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The differences between surgeons and pathologists can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 4-6 years to become both a surgeon and a pathologist. Additionally, a surgeon has an average salary of $155,553, which is higher than the $61,808 average annual salary of a pathologist.
The top three skills for a surgeon include patients, general surgery and healthcare. The most important skills for a pathologist are patients, patient care, and diagnosis.
| Surgeon | Pathologist | |
| Yearly salary | $155,553 | $61,808 |
| Hourly rate | $74.79 | $29.72 |
| Growth rate | 7% | 7% |
| Number of jobs | 37,918 | 20,340 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 40% | Bachelor's Degree, 40% |
| Average age | 49 | 48 |
| Years of experience | 6 | 6 |
A surgeon is a medical professional who conducts surgical procedures on the human body to treat injuries and diseases such as broken bones and cancerous tumors. Surgeons are required to review test results to identify abnormal findings and recommend a plan of treatment to patients. They must manage surgical technicians during the surgery process to ensure all standards of care and safety are followed in the operating room. Surgeons must also address concerns that the patients have about their health and well-being.
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.
Surgeons and pathologists have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Surgeon | Pathologist | |
| Average salary | $155,553 | $61,808 |
| Salary range | Between $85,000 And $284,000 | Between $25,000 And $148,000 |
| Highest paying City | Lewiston, ME | Anchorage, AK |
| Highest paying state | Maine | Alaska |
| Best paying company | MaineGeneral Health | UT Medical Group, Inc. |
| Best paying industry | Professional | - |
There are a few differences between a surgeon and a pathologist in terms of educational background:
| Surgeon | Pathologist | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 40% | Bachelor's Degree, 40% |
| Most common major | Medicine | Physiology And Anatomy |
| Most common college | Duke University | Stanford University |
Here are the differences between surgeons' and pathologists' demographics:
| Surgeon | Pathologist | |
| Average age | 49 | 48 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 51.2% Female, 48.8% | Male, 40.7% Female, 59.3% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 1.8% Unknown, 3.8% Hispanic or Latino, 5.0% Asian, 12.7% White, 76.6% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.1% | 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% |
| LGBT Percentage | 12% | 13% |