $1,000 – $10,000 annually, averaging $4,000.
10.4. Pathologist Average Student Loan Debt
The average student loan debt at graduation was $249,000. The higher your federal loan debt, the more beneficial repayment and loan forgiveness programs can be.
Learn more about doctor student loans. Explore our student loan refinancing options if you’re considering refinancing.
11. Expert Insights from Pathologists
We compile comments from our physician online community for valuable insights on job selection and contract negotiations. Here are some highlights:
12. How to Increase Your Pathologist Salary
If you’re questioning your current salary, here are some ways to increase your income. Remember to look at the overall picture. Salary is key, but not the only part of a well negotiated physician employment contract.
If you like your workplace but not the pay, talk to management. If you’re valued, they may renegotiate. Be practical and respectful. Use salary and compensation data for physicians to set a target.
Looking for other opportunities can also help. Some employers may be unable or unwilling to meet your needs. Interviewing can give you a sense of the market. Explore our Physician Side Gigs job board and physician career resources and education.
We recommend hiring a local contract review attorney for physicians. They have experience negotiating contracts and identifying red flags.
If you’re already at or above your market rate, consider:
Exploring side gigs for pathologists and popular medical and non-medical side gigs for doctors.
13. Further Resources for Pathologists
Explore our related articles and resources on doctor compensation and salaries:
Contribute your data! It’s used anonymously to help physicians negotiate better compensation by providing salary transparency. Contribution links are on our compensation data for physicians page.
Looking for a new opportunity? Explore the Physician Side Gigs job board.
Need contract negotiation guidance? Check out:
Also, check out our most popular medical and non-medical side gigs for doctors.
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14. FAQ about Pathologist Salaries
1. What is the average salary for a pathologist in the United States?
The average salary for a pathologist in the United States is approximately $367,000 per year, but this can vary based on experience, location, and specialization.
2. How does the salary of a pathologist compare to other medical specialties?
Pathologists generally earn a competitive salary compared to other medical specialties, often falling in the mid-range of physician compensation.
3. What factors can influence a pathologist’s salary?
Factors influencing a pathologist’s salary include years of experience, subspecialty certification (e.g., dermatopathology), practice setting (private vs. academic), geographic location, and whether they are a partner or employee.
4. What is the earning potential for a pathologist in a private practice versus an academic setting?
Pathologists in private practice typically have higher earning potential compared to those in academic settings, due to factors like partnership opportunities and revenue generation from services.
5. How can a pathologist increase their earning potential?
A pathologist can increase their earning potential by pursuing additional subspecialty training, taking on leadership roles, joining a private practice, or working in an area with high demand.
6. Are there regional differences in pathologist salaries?
Yes, pathologist salaries can vary by region, with some states or metropolitan areas offering higher compensation due to cost of living or demand.
7. What are the common benefits included in a pathologist’s compensation package?
Common benefits include health insurance, retirement plans, paid time off, CME allowances, malpractice insurance, and disability coverage.
8. How does gender affect pathologist salaries?
Interestingly, recent data suggests that female pathologists may earn slightly more than their male counterparts, although this can vary and may be influenced by factors such as practice setting and years of experience.
9. What is the job outlook for pathologists, and how might this affect salaries?
The job outlook for pathologists is generally stable, with demand driven by an aging population and advances in diagnostic testing. This stable demand can help support competitive salaries.
10. Where can pathologists find reliable salary data and negotiation resources?
Pathologists can find reliable salary data and negotiation resources through professional organizations like the College of American Pathologists (CAP), online compensation databases, and specialized physician career consulting services like how.edu.vn.
