Physicians, Pathologists Salary
The median pay for a physicians, pathologists in San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA is $186,300/year ($89.57/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $101K at the entry level to $186K for experienced workers. Prices run high here (RPP 115.61), so that salary is closer to $161,145 in real purchasing power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $3,604/month, about 34% of take-home, which is tight.
So what does $186K get you in San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont’s Regional Price Parity (115.61). 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 Francisco-Oakland-Fremont
Pay for physicians, pathologists in San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont runs about 40% below the U.S. median of $312K. Rent runs $3,604/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 34.5% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Cost-of-living overall is 16% above the national average (BEA RPP 115.61), 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 Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario | $143K | $134K |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim | $319K | $281K |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad | $333K | $298K |
| 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 Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA
Entry-level physicians, pathologists (10th percentile) start around $101K. Mid-career wages sit at $186K. Top earners bring in $186K or more, a $85K 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 Francisco-Oakland-Fremont numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a physicians, pathologist afford a 2BR apartment alone in San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $186K, rent takes 34.5% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $3,604/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $3,100/month in rent — so roommates or a 1-bedroom would ease the math significantly.
What’s the entry-level salary for physicians, pathologists in San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new physicians, pathologists typically earn — is $101K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $6,062/month. At HUD’s $3,604/month FMR, rent would take 59% 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 Francisco-Oakland-Fremont?
Local pay runs 40% below the national median — $186K here vs. $312K nationally.
How does San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont compare to the national average for physicians, pathologists?
San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont pays $186K median vs. the U.S. average of $312K — that’s -40%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 115.61), the purchasing-power equivalent is $161K — below the national median.
How much do physicians, pathologists make in San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA?
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 $101,040, and experienced physicians, pathologists can clear $186,300. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $186K enough to live in San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $10,438/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $3,604/month, which eats 34.5% of your paycheck. That's above the 30% rule of thumb, housing will be a stretch at the median salary, though you can manage with roommates or a smaller place.
How far does a physicians, pathologists salary go in San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont?
San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont has a Regional Price Parity of 115.61 (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 $161,145 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.