As of June 2026, Physicians, Pathologists has an AI-exposure score of 63/100 (High exposure) on the AI-Safe Careers index, blending O*NET tasks, the Anthropic Economic Index, the Penn/OpenAI study, and BLS data. This is an estimate of task exposure, not a prediction of job loss.
Physicians, Pathologists
More exposed than 77% of the roles we track. Median pay ~US$312,400. About 400 projected openings a year (BLS 2024–34 — growth plus replacement).
Pay & demand figures are US medians (BLS, in USD) — your local figures will differ. Your exposure score applies broadly.
How you compare to similar Healthcare roles
Your tasks, by AI exposure
- Examine microscopic samples to identify diseases or other abnormalities.
- Identify the etiology, pathogenesis, morphological change, and clinical significance of diseases.
- Communicate pathologic findings to surgeons or other physicians.
- Testify in depositions or trials as an expert witness.
- Obtain specimens by performing procedures, such as biopsies or fine needle aspirations (FNAs) of superficial nodules.
- Perform autopsies to determine causes of deaths.
- Educate physicians, students, and other personnel in medical laboratory professions, such as medical technology, cytotechnology, or histotechnology.
- Manage medical laboratories.
- Conduct genetic analyses of deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) or chromosomes to diagnose small biopsies and cell samples.
- Plan and supervise the work of the pathology staff, residents, or visiting pathologists.
- Analyze and interpret results from tests, such as microbial or parasite tests, urine analyses, hormonal assays, fine needle aspirations (FNAs), and polymerase chain reactions (PCRs).
- Consult with physicians about ordering and interpreting tests or providing treatments.
- Write pathology reports summarizing analyses, results, and conclusions.
- Read current literature, talk with colleagues, or participate in professional organizations or conferences to keep abreast of developments in pathology.
- Diagnose diseases or study medical conditions, using techniques such as gross pathology, histology, cytology, cytopathology, clinical chemistry, immunology, flow cytometry, or molecular biology.
- Review cases by analyzing autopsies, laboratory findings, or case investigation reports.
- Diagnose infections, such as Hepatitis B and Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS), by conducting tests to detect the antibodies that patients' immune systems make to fight such infections.
- Conduct research and present scientific findings.
- Develop or adopt new tests or instruments to improve diagnosis of diseases.
No durable tasks identified for this role — its real, individually-assessed tasks consistently read as augmentable (79%).
Safer adjacent roles
Your AI-Safe Career Report
Every task scored with what to do about it · 5–10 safer roles with salary, demand & reachability · skill-gap map · a 30/60/90-day roadmap · plus a résumé & LinkedIn rewrite · PDF.
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AI was the most-cited reason for U.S. layoffs through mid-2026 — the workers who adapt earliest fare best. — Challenger, Gray & Christmas, 2026The upside: Workers with AI skills earn a roughly 62% wage premium — adapting pays. — PwC Global AI Jobs Barometer, 2026
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