In the United States, the pathologist salary is $191,729 per year. While the median pay for those in Canada stands at C$128,579 ($93,389 USD). Pathologists in the United Kingdom make between £26,350 ($34,025 USD) and £102,500 ($132,350 USD).
For pathologists in Australia, the mean pay is AU$95,000 ($70,237 USD). As for Switzerland, the salary comes in at CHF274,365 ($278,214 USD), while pathologists in Norway earn a mean pay of NOK916,800 ($105,578 USD).
Pathologist Salary Influencers
Experience, work setting and the country of practice help shape the pay of pathologists. In certain countries, pathologists work under single-payer or government-run healthcare systems. However, agencies in these countries often set compensation scales for pathologists and other medical or healthcare workers.
1. Industry
Pathologists study and diagnose the causes of diseases. The profession encompasses many settings and fields, such as virology, chemical pathology, cancer and diseases involving blood and bones. Forensic pathologists perform autopsies to determine the cause of sudden and unexpected deaths and may work in medical examiners’ offices or special units of law enforcement agencies. At the same time, other work settings for pathologists typically include hospitals, laboratories, and academia.
According to the Canadian Government’s “Job Bank,” approximately 64 percent of “Specialist Physicians,” which include pathologists, are self-employed.
2. Geographical Area
| Pathologist Salary | US | Canada | UK | Australia | Switzerland | Norway |
| Hourly Wage | $92.31 | C$60.58 | £28.85 | AU$45.67 | CHF131.91 | NOK440.70 |
| Annual Wage | $191,729 | C$126,000 | £60,000 | AU$95,000 | CHF274,365 | NOK916,800 |
Pathologist Salary in the US
According to PayScale, the mean pay for pathologists in the United States stands at $191,729. While the total pay runs from $68,532 to $309,967.
Pathologist Salary in Canada
Job Outlook Canada classifies pathologists as “Specialist Physicians.” These professionals have a median pay of C$128,579. While the lowest salary stands at C$46,252 and the highest reaches C$376,461.
Pathologist Salary in the UK
The National Careers Service reports that pathologists in the United Kingdom make from £26,350 to £102,500.
Pathologist Salary in Australia
PayScale places the mean salary for pathologists in Australia at AU$95,000 per year. While the pay range starts at AU$37,952 and rises to AU$246,581.
Pathologist Salary in Switzerland
As reported by SalaryExpert, clinical pathologists earn a mean pay of CHF278,325 per year.
Pathologist Salary in Norway
The mean salary for “Specialist medical practitioners” stands at NOK76,400 per month. This translates to an annual mean pay of NOK916,800.
3. Experience
In the United States, the median salary for entry-level pathologists is $188,000 as reported by PayScale. Median pay falls to $153,000 after five years of experience, then climbs to $199,000 after ten years and $295,000 beyond 20 years. Those in the “late-career” stage, or beyond 20 years, earn 54 percent above the mean pay.
Entry-level pathologists in the United Kingdom, who are paid as “doctors in training” earn between £26,350 and £45,750. Pathologists in the “Experienced” categories make from £37,500 and £70,000 as “specialty doctors.” The pay for “Highly Experienced” pathologists, identified as “Consultants,” is £76,000 to £102,500.
Pathologists in the mid-career stage in Australia earn 94 percent above the mean pay level. In Switzerland, entry-level pathologists fetch earnings of CHF173,368. While the pay for senior-level pathologists amounts to CHF346,962.
Working Hours
Generally, pathology is a full-time occupation. In the United States, an estimated 65 percent of pathologists work more than 40 hours per week.
The Canadian Medical Association’s “National Physician Survey” states that anatomical pathologists log on average 50.5 hours per week in work and 13 hours per month on call. While nearly nine in ten specialty physicians in Canada, which include pathologists, are full-time professionals.
The Australian Government’s “Job Outlook” states that 80.7 percent of “Other medical professionals,” which include pathologists, are full-time. Those in that category put in an average of 40 hours per week. This is generally in line with the 40.2 hours per week for all full-time workers in Australia.
Bonuses & Benefit Packages
Depending on the country, bonuses and other incentives may be available for pathologists for reasons such as locating in underserved or rural areas. PayScale reports bonuses of $10,010 for pathologists in the United States.
In Norway, “Specialist medical practitioners” earn a mean bonus of NOK200 per month or NOK2,400 per year.
Salaried employees, including pathologists, enjoy employment benefits afforded by law. In Australia, Switzerland, and Norway, employees are entitled to pensions and retirement benefits funded by their employers. However, Switzerland operates a three-tier retirement system with Old Age and Survivors/Disability Insurance, mandatory employer contributions and a third-level of voluntary contributions by employers.
Employees in Australia, Switzerland, the United Kingdom, Norway, and Canada are entitled to various paid holidays and annual leave. For instance, pathologists in the United Kingdom get 5.6 weeks of paid holiday leave per year, while those in Australia and Switzerland generally get four weeks. For pathologists in Norway, the paid leave is for 25 days. Most Canadian provinces afford at least two weeks per year, with Saskatchewan giving three weeks.
Job Outlook
The prevalence of diseases, along with increased retirement of current pathologists, should also grow the demand for pathologists. By 2030, there could arise a net shortage of 5,700 pathologists.
O*NET says that employment of pathologists in the United States should rise by 14 percent through 2024. By that time, the United States should have 145,100 openings for pathologists. While in 2014, there were 347,000 pathologists in the United States.
According to Job Bank Canada, the country will have by 2024 a projected 21,500 openings for 13,100 seekers. While Job Outlook Australia reports that, as of November 2015, Australia had 17,200 “Other medical professionals.” By November 2019, job openings for these professionals should stay at or below 5,000.
Conclusion
The pay for pathologists will turn upon factors such as experience, country of practice and work settings. While earnings should figure higher in private practices and hospitals. Therefore the rise in diseases, a strong appreciation for the role of forensic medicine in law enforcement, and openings from retiring pathologists should spell increased demand and prospects for employment of pathologists. Related to this, you can also read more about the biomedical engineer salary.
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