Physicians, Pathologists Salary
The median pay for a physicians, pathologists in Illinois is $381,770/year ($183.55/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $137K at the entry level to $547K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 93.85), which stretches that salary to about $406,787 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,407/month, or 6.4% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Illinois. Jump to a metro for precise data:
Where the paycheck goes
What $382K actually covers in Illinois, month by month
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What this looks like in Illinois
Illinois sits well above the national pay line for physicians, pathologists, local pay runs about 22% higher than the U.S. median of $312K. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,407/month, 6.8% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Regional Price Parity sits at 93.85 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 6% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Combined with manageable housing costs, Illinois offers a genuinely strong financial position for physicians, pathologists at the median.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Illinois
Entry-level physicians, pathologists (10th percentile) start around $137K. Mid-career wages sit at $382K. Top earners bring in $547K or more, a $410K spread from bottom to top.
Physicians, Pathologists salary by metro in Illinois
1 metro area with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin | $337K | -12% | N/A |
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Quick answers
The stuff people actually ask about this job
Can a physicians, pathologist afford a 2BR apartment alone in Illinois?
Yes — at the median salary of $382K, rent takes 6.8% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,407/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for physicians, pathologists in Illinois?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new physicians, pathologists typically earn — is $137K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $8,134/month. At HUD’s $1,407/month FMR, rent would take 17% of that take-home — manageable on an entry-level income.
Is physicians, pathologist a high-paying job in Illinois?
Local pay is 22% above the national median — $382K here vs. $312K nationally.
How does Illinois compare to the national average for physicians, pathologists?
Illinois pays $382K median vs. the U.S. average of $312K — that’s +22%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 93.85), the purchasing-power equivalent is $407K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do physicians, pathologists make in Illinois?
The median is $381,770 a year, that works out to about $184 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $136,990, and experienced physicians, pathologists can clear $546,740. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $382K enough to live in Illinois?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $20,572/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,407/month, which eats 6.8% 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 Illinois?
Illinois has a Regional Price Parity of 93.85 (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 $406,787 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.