Physicians, Pathologists Salary
The median pay for a physicians, pathologists in California is $186,300/year ($89.57/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $106K at the entry level to $388K for experienced workers. Prices run high here (RPP 106.14), so that salary is closer to $175,523 in real purchasing power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $2,471/month, or 23.3% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across California. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $186K get you in California?
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What this looks like in California
Pay for physicians, pathologists in California runs about 40% below the U.S. median of $312K. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $2,471/month, 23.7% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Cost-of-living overall is 6% above the national average (BEA RPP 106.14), so groceries and services cost more too. Lower pay, lower costs, California can be a reasonable trade-off for physicians, pathologistss who value affordability over top-dollar markets.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, California
Entry-level physicians, pathologists (10th percentile) start around $106K. Mid-career wages sit at $186K. Top earners bring in $388K or more, a $282K spread from bottom to top.
Physicians, Pathologists salary by metro in California
5 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad | $333K | +79% | 90 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim | $319K | +71% | 330 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara | $248K | +33% | 30 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont | $186K | +0% | N/A |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario | $143K | -23% | N/A |
Compare to other states
Track physicians, pathologists salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when California numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a physicians, pathologist afford a 2BR apartment alone in California?
Yes — at the median salary of $186K, rent takes 23.7% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $2,471/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for physicians, pathologists in California?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new physicians, pathologists typically earn — is $106K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $6,345/month. At HUD’s $2,471/month FMR, rent would take 39% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is physicians, pathologist a high-paying job in California?
Local pay runs 40% below the national median — $186K here vs. $312K nationally.
How does California compare to the national average for physicians, pathologists?
California pays $186K median vs. the U.S. average of $312K — that’s -40%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 106.14), the purchasing-power equivalent is $176K — below the national median.
How much do physicians, pathologists make in California?
The median is $186,300 a year, that works out to about $90 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $105,750, and experienced physicians, pathologists can clear $387,760. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $186K enough to live in California?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $10,438/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $2,471/month, which eats 23.7% of your paycheck. That's under the 30% guideline most financial planners use, so the numbers work.
How far does a physicians, pathologists salary go in California?
California has a Regional Price Parity of 106.14 (100 is the national average). Prices are above average here, so your dollar buys less than the same salary would in a cheaper metro. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median physicians, pathologists salary is worth about $175,523 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do physicians, pathologists get paid the most?
The table above ranks every state by median pay for this role. Keep in mind that the highest-paying states tend to have the highest costs of living, so the top salary doesn't always mean the most money in your pocket.