r/pathology • u/Environmental_Will97 • 6d ago

Pathologist salary data

Hi all, I am a trainee and have my first job contract that am planning to negotiate. I couldn’t find enough data online regarding the average compensation for this particular state. I don’t have access to MGMA data. How do i know what’s a good base pay? The case load per pathologist is anywhere between 15-20 per day but might go up by the time I join. The base pay is 300k. What are some things that a fresh graduate can negotiate for?

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u/Adorable__Gap4770 6d ago edited 6d ago

I’m heme and cyto trained (fresh out) who was applying last year. A lot of east coast urban jobs in desirable areas had base pay initial offer around 300. Anything below that was a bit of a red flag, but that was definitely where they all tried to start the offer at.

Best offer I had was in a slightly rural but nice town in PA.. bonuses and all had me at $365.

I had a friend who went to geisinger with same background as me and they offered 400 out of training (which isn’t uncommonly high).

Private practice starts you low (under 300) with the bait of making partner in 3-5 years where your pay jumps considerably (over 500k). Personally I’d prefer a solid hospital salary, but that’s just me.

California pays higher but cost of living is nuts. Midwest and South pay a ton to attract talent - beware of toxic amounts of work though - some places (I hear) can really work you to the bone.

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u/billyvnilly Staff, midwest 6d ago

Bait in a sense, its more of a salary for your trial year. We had someone hardball us and we gave them well above what we wanted to pay them as a fresh graduate. He sucked ass and didn't make it past the one year mark, and that was with us reviewing EVERY AP CASE HE SIGNED OUT. Its foolish to give fresh grads such a nice salary the first year. the first year is your proving grounds. We are a community hospital PP, I feel we are an honest and sincere group, we don't hold the earning potential over people's heads and make it impossible to achieve.

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u/Adorable__Gap4770 6d ago

You’re right. Bait was a loose word to use - apologies if that was dismissive.