Physicians, Pathologists salary in San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA
Physicians, Pathologists in the San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA metro area earn a median of $248,420 a year ($119.43 an hour), based on BLS data for 30 workers.
Pay ranges from $108,340 for the lowest-paid 10% to $451,780 for the top 10%. That is 20% lower than the national median of $312,400. Pay here is 33% higher than the California statewide median of $186,300. There are 0.03 physicians, pathologists per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.40). The average (mean) salary is $266,450, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for physicians, pathologists in San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $108,340 | $52.09 |
| 25th percentile | $161,720 | $77.75 |
| Median | $248,420 | $119.43 |
| 75th percentile | $372,110 | $178.90 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $451,780 | $217.20 |
| Average (mean) | $266,450 | $128.10 |
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 | $20,701.67 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $10,350.83 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $9,554.62 |
| Weekly | $4,777.31 |
| Hourly | $119.43 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Physicians, Pathologists salary in other metro areas nearby
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | $333,330 | 90 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $319,340 | 330 |
| 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 |
See Physicians, Pathologists pay in every state or the California statewide figures.
Related jobs in San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Registered Nurse | $216,740 | $104.20 |
| Physicians, All Other | $98,870 | $47.54 |
| Pharmacist | $199,040 | $95.69 |
| Dental Hygienist | $139,990 | $67.30 |
| Nurse Practitioner | $231,560 | $111.33 |
| Physical Therapist | $139,000 | $66.83 |
| Dentists, General | $207,910 | $99.96 |
| Family Medicine Physician | $351,760 | $169.12 |
| Respiratory Therapist | $149,680 | $71.96 |
| Physician Assistant | $223,640 | $107.52 |
| Speech-Language Pathologist | $132,720 | $63.81 |
| Occupational Therapist | $136,870 | $65.80 |
| Dietitians and Nutritionists | $122,910 | $59.09 |
| Optometrist | $135,330 | $65.06 |
More: Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Occupations · all salaries in San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA
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 San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA?
The median salary for physicians, pathologists in the San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA metro area is $248,420 a year, or $119.43 an hour. Pay ranges from $108,340 for the lowest-paid 10% to $451,780 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid physicians, pathologists make in San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA?
The top 10% of physicians, pathologists in the San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA metro area earn at least $451,780 a year. The top 25% earn $372,110 or more.
What is the starting pay for physicians, pathologists in San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $108,340 a year, and a quarter of physicians, pathologists earn $161,720 or less.
How many physicians, pathologists work in San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA?
About 30 physicians, pathologists are employed in the San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA metro area, not counting the self-employed.