Pay, location & work-life context
Pathology Salary Map by State (2026)
Median pathology pay across 10 states from real job listings — switch views to adjust for cost of living or overlay burnout scores. Medians blend permanent salaries with annualized locums/contract rates. National median: $300,000.
Highest median
Minnesota
$397,250
Best real purchasing power
Minnesota
$402,805 adjusted
Best lifestyle score
Minnesota
5.8/10 avg burnout score
Compare state markets
Choose a metric, then select a state to see its figures and available breakdown.
Tile positions are approximate, not geographic boundaries. Selection adds an outline without changing the metric color. Work-life scores describe listings, not surveyed clinician burnout.
Pathology pay by state
Sorted by median advertised pay. On smaller screens, scroll the table sideways to compare all metrics.
| State | Median | COL-adjusted | Take-home, COL-adj. | Work-life score | Listings |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Minnesota | $397,250 | $402,805 | $363,128 | 5.8/10 | 17 |
| California | $358,800 | $324,061 | $293,923 | 4.6/10 | 23 |
| Florida | $334,517 | $323,474 | $323,474 | 1.6/10 | 7 |
| Illinois | $330,000 | $330,139 | $313,797 | 4.8/10 | 18 |
| Massachusetts | $329,250 | $311,327 | $295,761 | 3.8/10 | 17 |
| New York | $317,500 | $294,197 | $274,044 | 4.7/10 | 25 |
| Washington | $305,000 | $285,012 | $285,012 | 3.9/10 | 11 |
| Colorado | $285,000 | $276,559 | $264,391 | 3.6/10 | 5 |
| New Jersey | $271,500 | $249,529 | $233,634 | 4.9/10 | 7 |
| Maryland | $218,800 | $208,462 | $196,476 | 4.1/10 | 6 |
Common questions
Which state pays pathology physicians the most?
Minnesota currently has the highest median pathology salary at $397,250, based on 17 real job listings.
Which state offers the best after-tax pathology pay?
Minnesota currently leads the take-home view at $363,128 — the state median after its state income tax (Tax Foundation state income tax rates (2025)), divided by the local cost-of-living index. No-income-tax states like Texas, Florida and Tennessee often outrank nominally higher-paying states here.
Why adjust pathology salaries for cost of living?
Prices differ across states. The adjusted view divides each state's pay benchmark by its regional price index (U.S. average = 100). Source: BEA Regional Price Parities (2024). This is a state-level comparison, not a personal budget or a city-level cost estimate. Missing price data is shown as unavailable.
Which state has the best pathology lifestyle scores?
Minnesota currently has the highest average WeekdayDoc burnout score (5.8/10, higher is better) for pathology listings — a measure of call burden, weekend requirements, and schedule flexibility across postings.
More salary maps
See the full percentile breakdown on the Pathology salary page.