Physicians, Pathologists Salary
The median pay for a physicians, pathologists in San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA is $248,420/year ($119.43/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $108K at the entry level to $452K for experienced workers. Prices run high here (RPP 110.42), so that salary is closer to $224,977 in real purchasing power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $3,483/month, or 24.2% of estimated take-home pay.
So what does $248K get you in San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara’s Regional Price Parity (110.42). 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 Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara
Pay for physicians, pathologists in San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara runs about 20% below the U.S. median of $312K. Rent runs $3,483/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 25.7% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Cost-of-living overall is 10% above the national average (BEA RPP 110.42), 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 Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, 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 Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad | $333K | $298K |
COL-adjusted = median salary ÷ (BEA Regional Price Parity ÷ 100). Expresses purchasing power in national-average dollars.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA
Entry-level physicians, pathologists (10th percentile) start around $108K. Mid-career wages sit at $248K. Top earners bring in $452K or more, a $343K 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 Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a physicians, pathologist afford a 2BR apartment alone in San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara?
Yes — at the median salary of $248K, rent takes 25.7% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $3,483/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for physicians, pathologists in San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new physicians, pathologists typically earn — is $108K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $6,500/month. At HUD’s $3,483/month FMR, rent would take 54% 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 Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara?
Local pay runs 20% below the national median — $248K here vs. $312K nationally.
How does San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara compare to the national average for physicians, pathologists?
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara pays $248K median vs. the U.S. average of $312K — that’s -20%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 110.42), the purchasing-power equivalent is $225K — below the national median.
How much do physicians, pathologists make in San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA?
The median is $248,420 a year, that works out to about $119 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $108,340, and experienced physicians, pathologists can clear $451,780. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $248K enough to live in San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $13,539/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $3,483/month, which eats 25.7% 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 Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara?
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara has a Regional Price Parity of 110.42 (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 $224,977 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.