Job description template
Pathologist Job Description Template
A copy-ready pathologist job description with responsibilities, qualifications, skills and pay guidance: customize it for your company in minutes.
Copy the template below, replace the bracketed fields and tailor duties to your workplace. For pay, national BLS data shows pathologists earn a median of $312,400 ($150.19/hour); the middle 50% earn $186,300–$372,780.
Job title
Pathologist
Job summary
[Company name] is seeking a dependable pathologist to join our team in [city, state]. In this role, you will examine tissue under the microscope, diagnose cancer and disease and support our team’s commitment to safety, quality and service.
Responsibilities
- Examine tissue under the microscope
- Diagnose cancer and disease
- Interpret lab test results
- Direct clinical laboratories
- Perform frozen sections during surgery
- Perform autopsies
- Consult with physicians
- Follow company policies, safety procedures and applicable regulations
Required qualifications
- Doctoral or professional degree
- Current license or certification as required by [state]
- Working knowledge of histopathology and cytopathology
- Attention to detail and analytical thinking
- [Add role-specific requirements, such as driver’s license or ability to pass a background check, if job-related]
Preferred qualifications
- ABPath board certification
- State medical license
- Dermatopathology certification
- Experience with microscopes
Skills
- Clinical laboratory medicine
- Immunohistochemistry
- Molecular pathology
- Autopsy
- Communication
- Patience
Work environment and schedule
Pathologists work in hospital labs, reference labs, academic centers and medical examiner offices. Most work regular hours, with occasional call for frozen sections and lab issues.
Pay and benefits
$[min]–$[max] per [hour/year], depending on experience. [List benefits: health insurance, paid time off, retirement plan, training and certification support.]
Equal opportunity
[Company name] is an equal opportunity employer. We consider all qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, veteran status or any other characteristic protected by law, and we provide reasonable accommodations upon request.
Tips for a pathologist job posting that attracts applicants
- Use the title candidates search for. “Pathologist” is the clearest; alternates include Anatomic Pathologist, Clinical Pathologist, Forensic Pathologist.
- Show the pay range. Postings with pay get more qualified applicants, and a growing number of states and cities require pay ranges in job postings.
- Separate must-haves from nice-to-haves. Long requirement lists discourage qualified candidates, especially career changers.
- Describe a real day. Borrow from our day in the life of a pathologist so applicants self-select accurately.
- Mention training. Highlighting structured onboarding: such as Pathologist training: widens your applicant pool.
Next steps
Screen and interview with our Pathologist hiring guide, then onboard with the 30-60-90 day plan.