Description
Diagnose diseases and conduct lab tests using organs, body tissues, and fluids. Includes medical examiners.
Interests
- Investigative
- Realistic
- Conventional
Work Values
- Achievement
- Independence
- Recognition
Work Styles
- Attention to Detail
- Dependability
- Integrity
- Achievement/Effort
- Stress Tolerance
Tasks
- Examine microscopic samples to identify diseases or other abnormalities.
- Diagnose diseases or study medical conditions, using techniques such as gross pathology, histology, cytology, cytopathology, clinical chemistry, immunology, flow cytometry, or molecular biology.
- Write pathology reports summarizing analyses, results, and conclusions.
- Communicate pathologic findings to surgeons or other physicians.
- Identify the etiology, pathogenesis, morphological change, and clinical significance of diseases.
Work Activities
- Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge
- Documenting/Recording Information
- Processing Information
- Getting Information
- Making Decisions and Solving Problems
Detailed Work Activities
- Keeping up-to-date technically and applying new knowledge to your job.
- Entering, transcribing, recording, storing, or maintaining information in written or electronic/magnetic form.
- Compiling, coding, categorizing, calculating, tabulating, auditing, or verifying information or data.
- Observing, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources.
- Analyzing information and evaluating results to choose the best solution and solve problems.
- Identifying information by categorizing, estimating, recognizing differences or similarities, and detecting changes in circumstances or events.
- Using relevant information and individual judgment to determine whether events or processes comply with laws, regulations, or standards.
- Providing information to supervisors, co-workers, and subordinates by telephone, in written form, e-mail, or in person.
- Using computers and computer systems (including hardware and software) to program, write software, set up functions, enter data, or process information.
- Identifying the underlying principles, reasons, or facts of information by breaking down information or data into separate parts.
Technology Skills
- Data base user interface and query software
- Presentation software
- Medical software
- Accounting software
- Information retrieval or search software
Abilities
- Inductive Reasoning
- Problem Sensitivity
- Oral Comprehension
- Written Expression
- Deductive Reasoning
Skills
- Reading Comprehension
- Critical Thinking
- Writing
- Active Learning
- Active Listening
Knowledge
- Medicine and Dentistry
- Biology
- English Language
- Customer and Personal Service
- Education and Training
Most Common Education Level
The “Most Common Education Level” refers to the level of education held by the majority of workers in a given occupation. For example, if the highest percentage of workers in a role have an Associate’s Degree, that suggests this is the typical educational requirement. Knowing this helps you plan how many years of education you may need to pursue that career.
Certificates
Certificate name
Certification in Clinical PathologyCertifying Organization
American Board of Pathology
Type
Core
Certificate name
Diplomate in Laboratory ManagementCertifying Organization
American Society for Clinical Pathology
Type
Core
Certificate name
Certification in Pathology: Forensic PathologyCertifying Organization
American Board of Pathology
Type
Specialty
Certificate name
Certification in Pathology: HematopathologyCertifying Organization
American Board of Pathology
Type
Specialty
Income Percentile
The income percentiles show how earnings are distributed within a profession. The 10th percentile means that 10% of workers earned less than that amount. The median (50th percentile) indicates that half of workers earned more, and half earned less. The 90th percentile reflects what the top 10% of earners in the field make.
| Income Percentile | Annual Income |
|---|---|
| Low (10%) | $115,876 |
| Median (50%) | $228,822 |
| High (90%) | $312,682 |
Income by Experience
This table shows how income typically grows with experience—from entry level (0–2 years), to mid-level (3–5 years), to senior level (6–8 years), to expert level (8+ years).
| Experience | Income |
|---|---|
Entry Level  | $152,394 |
| Mid Level | $202,087 |
| Senior Level | $190,929 |
| Expert Level | $207,224 |
Employability
There are currently 11,800 jobs in this career path. Over the next 10 years, that number is expected to increase to 12,500 positions, reflecting a projected growth of 6%.
The Projected Job Growth figure refers to the expected increase or decrease in employment within a specific career field over a certain period of time.
Projected Job Growth of 6%
Related Careers
The career information and data on this site incorporates information from O*NET Web Services, Lightcast, CareerOneStop, and the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). For more details regarding the data sources and the specific information sourced, click here.
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