Pathologist salary
From 358 certified H-1B filings (FY2025–FY2026). Base salary only.
- Occupation code 29-1222: Physicians, Pathologists
- Also filed as: Physician Pathologist
At a glance
- Mostly Level II (mid-level). 43% of Pathologist filings are Level II, compared with 42% across all H-1B filings.
- Median up 29% since FY2020. From $200,000 in FY2020 to $258,941 in FY2026 (Q1–Q3). Nominal, not adjusted for inflation.
Pathologist H-1B salary overview
Employers filed 358 certified H-1B Labor Condition Applications for Pathologist jobs in FY2025–FY2026 (occupation code 29-1222, Physicians, Pathologists). The median base salary is $251,472, 105% above the median for all H-1B filings ($122,699), and half of the filings fall between $210,000 and $315,000. The most common wage level is Level II (mid-level), at 43% of filings.
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Percentiles from certified H-1B filings, base salary only. Metro areas with at least 10 filings.
Pay by level
Entry-level · 31% of filings
Mid-level · 43% of filings
Senior · 15% of filings
Expert · 12% of filings
Show the table
By experience level
| Wage level | Median | Filings |
|---|---|---|
| Level I · Entry | $206,000 | 84 |
| Level II · Qualified | $264,600 | 117 |
| Level III · Experienced | $287,524 | 40 |
| Level IV · Fully competent | $320,000 | 33 |
Median shown when a level has at least 10 filings.
Pathologist pay by city
Median base salary in each metro area. Rent: HUD Fair Market Rent, FY2027.
Show all 7 metro areas
| Metro area | Median | Filings |
|---|---|---|
| New York, NY | $255,000 | 27 |
| Boston, MA | $155,000 | 17 |
| Indianapolis, IN | $309,920 | 15 |
| Pittsburgh, PA | $135,516 | 14 |
| Philadelphia, PA | $73,789 | 12 |
| Chicago, IL | $248,733 | 11 |
| Cleveland, OH | $77,404 | 10 |
Metro areas with at least 10 filings for this occupation.
What a Pathologist does
Diagnose diseases and conduct lab tests using organs, body tissues, and fluids. Includes medical examiners.
Typical 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.
Preparation
Job Zone Five: Extensive Preparation Needed. 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).
O*NET occupation: Physicians, Pathologists (29-1222.00). This section includes information from the O*NET 31.0 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.
H-1B pay vs. all U.S. workers
Across all U.S. workers in this occupation (Physicians, Pathologists), the median annual wage was $239,200+ in May 2025, with 11,110 people employed. The median H-1B base salary in FY2025–FY2026 is $251,472, 20% lower.
| H-1B filings | All U.S. workers (BLS, May 2025) | |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $78,073 | $92,540 |
| 25th percentile | $210,000 | $186,300 |
| Median | $251,472 | $239,200+ |
| 75th percentile | $315,000 | $239,200+ |
| 90th percentile | $361,920 | $239,200+ |
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS). BLS wages cover all wage and salary workers and include some incentive pay; H-1B figures are the base salary offered on certified LCAs. The two sources cover different periods. BLS reports wages of $239,200 or more as a single top value.
Salary details
Salary range
| Percentile | Salary |
|---|---|
| 10th | $78,073 |
| 25th | $210,000 |
| 50th (median) | $251,472 |
| 75th | $315,000 |
| 90th | $361,920 |
Salary by year
Median salary
Filings per year
Show as table
| Fiscal year | Median | P25 | P75 | Filings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FY2020 | $200,000 | $176,840 | $222,500 | 15 |
| FY2021 | $220,000 | $164,873 | $294,000 | 38 |
| FY2022 | $220,000 | $150,000 | $267,592 | 55 |
| FY2023 | $230,000 | $180,675 | $275,000 | 144 |
| FY2024 | $240,000 | $194,265 | $286,250 | 144 |
| FY2025 | $250,000 | $203,990 | $317,586 | 178 |
| FY2026 | $258,941 | $210,000 | $311,250 | 180 |
Questions
How much does an H-1B Pathologist make?
The median base salary in certified H-1B filings for Pathologist jobs is $251,472 (358 filings, FY2025–FY2026). Half of the filings are between $210,000 and $315,000.
What does an entry-level Pathologist earn on an H-1B?
Level I (entry-level) filings have a median of $206,000. Level I accounts for 31% of Pathologist filings.
Do H-1B Pathologists earn more than other U.S. workers in the same job?
The H-1B median base salary ($251,472) is 20% lower than the median wage of all U.S. workers in this occupation ($239,200+, BLS May 2025). The sources measure pay differently, so treat this as a rough comparison.