There are currently an estimated 372,400 pathologists in the United States. The pathologist job market is expected to grow by 11.4% between 2016 and 2026.

How employable are pathologists?

CareerExplorer rates pathologists with an A- employability rating, meaning this career should provide great employment opportunities for the foreseeable future. Over the next 10 years, it is expected the US will need 43,400 pathologists. That number is based on 42,300 additional pathologists, and the retirement of 1,100 existing pathologists.

Are pathologists in demand?

The job outlook and demand for pathologists is very positive. The wide scope of the field of pathology encompasses several sub-specialties and therefore consistently generates numerous employment opportunities. Any part of the human body can develop disease. The work of pathologists – studying, identifying, and understanding the causes and effects of disorders of cells, tissues, blood, and organs – is a foundation of medical diagnosis and treatment. Simply stated, demand for pathologists is as certain as the occurrence of disease. Jobs in the field expand further as the population ages and becomes more susceptible to illness. Just as pathologists are called upon to investigate disease, they are also summoned to determine the cause of death. Currently, in the United States, the need for forensic pathologists is especially pronounced. According to the Wall Street Journal, the profound shortage of these specialists is delaying autopsies throughout the country. The National Association of Medical Examiners (NAME) recommends that forensic pathologists perform a maximum of 250 to 350 autopsies annually, but this number is being exceeded as demand in the field far outweighs the supply of qualified practitioners. Approximately half of the pathologists in the U.S. and Canada enter group practice. The remainder work in solo practice; in university medical schools and research facilities; in hospitals and independent diagnostic laboratories; and as coroners or medical examiners. Competition for university professorships in pathology is typically intense.

What’s the supply of pathologists?

The pathologist industry is concentrated in New York, California, Pennsylvania

Pathologist job market by state

State Name Employed Pathologists
New York 46,080
California 29,890
Pennsylvania 19,820
Texas 18,820
Florida 18,410
Michigan 16,370
New Jersey 14,520
Massachusetts 14,370
Ohio 13,990
Maryland 10,550
North Carolina 10,360
Illinois 10,270
Georgia 9,530
Indiana 9,530
Virginia 8,000
Washington 7,240
Wisconsin 6,670
Tennessee 6,420
Connecticut 6,060
Arizona 5,720
Alabama 5,390
Oregon 4,870
Missouri 4,440
Louisiana 4,340
Kansas 3,190
Kentucky 2,970
South Carolina 2,900
West Virginia 2,820
Oklahoma 2,800
Arkansas 2,750
Colorado 2,720
Iowa 2,620
Nevada 2,240
Rhode Island 2,220
Maine 2,080
Utah 2,010
District of Columbia 1,880
Nebraska 1,860
Mississippi 1,760
New Mexico 1,720
Delaware 1,670
New Hampshire 1,610
Hawaii 1,280
Puerto Rico 1,050
Vermont 1,020
Montana 930
Idaho 740
North Dakota 530
Alaska 500
Wyoming 490
South Dakota 460
Virgin Islands, U.S. 100
Guam 70