- Salary statistics
- Pathologist salary
Pathologist salary
Latest available salary statistics are for 2025. Compare average pay, salary range and related job listings.
89 800 - 117 800 SEK / month
Women earn 99% of what men do.
Hälso- & sjukvård
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Salary progression Pathologist
What does a pathologist do? – Tasks and work environment
A pathologist is a specialist physician who diagnoses diseases by examining tissue samples, cells, and organs. The tasks include analyzing microscopic changes, interpreting laboratory results, and providing support for treatment and prognosis assessment. Pathologists mainly work in laboratory environments in hospitals or medical institutions where the work environment is characterized by high accuracy and great responsibility for quality and patient safety.
Pathologist salary – complete overview
- Average salary: 98 000 SEK/month
- Lowest salary: 84,600 SEK/month (man, privately employed official)
- Highest salary: 110,600 SEK/month (man, public sector, post-secondary education 3 years+)
- Hourly wage: 563 SEK (based on 166 working hours/month)
- Gender differences: Women earn on average 97 300 SEK, which is 99 % of men's salary of 98 700 SEK
- Regional differences: Specific data is lacking, but salary differences may occur between different parts of the country
Pathologists combine medical expertise with advanced technology and often contribute to groundbreaking research in cancer diagnostics and other diseases.
Salary development over time
Over the past three years, the average salary of pathologists has increased from 86,400 SEK in 2022 to 93 600 SEK in 2023, reaching 98 000 SEK in 2024. This corresponds to a total salary increase of about 8.3% during the period. The trend shows a stable rise, which can be linked to an increased demand for specialist competence in pathology, as well as general salary adjustments within the healthcare sector. The specialist physician group has also been affected by recruitment challenges that drive salaries up to attract and retain qualified staff. The high level of education and the responsible work contribute to the continued positive salary development.
Education and qualifications
To become a pathologist, a specialist medical education is required following the basic training to become a doctor. The education includes medical basic training and then specialization in pathology.
- Medical degree: Basic training, about 5.5 years
- Specialist training in pathology: About 5 years
- Certification: License as a specialist physician
- Internship/clinical service: Mandatory during specialist training
- Prerequisites: Medical degree and license
Common benefits and compensation
Pathologists are often offered benefits such as collectively bargained pensions, occupational pensions, wellness allowances, and the possibility of flexible working hours. Additional compensation may occur for on-call work or overtime, especially in hospital environments. Employers in the public sector may also offer further education and professional development as part of the employment.
Competition and challenges
The profession of pathologist is characterized by high demands for precision and medical competence, making the competition for training places and specialist positions tough. At the same time, there is a paradox in the recruitment situation where the need for pathologists is increasing, but challenges in the work environment and stress contribute to some leaving the profession or working part-time. The rapid technological development requires continuous professional development. The balance between high workload and the need for quality constitutes a central challenge for the profession.
Tips for those who want to become a pathologist
To succeed as a pathologist, it is good to have a strong analytical ability and an attention to detail that ensures accurate diagnoses. It is important to develop good stress resilience as the tasks often require high concentration under time pressure. Good communication skills facilitate collaboration with other medical specialists and contribute to better patient care. In addition to having an interest in medical research, one should be prepared for lifelong learning to keep up with developments in medical technology and diagnostics. Finally, commitment and a strong sense of responsibility are crucial qualities for managing the significant responsibility that the pathologist role entails.
Key facts about pathologists
- Education level: Specialist physician (about 10 years total)
- Salary range: 84,600–110,600 SEK/month
- Work environment: Laboratory-based with high accuracy
- Gender differences in salary: Women earn 99 % of men's salary
- Demand: High and expected to increase nationally
Career paths and future prospects
After 3–5 years as a pathologist, there is an opportunity to advance to senior specialist, research positions, or leading roles within pathology departments. Some also choose to work in medical research or teaching at universities. The forecast from the Employment Service shows that the demand for specialist physicians, including pathologists, is high and expected to increase over the next five years. Despite recruitment difficulties, the job prospects are considered good, which means stable career opportunities for newly graduated and experienced pathologists.
