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The differences between pathologists and physicians can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 4-6 years to become a pathologist, becoming a physician takes usually requires 2-4 years. Additionally, a physician has an average salary of $238,887, which is higher than the $61,808 average annual salary of a pathologist.
The top three skills for a pathologist include patients, patient care and diagnosis. The most important skills for a physician are patients, surgery, and patient care.
| Pathologist | Physician | |
| Yearly salary | $61,808 | $238,887 |
| Hourly rate | $29.72 | $114.85 |
| Growth rate | 7% | 7% |
| Number of jobs | 20,340 | 46,489 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 40% | Bachelor's Degree, 35% |
| Average age | 48 | 48 |
| Years of experience | 6 | 4 |
Pathologists are medical healthcare professionals who are responsible for conducting examinations of bodies and body tissues. These pathologists must perform laboratory tests of body fluids and tissues to help primary care doctors make a diagnosis about the health of patients who are with chronic conditions. They specialize in genetic testing that will examine a tissue biopsy to determine whether a tumor is benign or cancerous. Pathologists must also perform autopsies to inform family members of the deceased about the cause of death and help them take preventive action for their own health.
Physicians' general responsibility is to check, diagnose, and treat a patient's condition to improve their overall wellness. A physician could be General Practitioners or Specialist Physicians, wherein General Practitioners are physicians who provide regular checkups for patients depending on their needs and refer them to a Specialist Physicians who are more skilled in a particular field of expertise for a thorough diagnosis. Physicians monitor a patient's medical history and ensure follow-up checkups to observe if the condition of a patient is changing over time. A physician may refer a patient to other health professionals for further examination as needed.
Pathologists and physicians have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Pathologist | Physician | |
| Average salary | $61,808 | $238,887 |
| Salary range | Between $25,000 And $148,000 | Between $128,000 And $442,000 |
| Highest paying City | Anchorage, AK | Cleveland, TN |
| Highest paying state | Alaska | Wisconsin |
| Best paying company | UT Medical Group, Inc. | Yuma Regional Medical Center |
| Best paying industry | - | Health Care |
There are a few differences between a pathologist and a physician in terms of educational background:
| Pathologist | Physician | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 40% | Bachelor's Degree, 35% |
| Most common major | Physiology And Anatomy | Medicine |
| Most common college | Stanford University | Duke University |
Here are the differences between pathologists' and physicians' demographics:
| Pathologist | Physician | |
| Average age | 48 | 48 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 40.7% Female, 59.3% | Male, 39.0% Female, 61.0% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 5.2% Unknown, 4.5% Hispanic or Latino, 9.9% Asian, 20.4% White, 59.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2% | Black or African American, 5.2% Unknown, 4.5% Hispanic or Latino, 9.7% Asian, 19.1% White, 61.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2% |
| LGBT Percentage | 13% | 13% |