Physicians, Pathologists Salary
The median pay for a physicians, pathologists in San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA is $333,330/year ($160.25/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $119K at the entry level to $389K for experienced workers. Prices run high here (RPP 111.89), so that salary is closer to $297,909 in real purchasing power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $3,001/month, or 16.2% of estimated take-home pay.
So what does $333K get you in San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad’s Regional Price Parity (111.89). 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 San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad
Physicians, pathologists pay in San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad tracks closely to the national median, $333K locally vs. $312K nationwide, a 7% difference. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $3,001/month, 17.3% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Cost-of-living overall is 12% above the national average (BEA RPP 111.89), 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 San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario | $143K | $134K |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont | $186K | $161K |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim | $319K | $281K |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara | $248K | $225K |
COL-adjusted = median salary ÷ (BEA Regional Price Parity ÷ 100). Expresses purchasing power in national-average dollars.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA
Entry-level physicians, pathologists (10th percentile) start around $119K. Mid-career wages sit at $333K. Top earners bring in $389K or more, a $269K 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 San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a physicians, pathologist afford a 2BR apartment alone in San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad?
Yes — at the median salary of $333K, rent takes 17.3% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $3,001/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for physicians, pathologists in San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new physicians, pathologists typically earn — is $119K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $7,162/month. At HUD’s $3,001/month FMR, rent would take 42% 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 San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $333K locally vs. $312K nationally, a 7% difference.
How does San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad compare to the national average for physicians, pathologists?
San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad pays $333K median vs. the U.S. average of $312K — that’s +7%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 111.89), the purchasing-power equivalent is $298K — below the national median.
How much do physicians, pathologists make in San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA?
The median is $333,330 a year, that works out to about $160 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $119,370, and experienced physicians, pathologists can clear $388,510. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $333K enough to live in San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $17,357/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $3,001/month, which eats 17.3% 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 San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad?
San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad has a Regional Price Parity of 111.89 (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 $297,909 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.