Occupation · SOC 29-1222
Physicians, Pathologists
Diagnose diseases and conduct lab tests using organs, body tissues, and fluids. Includes medical examiners.
Median wage
$239,200
$83,930–$239,200
Projected growth
—
—
Annual openings
—
per year
Employed (US)
11,800
Job Zone 5
Typical preparation
Extensive preparation
Stackable credential programs
56 mapped
Core skills
Reading ComprehensionWritingCritical ThinkingScienceComplex Problem SolvingActive ListeningActive LearningSpeakingJudgment and Decision MakingMonitoringTime ManagementInstructingSocial PerceptivenessManagement of Personnel ResourcesLearning StrategiesSystems EvaluationSystems AnalysisService OrientationPersuasionNegotiationMathematicsCoordinationQuality Control AnalysisManagement of Material ResourcesManagement of Financial ResourcesOperations MonitoringTroubleshootingOperations AnalysisOperation and ControlTechnology DesignProgrammingEquipment SelectionRepairingInstallationEquipment Maintenance
Knowledge areas
Medicine and DentistryBiologyEnglish LanguageEducation and TrainingCustomer and Personal ServiceChemistryAdministration and ManagementComputers and ElectronicsAdministrativePersonnel and Human ResourcesMathematicsPublic Safety and SecurityLaw and GovernmentCommunications and MediaProduction and ProcessingEconomics and AccountingTelecommunicationsPsychologyPhysicsSales and MarketingEngineering and TechnologyTherapy and CounselingSociology and AnthropologyTransportationMechanicalPhilosophy and TheologyDesignGeographyForeign LanguageHistory and ArcheologyBuilding and ConstructionFood ProductionFine Arts
Technology & tools
Accounts receivables system softwareAnatomic pathology softwareAntek HealthWare LabDAQAspyra CyberLABAspyra CyberPATHBlood Bank Computer Systems Blood Bank Control SystemBlood bank information systemsCPSI CPSI SystemCSS CLS-2000Cerner CoPathPlusCerner Millennium PathNetCerner Millennium PathNet Blood Bank TransfusionCerner Millennium ProFitClinLab LISClinical Information Systems CISLab CPSClinical Software Solutions CLIN1 SuiteComBaseComp Pro Med PolytechComputer Service and Support AR 2000 Laboratory Billing SystemComputer Trust WinSurgeCortex Medical Management Systems Cortex Medical BillingCortex Medical Management Systems The Gold StandardCustom Software Systems StarLabDatabase management softwareDatabase softwareDigital image databasesEasyPath Software Pathology AssistantElekta Impac Software IntelliLabElekta Impac Software PowerPathEpicLab Laboratory Information SystemFletcher-Flora Health Care Systems FFlex eSuite LISFletcher-Flora Health Care Systems LabPak LISGE Healthcare Centricity LaboratoryGE Healthcare Centricity Laboratory Anatomic Pathology/CytologyGE Healthcare Centricity Laboratory Transfusion MedicineHEX Laboratory Systems Billing and Cash ManagementHEX Laboratory Systems LAB/HEXHT Systems PatientSecureHaemonetics Symphony SuiteHealthvision MediAR
Representative tasks
Updating and Using Relevant KnowledgeProcessing InformationDocumenting/Recording InformationGetting InformationMaking Decisions and Solving ProblemsIdentifying Objects, Actions, and EventsEvaluating Information to Determine Compliance with StandardsWorking with ComputersCommunicating with Supervisors, Peers, or SubordinatesAnalyzing Data or InformationInterpreting the Meaning of Information for OthersOrganizing, Planning, and Prioritizing WorkJudging the Qualities of Objects, Services, or PeopleEstablishing and Maintaining Interpersonal RelationshipsMonitoring Processes, Materials, or SurroundingsProviding Consultation and Advice to OthersInspecting Equipment, Structures, or MaterialsCommunicating with People Outside the OrganizationTraining and Teaching OthersEstimating the Quantifiable Characteristics of Products, Events, or InformationAssisting and Caring for OthersThinking CreativelyMonitoring and Controlling ResourcesDeveloping and Building TeamsDeveloping Objectives and StrategiesPerforming Administrative ActivitiesScheduling Work and ActivitiesResolving Conflicts and Negotiating with OthersControlling Machines and ProcessesCoordinating the Work and Activities of OthersCoaching and Developing OthersHandling and Moving ObjectsGuiding, Directing, and Motivating SubordinatesStaffing Organizational UnitsDrafting, Laying Out, and Specifying Technical Devices, Parts, and EquipmentSelling or Influencing OthersPerforming General Physical ActivitiesRepairing and Maintaining Electronic EquipmentRepairing and Maintaining Mechanical EquipmentPerforming for or Working Directly with the Public
Competency framework
Skill expectations by proficiency level.
emerging
Microscopic tissue samples — examine under direct supervision to identify basic cellular patterns and common histological features in a hospital pathology laboratory.Gross pathology specimens — inspect and describe macroscopic findings following established departmental protocols during supervised surgical pathology rotations.Pathology reports — draft preliminary written summaries of findings under attending physician review in an academic medical center setting.Diagnostic terminology — apply standard medical and pathological vocabulary when documenting case observations in electronic medical record systems.Laboratory test results — interpret routine urinalysis and basic microbial assay outputs with guidance from senior pathologists in a clinical laboratory.Medical literature — read and summarize current peer-reviewed pathology publications to support case discussions under faculty mentorship.Clinical chemistry assays — assist in performing and recording hormonal and biochemical test procedures under supervision in a certified clinical laboratory.Pathologic findings — communicate preliminary observations verbally to supervising physicians during structured case review sessions.Etiology and morphology — identify fundamental disease mechanisms and tissue changes in common conditions using standard reference texts and supervised casework.Laboratory information systems — navigate medical software and database interfaces to retrieve patient test data and enter preliminary results under oversight.
