Physicians, Pathologists Salary
The median pay for a physicians, pathologists in Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA is $319,340/year ($153.53/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $95K at the entry level to $441K for experienced workers. Prices run high here (RPP 113.57), so that salary is closer to $281,183 in real purchasing power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $2,601/month, or 14.7% of estimated take-home pay.
Where the paycheck goes
What $319K actually covers in Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, month by month
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim’s Regional Price Parity (113.57). 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 Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim
Physicians, pathologists pay in Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim tracks closely to the national median, $319K locally vs. $312K nationwide, a 2% difference. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $2,601/month, 15.5% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Cost-of-living overall is 14% above the national average (BEA RPP 113.57), so groceries and services cost more too. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compared to nearby metros
Median pay for physicians, pathologists in metros near Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler | $349K | $338K |
COL-adjusted = median salary ÷ (BEA Regional Price Parity ÷ 100). Expresses purchasing power in national-average dollars.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA
Entry-level physicians, pathologists (10th percentile) start around $95K. Mid-career wages sit at $319K. Top earners bring in $441K or more, a $345K 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 with published data
BLS does not publish data for every state when sample sizes are too small
Track physicians, pathologists salary changes
BLS updates this data annually. We'll email you when Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim numbers change.
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Quick answers
The stuff people actually ask about this job
Can a physicians, pathologist afford a 2BR apartment alone in Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim?
Yes — at the median salary of $319K, rent takes 15.5% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $2,601/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for physicians, pathologists in Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new physicians, pathologists typically earn — is $95K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $5,867/month. At HUD’s $2,601/month FMR, rent would take 44% 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 Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $319K locally vs. $312K nationally, a 2% difference.
How does Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim compare to the national average for physicians, pathologists?
Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim pays $319K median vs. the U.S. average of $312K — that’s +2%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 113.57), the purchasing-power equivalent is $281K — below the national median.
How much do physicians, pathologists make in Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA?
The median is $319,340 a year, that works out to about $154 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $95,260, and experienced physicians, pathologists can clear $440,610. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $319K enough to live in Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $16,735/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $2,601/month, which eats 15.5% 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 Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim?
Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim has a Regional Price Parity of 113.57 (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 $281,183 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.