Physicians, Pathologists salary in California
Physicians, Pathologists in California earn a median of $186,300 a year ($89.57 an hour), based on BLS data for 1,790 workers.
Pay ranges from $105,750 for the lowest-paid 10% to $387,760 for the top 10%. That is 40% lower than the national median of $312,400. California ranks 34th of 35 states for physicians, pathologists pay. There are 0.10 physicians, pathologists per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 1.4× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $221,080, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for physicians, pathologists in California
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $105,750 | $50.84 |
| 25th percentile | $167,110 | $80.34 |
| Median | $186,300 | $89.57 |
| 75th percentile | $318,820 | $153.28 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $387,760 | $186.42 |
| Average (mean) | $221,080 | $106.29 |
Half of physicians, pathologists earn more than the median and half earn less. Percentiles show the spread: 10% earn less than the 10th percentile, and 10% earn more than the 90th.
Median paycheck, before taxes
| Pay period | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $15,525 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $7,762.50 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $7,165.38 |
| Weekly | $3,582.69 |
| Hourly | $89.57 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Physicians, Pathologists salary in cities in California
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | $333,330 | 90 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $319,340 | 330 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $248,420 | 30 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $186,300 | n/a |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | $143,120 | n/a |
Highest-paying states for physicians, pathologists
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| Pennsylvania | $413,370 |
| West Virginia | $400,070 |
| Nevada | $384,350 |
| Illinois | $381,770 |
| Minnesota | $362,270 |
| New Jersey | $355,970 |
| Texas | $345,830 |
| Indiana | $340,300 |
| Arizona | $338,290 |
| Kentucky | $324,390 |
Related jobs in California
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Registered Nurse | $140,270 | $67.44 |
| Pharmacist | $164,610 | $79.14 |
| Physical Therapist | $124,190 | $59.71 |
| Physicians, All Other | $281,590 | $135.38 |
| Nurse Practitioner | $168,520 | $81.02 |
| Dental Hygienist | $124,930 | $60.06 |
| Respiratory Therapist | $104,820 | $50.40 |
| Speech-Language Pathologist | $118,970 | $57.20 |
| Dentists, General | $165,950 | $79.79 |
| Occupational Therapist | $124,510 | $59.86 |
| Physician Assistant | $165,650 | $79.64 |
| Veterinarian | $163,920 | $78.81 |
| Dietitians and Nutritionists | $98,850 | $47.52 |
| Optometrist | $136,300 | $65.53 |
More: Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Occupations · all salaries in California
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 29-1222. Wages include base pay, tips, commissions and shift pay, but not overtime, bonuses or benefits, and exclude the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a physicians, pathologists make in California?
The median salary for physicians, pathologists in California is $186,300 a year, or $89.57 an hour. Pay ranges from $105,750 for the lowest-paid 10% to $387,760 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid physicians, pathologists make in California?
The top 10% of physicians, pathologists in California earn at least $387,760 a year. The top 25% earn $318,820 or more.
What is the starting pay for physicians, pathologists in California?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $105,750 a year, and a quarter of physicians, pathologists earn $167,110 or less.
How many physicians, pathologists work in California?
About 1,790 physicians, pathologists are employed in California, not counting the self-employed.