developing
Histological and cytological specimens — analyze with reduced supervision to differentiate benign from malignant cellular changes across routine surgical pathology cases.Immunology and flow cytometry data — interpret results for common hematologic and lymphoid disorders, applying established diagnostic criteria in a community hospital laboratory.Pathology reports — compose complete, well-structured written reports summarizing gross, microscopic, and ancillary findings for routine cases with minimal editorial revision.Diagnostic test orders — consult with clinical physicians to recommend and interpret appropriate ancillary studies, including PCR and fine needle aspiration specimens, in a multi-specialty practice.Disease etiology and pathogenesis — explain morphological changes and clinical significance to clinical colleagues during interdisciplinary tumor board conferences.Continuing education — attend professional pathology conferences and apply emerging diagnostic criteria to update departmental practice standards.Cytopathology specimens — evaluate FNA samples from thyroid, lymph node, and soft-tissue sites, rendering diagnoses aligned with standardized reporting systems.Molecular biology assay results — integrate PCR and molecular marker data into diagnostic conclusions for oncologic and infectious disease cases in a reference laboratory.Time management — prioritize intraoperative frozen-section consultations and urgent case sign-outs to meet clinically critical turnaround time benchmarks.Parasite and microbial test analyses — review and finalize microbiological culture and sensitivity reports for routine infectious disease workups in a clinical microbiology section.
proficient
Complex or rare tissue diagnoses — render definitive independent interpretations across the full spectrum of surgical, autopsy, and molecular pathology cases without peer review requirement.Multimodal diagnostic integration — synthesize gross pathology, histology, immunohistochemistry, flow cytometry, and molecular biology findings to resolve diagnostically challenging cases in a tertiary referral center.Comprehensive pathology reports — author detailed reports for complex neoplastic, inflammatory, and infectious cases that meet regulatory, accreditation, and medicolegal documentation standards.Surgeon and clinician consultation — provide real-time intraoperative guidance and post-operative diagnostic clarification to multidisciplinary teams managing high-acuity patients.Critical clinical judgments — apply advanced inductive and deductive reasoning to distinguish mimicking entities and recommend appropriate clinical management pathways in ambiguous cases.Quality and safety monitoring — evaluate laboratory turnaround times, diagnostic accuracy metrics, and error trends to drive continuous improvement within the pathology department.Scientific literature integration — critically appraise newly published diagnostic criteria and incorporate validated methods into autonomous clinical practice.Subspecialty second opinions — provide expert consultative review of referred cases from outside institutions, issuing authoritative diagnostic opinions in neuropathology, dermatopathology, or oncologic pathology.Trainee instruction — design case-based teaching materials and conduct structured microscopy sessions to develop diagnostic competency in pathology residents and medical students.Data analysis and reporting tools — leverage spreadsheet, database, and enterprise medical software platforms to perform population-level case audits and outcome analyses for departmental quality programs.
advanced
Departmental diagnostic standards — establish and govern institution-wide pathology protocols, reporting guidelines, and quality benchmarks across all subspecialty sections.Strategic laboratory development — lead the evaluation, validation, and implementation of next-generation molecular and digital pathology platforms to advance organizational diagnostic capability.Organizational pathology vision — define the long-range scientific and operational direction of a pathology department or health system laboratory network in alignment with institutional priorities.Faculty and workforce development — mentor junior pathologists, structure competency-based training curricula, and manage personnel resources to build a high-performing, academically productive team.Multidisciplinary clinical leadership — represent pathology at executive-level tumor boards, patient safety committees, and health system leadership forums, translating diagnostic insights into system-wide clinical policy.Research and innovation agenda — design and oversee original investigative studies in disease pathogenesis or diagnostic methodology, securing extramural funding and publishing findings in high-impact journals.Accreditation and regulatory stewardship — assume accountability for CAP, Joint Commission, and CMS laboratory compliance, directing corrective actions and maintaining inspection-readiness across all testing sections.Interprofessional knowledge dissemination — present complex pathologic findings and emerging science at national conferences, shaping field-wide diagnostic standards and professional society guidelines.Health system resource and financial oversight — direct laboratory budgeting, billing operations, and ERP-integrated administrative processes to ensure fiscal sustainability of pathology services.Equity and access in diagnostic care — champion initiatives that expand access to advanced pathology diagnostics for underserved populations, influencing policy and resource allocation at regional or national scale.
Also known as
28 alternate job titles map to this occupation.
Anatomic PathologistAnimal PathologistAutopsy PathologistChemical PathologistClinical PathologistCytologistCytopathologistDermatopathologistDO Physician (Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine Physician)Forensic PathologistHematopathologistHistopathologistImmunopathologistMedical PathologistMolecular Genetic PathologistMolecular PathologistNeuropathologistOcular PathologistOphthalmic PathologistOral PathologistPathologistPathologist PhysicianPathology PhysicianPediatric PathologistPhysicianPoultry PathologistSurgical PathologistVeterinary Pathologist