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 ThinkingActive ListeningScienceActive LearningComplex Problem SolvingSpeaking
Knowledge areas
Medicine and DentistryBiologyEnglish LanguageEducation and TrainingCustomer and Personal Service
Technology & tools
Accounting softwareMedical softwareInformation retrieval or search softwareBilling and invoicing softwareData base management system software
Representative tasks
Diagnose diseases or study medical conditions, using techniques such as gross pathology, histology, cytology, cytopathology, clinical chemistry, immunology, flow cytometry, or molecular biology.Examine microscopic samples to identify diseases or other abnormalities.Write pathology reports summarizing analyses, results, and conclusions.Communicate pathologic findings to surgeons or other physicians.Identify the etiology, pathogenesis, morphological change, and clinical significance of diseases.Read current literature, talk with colleagues, or participate in professional organizations or conferences to keep abreast of developments in pathology.Consult with physicians about ordering and interpreting tests or providing treatments.Analyze and interpret results from tests, such as microbial or parasite tests, urine analyses, hormonal assays, fine needle aspirations (FNAs), and polymerase chain reactions (PCRs).Review cases by analyzing autopsies, laboratory findings, or case investigation reports.Manage medical laboratories.Develop or adopt new tests or instruments to improve diagnosis of diseases.Educate physicians, students, and other personnel in medical laboratory professions, such as medical technology, cytotechnology, or histotechnology.Plan and supervise the work of the pathology staff, residents, or visiting pathologists.Perform autopsies to determine causes of deaths.Diagnose infections, such as Hepatitis B and Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS), by conducting tests to detect the antibodies that patients' immune systems make to fight such infections.Obtain specimens by performing procedures, such as biopsies or fine needle aspirations (FNAs) of superficial nodules.Conduct genetic analyses of deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) or chromosomes to diagnose small biopsies and cell samples.Conduct research and present scientific findings.Testify in depositions or trials as an expert witness.
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
101 alternate job titles map to this occupation.
Animal PathologistHematopathologistMolecular Genetic PathologistOtolaryngologist (Army 60T)Dentist, Temporomandibular Disorders (TMD) (Air Force 47G1G)Biomedical Laboratory, Microbiology (Air Force 43T4B)Biomedical Laboratory, Toxicologist (Air Force 43T3F)Biomedical Laboratory, Blood Bank (Air Force 43T4E)Dentist, Temporomandibular Disorders (TMD) (Air Force 47G4G)Ophthalmic PathologistInfectious Disease Officer (Army 61G)Histopathology Technician (Navy L30A)Dentist, Comprehensive (Air Force 47G4A)DO Physician (Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine Physician)Oral and Maxillofacial Radiology (Navy 0545)Biomedical Laboratory, Toxicologist (Air Force 43T4F)Dentist, Oral and Maxillofacial Radiology (OMR) (Air Force 47G4F)Autopsy PathologistImmunopathologistBiomedical Laboratory, Biomedical Laboratory Science (Air Force 43T3A)Histopathology Apprentice (Air Force 4T032)Biomedical Laboratory, Blood Bank (Air Force 43T1E)Histopathology Craftsman (Air Force 4T072)HistopathologistForensic PathologistDentist (Air Force 47G1)Medical PathologistBiomedical Laboratory, Environmental and Industrial Hygiene Chemistry (Air Force 43T3D)Oral and Maxillofacial Pathologist (Air Force 47D4)Dentist, Advanced Clinical (Air Force 47G3B)Dentist (Air Force 47G4)Oral PathologistBiomedical Laboratory, Clinical Chemistry (Air Force 43T3C)Pathology PhysicianDentist, Hospital Dentistry (Air Force 47G4H)Oral and Maxillofacial Pathologist (Air Force 47D3)Biomedical Laboratory, Clinical Chemistry (Air Force 43T4C)Biomedical Laboratory, Blood Bank (Air Force 43T3E)Pathologist PhysicianCytologist