SOC 29-1222 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Physicians, Pathologists — San Francisco
San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA · 4 metro areas compared
Median pay in San Francisco, CA is $186,300 a year, 40.4% under the national median of $312,400 for this occupation.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
Median pay in San Francisco, CA is $186,300 a year, 40.4% under the national median of $312,400 for this occupation. Half of workers earn between $186,300 and $186,300. Beyond that band, the tenth percentile sits at $101,040 and the ninetieth at $186,300.
San Diego leads the state's metro areas for this occupation, at $333,330. Set against every other occupation measured in the same area, it ranks 39th of 688 by median pay.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $101,040 | −67.7% |
| 25th | $186,300 | −40.4% |
| Median (50th) | $186,300 | −40.4% |
| 75th | $186,300 | −40.4% |
| 90th | $186,300 | −40.4% |
| Mean | $194,600 | −37.7% |
Other metro areas in California
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Diego | $333,330 | 90 | |
| 2 | Los Angeles | $319,340 | 330 | |
| 3 | San Jose | $248,420 | 30 | |
| 4 | Riverside | $143,120 | — |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in San Francisco run 10.7% above the national average, so the median of $186,300 buys what $168,293 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way the gap against the national median narrows to 46.1% below the national median in real terms.
Published median
$186,300as reported by BLSLocal price level
110.7US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$168,293US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $186,300 a year, 40.4% below the national median.
- Published pay spans $101,040 to $186,300 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is San Diego, at $333,330.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Physicians, Pathologists in San Francisco, CA?
The median annual wage is $186,300, or $89.57 per hour, as of May 2025. Half of the workers in this occupation earn more than that and half earn less.
Is that higher than the national average?
The national median for this occupation is $312,400, so pay in San Francisco, CA is 40.4% lower. These figures are medians, not averages: half of workers fall on each side.
What do the top earners make?
The top tenth of this occupation in San Francisco, CA earns more than $186,300 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $101,040 per year. The survey measures wages actually paid rather than experience level, so this reflects the lowest-paid tenth rather than entry-level pay specifically.
Which area nearby pays the most?
The highest median for this occupation among the metro areas covered is in San Diego, at $333,330 per year.
Source and methodology
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 Wages are for wage-and-salary workers; self-employed workers are not included. Salary Explorer is an independent project. It is not affiliated with, or endorsed by, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics or any government agency. Full methodology.
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