Physicians, Pathologists Salary
The median pay for a physicians, pathologists in Durham-Chapel Hill, NC is $272,300/year ($130.92/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $201K at the entry level to $425K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 97.57), that's roughly $279,082 in purchasing power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,711/month, or 10.8% of estimated take-home pay.
So what does $272K get you in Durham-Chapel Hill?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Durham-Chapel Hill’s Regional Price Parity (97.57). Rent from HUD Fair Market Rents. Taxes estimated for single filer, standard deduction. * Healthcare is the employee-paid share only (premiums + out-of-pocket). Actual costs vary by coverage type: employer-sponsored, ACA marketplace, or uninsured.
About physicians, pathologists
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What this looks like in Durham-Chapel Hill
Pay for physicians, pathologists in Durham-Chapel Hill runs about 13% below the U.S. median of $312K. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,711/month, 11.1% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Cost of living (RPP 97.57) is near the national average, so spending patterns here track the typical American budget fairly closely. Lower pay, lower costs, Durham-Chapel Hill can be a reasonable trade-off for physicians, pathologistss who value affordability over top-dollar markets.
Compared to nearby metros
Median pay for physicians, pathologists in metros near Durham-Chapel Hill, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell | $270K | $270K |
| Richmond | $240K | $245K |
COL-adjusted = median salary ÷ (BEA Regional Price Parity ÷ 100). Expresses purchasing power in national-average dollars.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Durham-Chapel Hill, NC
Entry-level physicians, pathologists (10th percentile) start around $201K. Mid-career wages sit at $272K. Top earners bring in $425K or more, a $224K spread from bottom to top.
Physicians, Pathologists pay across states
Median income ranked highest to lowest, compared to the national figure
View Physicians, Pathologists salary in all states
| State | Median salary | vs. national | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pennsylvania | $413K | +32% | 210 |
| West Virginia | $400K | +28% | 50 |
| Nevada | $384K | +23% | 40 |
| Illinois | $382K | +22% | N/A |
| Minnesota | $362K | +16% | 550 |
| New Jersey | $356K | +14% | 230 |
| Texas | $346K | +11% | 1,530 |
| Indiana | $340K | +9% | 380 |
| Arizona | $338K | +8% | 270 |
| Kentucky | $324K | +4% | N/A |
| Iowa | $323K | +4% | 80 |
| Rhode Island | $323K | +3% | N/A |
| New York | $322K | +3% | 1,220 |
| Oklahoma | $318K | +2% | 130 |
| Florida | $314K | +0% | 370 |
| Ohio | $309K | -1% | 600 |
| Michigan | $303K | -3% | 140 |
| Washington | $301K | -4% | 200 |
| Colorado | $295K | -6% | 50 |
| Massachusetts | $285K | -9% | 320 |
| Missouri | $262K | -16% | N/A |
| Mississippi | $262K | -16% | 50 |
| Maryland | $254K | -19% | 70 |
| North Carolina | $249K | -20% | 340 |
| Virginia | $241K | -23% | 110 |
| South Carolina | $237K | -24% | 80 |
| Nebraska | $229K | -27% | 90 |
| Kansas | $224K | -28% | 30 |
| Arkansas | $214K | -31% | 130 |
| Georgia | $212K | -32% | 170 |
| Vermont | $188K | -40% | N/A |
| California | $186K | -40% | 1,790 |
| Wisconsin | $84K | -73% | 130 |
Showing 1–10 of 33 states
BLS does not publish data for every state when sample sizes are too small
Track physicians, pathologists salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Durham-Chapel Hill numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a physicians, pathologist afford a 2BR apartment alone in Durham-Chapel Hill?
Yes — at the median salary of $272K, rent takes 11.1% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,711/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for physicians, pathologists in Durham-Chapel Hill?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new physicians, pathologists typically earn — is $201K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $12,058/month. At HUD’s $1,711/month FMR, rent would take 14% of that take-home — manageable on an entry-level income.
Is physicians, pathologist a high-paying job in Durham-Chapel Hill?
Local pay runs 13% below the national median — $272K here vs. $312K nationally.
How does Durham-Chapel Hill compare to the national average for physicians, pathologists?
Durham-Chapel Hill pays $272K median vs. the U.S. average of $312K — that’s -13%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 97.57), the purchasing-power equivalent is $279K — below the national median.
How much do physicians, pathologists make in Durham-Chapel Hill, NC?
The median is $272,300 a year, that works out to about $131 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $200,960, and experienced physicians, pathologists can clear $425,220. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $272K enough to live in Durham-Chapel Hill?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $15,411/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,711/month, which eats 11.1% 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 Durham-Chapel Hill?
Durham-Chapel Hill has a Regional Price Parity of 97.57 (100 is the national average). That's below average, your money stretches further here than the raw salary number suggests. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median physicians, pathologists salary is worth about $279,082 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.