Frequently asked questions about pathologists
- What does a pathologist earn?
- A pathologist has an average salary of about 98 000 SEK/month, with a range between 84,600 and 110,600 SEK depending on experience, sector, and gender. - What education is required to become a pathologist?
- You need a medical degree followed by specialist training in pathology, totaling about 10 years. - Are there gender differences in pathologist salaries?
- Yes, women earn on average 99 % of men's salaries. - What is the work environment like for a pathologist?
- The work environment is laboratory-based, focusing on microscopic analyses and high accuracy. - What are the future prospects for pathologists?
- The demand for pathologists is high and is expected to increase, with good job opportunities. - What personal qualities are important in the profession?
- Attention to detail, stress resilience, and good communication skills are central qualities. - Can pathologists work in research?
- Yes, many pathologists are involved in medical research and development.
Salary distributed by age and sector
| Age | Base salary | Monthly salary | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 25-34 | 97% | 80100 kr | 84700 kr |
| 35-44 | 101% | 85700 kr | 90300 kr |
| 45-54 | 97% | 96600 kr | 101800 kr |
| 55-64 | 100% | 98300 kr | 102700 kr |
| 65-68 | 97% | 103100 kr | 105900 kr |
| Snitt | 99% | 93300 kr | 98000 kr |
| Age | Base salary | Monthly salary | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 25-34 | 97% | 80400 kr | 85800 kr |
| 35-44 | 97% | 85900 kr | 91400 kr |
| 45-54 | 95% | 94500 kr | 100700 kr |
| 55-64 | 96% | 99500 kr | 104800 kr |
| 65-68 | 95% | 103400 kr | 106700 kr |
| Snitt | 95% | 92900 kr | 98500 kr |
| Age | Base salary | Monthly salary | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 35-44 | 94% | 90400 kr | 91800 kr |
| 45-54 | 91% | 96300 kr | 97300 kr |
| 55-64 | 91% | 99500 kr | 103200 kr |
| 65-68 | 73% | 125700 kr | 128000 kr |
| Snitt | 87% | 97800 kr | 99800 kr |
| Age | Base salary | Monthly salary | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 25-34 | 97% | 80400 kr | 85900 kr |
| 35-44 | 97% | 85800 kr | 91400 kr |
| 45-54 | 96% | 94500 kr | 100700 kr |
| 55-64 | 97% | 99500 kr | 104800 kr |
| 65-68 | 95% | 102900 kr | 106200 kr |
| Snitt | 96% | 92900 kr | 98500 kr |
| Age | Base salary | Monthly salary | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 35-44 | 119% | 84900 kr | 85600 kr |
| 45-54 | 101% | 106600 kr | 107300 kr |
| 55-64 | 93200 kr | 94100 kr | |
| Snitt | 113% | 94900 kr | 95600 kr |
| Age | Base salary | Monthly salary | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 35-44 | 119% | 84900 kr | 85600 kr |
| 45-54 | 101% | 106600 kr | 107300 kr |
| 55-64 | 93200 kr | 94100 kr | |
| Snitt | 113% | 94900 kr | 95600 kr |
| Age | Base salary | Monthly salary | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 25-34 | 97% | 80600 kr | 85900 kr |
| 35-44 | 101% | 84600 kr | 89900 kr |
| 45-54 | 97% | 96700 kr | 103600 kr |
| 55-64 | 100% | 97500 kr | 102900 kr |
| 65-68 | 97% | 104200 kr | 107300 kr |
| Snitt | 99% | 93100 kr | 98700 kr |
| Age | Base salary | Monthly salary | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 25-34 | 97% | 80700 kr | 86900 kr |
| 35-44 | 97% | 86400 kr | 93200 kr |
| 45-54 | 95% | 95300 kr | 103200 kr |
| 55-64 | 96% | 100100 kr | 106600 kr |
| 65-68 | 95% | 105100 kr | 109100 kr |
| Snitt | 95% | 94000 kr | 100900 kr |
