U.S. Pathologist Salary 2026: $390K Median
The median pathologist salary in the United States is $390,000 per year, based on 55 approved salary reports on SalaryDr through . The middle 50% of reports fall between $322,500 and $420,000; the 10th to 90th percentile range is $296,700 to $466,500.
- Median
- $390,000
- Middle 50% (25th–75th)
- $323K–$420K
- Approved reports
- 55
- As of
Source: SalaryDr salary reports — anonymous, self-reported and approved before publication. Total compensation includes base salary, bonuses and incentives. Outlier reports beyond 1.5×IQR are excluded from the median, average and percentiles. Figures from 24 or fewer reports are rounded to protect privacy. Methodology
Pathology Bonus & Incentive Pay (2026)
Based on 55 approved salary reports. 78% of them include bonus or incentive compensation.
Bonus Compensation Overview
- Average Bonus
- $107,622
- Median Bonus
- $60,000
- Bonus Range (IQR)
- $40,000 - $79,000
- Bonus as % of Total Comp
- 25%
- Physicians with Bonus
- 43 of 55 (78%)
New Graduate Offer Package
Not enough early-career reports (0–3 years of experience) yet to show a separate figure.
Pathology Salaries by State
Browse All Specialties →Explore pathology salary data across different states. Click on any state to view detailed compensation information for that location.
View all Pathology salary reports by location →
Pathologist Salary FAQ
Answers are computed from the 55 approved salary reports on this page.
How much does a pathologist make in 2026?
The median pathologist salary in the United States is $390,000 per year, based on 55 approved salary reports on SalaryDr through September 25, 2026. The average is $379,101. At the average reported workweek of 44 hours, the median works out to about $170 per hour.
What is the salary range for a pathologist?
The middle 50% of reported pathologist salaries fall between $322,500 (25th percentile) and $420,000 (75th percentile). The 10th to 90th percentile range is $296,700 to $466,500. Based on 55 reports.
Which states pay pathologists the most?
Among states with at least 3 approved reports, the highest median pathologist pay on SalaryDr is in Texas ($455,000 median, 5 reports), Georgia ($405,000 median, 5 reports), and Massachusetts ($390,000 median, 12 reports). State medians built from a handful of reports can move as new reports arrive.
Do private practice pathologists earn more than hospital-employed pathologists?
In SalaryDr's reports, yes: private practice pathologists ($480,000 across 18 reports) report a higher average total compensation than hospital-employed pathologists ($380,000 across 15 reports).
How many hours does a pathologist work per week?
Pathologists who reported their schedule average 44 hours per week (55 reports).
How does experience affect pathologist pay?
Average total compensation by years of experience in SalaryDr's pathologist reports: 0–2 years, $315,000 (6 reports); 3–5 years, $340,000 (15 reports); 6–10 years, $415,000 (13 reports); 11–15 years, $480,000 (11 reports); 16+ years, $560,000 (10 reports).
How much bonus pay do pathologists receive?
78% of approved pathologist reports include bonus or incentive pay. Among those 43 reports, the median bonus is $60,000 and the average is $107,622.
How satisfied are pathologists with their jobs?
Pathologists who rated their job gave it an average of 3.9 out of 5 (55 reports). 91% of the 54 reports that answered say they would choose the specialty again.
Where does this pathologist salary data come from?
These figures come from 55 reports that pathologists submitted anonymously to SalaryDr and that were approved before publication; the most recent is from September 25, 2026. Reports are self-reported: approval means a report passed SalaryDr's review checks, not that the submitter's pay was independently verified. Outlier reports beyond 1.5×IQR are excluded from the median, average and percentiles.
Reports are anonymous and self-reported. How SalaryDr calculates these figures.