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Physicians, Pathologists

	Median Wage (USD, 2024)	Projected Job Openings (2024-2034)	Projected Growth (2024-2034)
National Statistics	$>=$239,200	400	4.2%
State Statistics	-	-	-
City Statistics	-	-	-

Statistics

National

State

City

State

City

$>=$239,200

Median Wage (USD, 2024)

400

Projected Job Openings (2024-2034)

4.2%

Projected Growth (2024-2034)

Diagnose diseases and conduct lab tests using organs, body tissues, and fluids. Includes medical examiners.

Experience Requirements Overview

Job Zone Five: Extensive Preparation Needed
Extensive skill, knowledge, and experience are needed for these occupations. Many require more than five years of experience. For example, surgeons must complete four years of college and an additional five to seven years of specialized medical training to be able to do their job.
Most of these occupations require graduate school. For example, they may require a master's degree, and some require a Ph.D., M.D., or J.D. (law degree).
Employees may need some on-the-job training, but most of these occupations assume that the person will already have the required skills, knowledge, work-related experience, and/or training.

Education, Training and Experience

Required Level of Education: Post-Doctoral Training

Related Work Experience: Over 4 years, up to and including 6 years

On-Site or In-Plant Training: Over 3 months, up to and including 6 months

On-the-Job Training: Over 1 month, up to and including 3 months

Detailed Work Activities

Testify at legal or legislative proceedings.
Analyze medical data to determine cause of death.
Manage healthcare operations.
Maintain medical or professional knowledge.
Develop health assessment methods or programs.
Train medical providers.
Conduct research to increase knowledge about medical issues.
Present medical research reports.
Supervise technical medical personnel.
Collect biological specimens from patients.
Research microbiological or chemical processes or structures.
Test biological specimens to gather information about patient conditions.
Diagnose medical conditions.
Analyze laboratory specimens to detect abnormalities or other problems.
Prepare reports summarizing patient diagnostic or care activities.
Analyze test data or images to inform diagnosis or treatment.
Communicate test or assessment results to medical professionals.
Collaborate with healthcare professionals to plan or provide treatment.
Operate laboratory equipment to analyze medical samples.

Work Values

Achievement

Occupations that satisfy this work value are results oriented and allow employees to use their strongest abilities, giving them a feeling of accomplishment. Corresponding needs are Ability Utilization and Achievement.

Working Conditions

Recognition

Relationships

Support

Independence

Tasks

Examine microscopic samples to identify diseases or other abnormalities.
Diagnose diseases or study medical conditions, using techniques such as gross pathology, histology, cytology, cytopathology, clinical chemistry, immunology, flow cytometry, or molecular biology.
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.

Work Styles

Innovation

A tendency to be inventive, to be imaginative, and to adopt new perspectives on ways to accomplish work.

Innovation

Achievement Orientation

Intellectual Curiosity

Tolerance for Ambiguity

Initiative

Adaptability

Self-Confidence

Perseverance

Leadership Orientation

Humility

Sincerity

Empathy

Cooperation

Optimism

Social Orientation

Cautiousness

Attention to Detail

Dependability

Integrity

Stress Tolerance

Self-Control

Data Source: This page includes information from the O*NET 30.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. This page includes Employment Projections program, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics program, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

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