The Average Salary of a Pathology Assistant
Board-certified pathologists work closely with pathology assistants to treat, diagnose and analyze diseases. To become a pathology assistant, professionals must hold at least a bachelor's or master's degree and have related on-the-job training. Often, pathology assistants are former medical technologists or histotechnicians. Histotechnicians also work in pathology; however, their duties are restricted to cutting and preparing specimen samples for testing and analysis. In June 2011, SchoolsintheUSA.org stated that the salary range for pathology assistants in the United States fell between $35,410 and $90,350 per year. Salary.com stated that the average salary for pathology assistants in the U.S. was $71,934 as of June 2011.
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Function
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Pathology assistant jobs can be split into two specialties: surgical pathology and autopsy pathology. While surgical pathology assistants prepare, dissect and handle blood and tissue samples from live patients, autopsy pathology assistants perform work on bodies post-mortem. Both types of pathology assistants must obtain patient medical records, submit biological specimens for medical analysis, record autopsy and lab results and take photos during examinations. Some pathology assistants handle medical billing and coding for laboratory work as well as maintain lab equipment.
Geography
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Pathology assistant salaries fluctuate across different metropolitan areas according to a June 2011 SalaryExpert report. For example, pathology assistants working in Charlotte averaged a salary of $57,374 per year. In Chicago, pathology assistants earned an average salary of $61,554 per year. Miami pathology assistants reported an average salary of $58,173 annually. Pathology assistants in New York City and Houston averaged $69,543 and $60,067 respectively. Professionals in Los Angeles reported the highest average salaries, averaging $80,196 per year. Pathology assistants in Phoenix reported the lowest average salary, earning $54,398 per year.
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Advancement
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As pathology assistants build their experience in autopsy, dissection and other laboratory techniques, they can ascend to positions with higher levels of responsibility. For example, pathology assistants can earn a Doctor of Medicine degree and become a licensed pathologist. Some pathology assistants choose to become educators in technical colleges or medical writers for industry publications. Other possible career paths for pathology assistants include senior supervisory and hospital management roles. Pathology assistants who choose to become pathologists can expect to earn a median salary of $246,486 according to a June 2011 Salary.com report.
Job Outlook
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The job outlook for pathology assistants should be positive, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Employment for clinical laboratory professionals, which include pathology assistants, will increase 14 percent between 2008 and 2018. Technological advances in diagnostic testing procedures will drive growth in clinical laboratories. Also, jobs in the clinical laboratory sector are expected to exceed the number of job-seekers during this time period. In addition to medical and diagnostic laboratories, pathology assistants will find the best job opportunities in doctor’s offices and ambulatory care centers.
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References
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