Also called: Clinical Pathologist, Anatomic Pathologist
The 'doctor's doctor' who diagnoses disease by studying tissue, blood, and cells under a microscope.
Rarely meets patients. Spends the day at a microscope deciding whether a biopsy is cancer, how aggressive it is, and which treatment it might respond to. During surgeries, may get a frozen tissue sample and have 20 minutes to give the surgeon an answer.
BLS top-codes many physician wages; figures are estimates for attending physicians after residency (residents earn about $65k-$80k while training).
Approximate: anchored on Bureau of Labor Statistics data for a broader job group.
Professional degree (MD, JD, DVM…), about 12 years after high school. Bachelor's, medical school, then a 4-year pathology residency.
Ways in: 4-year college, Professional school. Training cost: Over $150k.
Majors to look at: Biology, Chemistry, Biochemistry, Neuroscience, Pre-Medicine.
Growing about average (about 3% over 10 years).
Low risk in 5 years, medium in 10. Digital pathology AI pre-screens slides and counts cells, so fewer pathologists may handle more cases; signing diagnoses stays human.
Classes: AP Biology, AP Chemistry, AP Statistics, Computer science.
Official data: O*NET occupation 29-1222.
Career Universe is an early version. Pay, training and AI-risk figures are estimates to start your own research, not verified facts. The research was written with AI research assistants, checked by validation scripts and spot-checked by hand. Check anything important with schools, employers and official sources. How the numbers work.