| Age | Base salary | Monthly salary | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 35-44 | 94% | 92700 kr | 95900 kr |
| 45-54 | 91% | 101600 kr | 104600 kr |
| 55-64 | 91% | 103700 kr | 108600 kr |
| 65-68 | 73% | 138500 kr | 141900 kr |
| Snitt | 87% | 105600 kr | 109300 kr |
| Age | Base salary | Monthly salary | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 25-34 | 97% | 80700 kr | 86900 kr |
| 35-44 | 97% | 86300 kr | 93200 kr |
| 45-54 | 96% | 95200 kr | 103200 kr |
| 55-64 | 97% | 100000 kr | 106500 kr |
| 65-68 | 95% | 104400 kr | 108300 kr |
| Snitt | 96% | 93900 kr | 100800 kr |
| Age | Base salary | Monthly salary | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 35-44 | 119% | 79000 kr | 79400 kr |
| 45-54 | 101% | 105700 kr | 106400 kr |
| Snitt | 113% | 89200 kr | 89800 kr |
| Age | Base salary | Monthly salary | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 35-44 | 119% | 79000 kr | 79400 kr |
| 45-54 | 101% | 105700 kr | 106400 kr |
| Snitt | 113% | 89200 kr | 89800 kr |
| Age | Base salary | Monthly salary | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 25-34 | 97% | 79600 kr | 83400 kr |
| 35-44 | 101% | 86700 kr | 90600 kr |
| 45-54 | 97% | 96600 kr | 100400 kr |
| 55-64 | 100% | 99100 kr | 102500 kr |
| 65-68 | 97% | 101200 kr | 103600 kr |
| Snitt | 99% | 93500 kr | 97300 kr |
| Age | Base salary | Monthly salary | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 25-34 | 97% | 80100 kr | 84600 kr |
| 35-44 | 97% | 85400 kr | 90000 kr |
| 45-54 | 95% | 93900 kr | 98500 kr |
| 55-64 | 96% | 98900 kr | 102800 kr |
| 65-68 | 95% | 100900 kr | 103100 kr |
| Snitt | 95% | 92000 kr | 96300 kr |
| Age | Base salary | Monthly salary | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 35-44 | 94% | 89200 kr | 89800 kr |
| 45-54 | 91% | 94600 kr | 95000 kr |
| 55-64 | 91% | 96400 kr | 99300 kr |
| 65-68 | 73% | 103500 kr | 103900 kr |
| Snitt | 87% | 93800 kr | 94800 kr |
| Age | Base salary | Monthly salary | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 25-34 | 97% | 80200 kr | 84700 kr |
| 35-44 | 97% | 85400 kr | 90000 kr |
| 45-54 | 96% | 93800 kr | 98600 kr |
| 55-64 | 97% | 99000 kr | 102900 kr |
| 65-68 | 95% | 100800 kr | 103100 kr |
| Snitt | 96% | 91900 kr | 96300 kr |
| Age | Base salary | Monthly salary | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 35-44 | 119% | 93100 kr | 94100 kr |
| 45-54 | 101% | 107100 kr | 107800 kr |
| 55-64 | 99900 kr | 101100 kr | |
| Snitt | 113% | 100600 kr | 101600 kr |
| Age | Base salary | Monthly salary | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 35-44 | 119% | 93100 kr | 94100 kr |
| 45-54 | 101% | 107100 kr | 107800 kr |
| 55-64 | 99900 kr | 101100 kr | |
| Snitt | 113% | 100600 kr | 101600 kr |
About the data
All information displayed on this page is based on data from the Swedish Central Bureau of Statistics (SCB), the Swedish Tax Agency and the Swedish employment agency. Learn more about our data and data sources here.
All figures are gross salaries, meaning salaries before tax. The average salary, or mean salary, is calculated by adding up the total salary for all individuals within the profession and dividing it by the number of individuals. For specific job categories, we have also considered various criteria such as experience and education.
Profession Pathologist has the SSYK code 2211, which we use to match against the SCB database to obtain the latest salary statistics.
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