Physicians, pathologists
SOC Code: 29-1222
Physicians, pathologists carries a 27% AI exposure score (Medium automation risk) and +4.2% projected employment growth from 2024 to 2034 (BLS), affecting approximately 12,600 workers. Full task breakdown, skills, and employer data are below.
Proportion of tasks susceptible to AI automation (O*NET analysis)
At 27% AI exposure, Physicians, pathologists sits 10 points below the 37.2% average across 832 U.S. occupations - more exposed than 22% of them. Most of its core tasks still require human judgment.
Career outlook score
73/100
Physicians, pathologists, weighted across 2 of 3 tracked dimensions
A weighted composite of median wage, projected growth, and AI-automation security (inverted exposure), each benchmarked against every other tracked occupation. It describes this occupation's standing across those three dimensions, not a guarantee of future outcomes.
- Median wage N/A N/A
Annual median wage, percentile rank vs all tracked occupations
- Projected growth B- +4.2%
Projected employment change, 2024-2034, BLS Employment Projections
- AI exposure (inverted) B+ 27% exposure
Lower O*NET task-automability scores lower risk; this dimension scores security, not exposure
Home health and personal care aides is #1 of 832 occupations by employment (4.3M, AI exposure rank #392 at 35%) vs. Bookkeeping, accounting, and auditing clerks #1 by AI task exposure (95%, employment rank #17 at 1.6M).
Automation-risk inventory
Exclusive cut of 832 occupations by PlainWorkforce automation-risk band. Orthogonal to the continuous AI-exposure distribution chart below and to this occupation's single risk badge, this is the corpus band mix, with Physicians, pathologists in the Medium band.
Credential × growth standing
Graduate credential among the thinner entry shelves
Physicians, pathologists is in the Graduate band (113 of 832) with BLS pace Average (378/832). Graduate entry is a minority shelf - pairing it with average growth is the standing that separates this SOC from bachelor-dominated neighbors.
Where Physicians, pathologists sits among all occupations
AI-exposure score distribution across 832 U.S. occupations (O*NET task analysis). This occupation is marked in rose.
Where Physicians, pathologists sits by AI exposure
AI-exposure score distribution across U.S. occupations (O*NET task analysis)
27% Among the lowest lower than 78% of 832 occupations
Occupations, banded by AI-exposure score
Each bar is a band; taller bars hold more occupations. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count and share, and where it sits relative to this entry.
Source O*NET task data (U.S. Department of Labor) · BLS 2024–2034
Source: O*NET task data (U.S. Department of Labor); AI-exposure scores are PlainWorkforce's analysis. As of BLS 2024–2034.
Physicians, pathologists vs. its occupational neighbors
AI exposure (horizontal) vs projected 2024–2034 growth (vertical) for occupations in the same SOC group. Physicians, pathologists is marked in rose; the top-left corner is the most future-proof.
Source: BLS Employment Projections 2024–2034 (growth) and O*NET (AI-exposure analysis by PlainWorkforce).
Employment Projections
Where This Score Comes From
Physicians, pathologists's Medium automation-risk tier is computed from O*NET Database 30.0 task-level analysis, where each documented task the occupation performs is evaluated against current generative AI, robotic process automation, and machine-learning capabilities. A score below 40% reflects tasks anchored in physical dexterity, unstructured environments, or high-touch human interaction that current AI cannot reliably replicate.
The employment, wage, and education figures above come from a second, separate federal source: BLS Employment Projections 2024–2034, matched to the O*NET task data by Standard Occupational Classification (SOC 29-1222) code. BLS figures are presented exactly as published, with no adjustment on our part; the SOC-code match is what lets Physicians, pathologists be compared directly against every other tracked occupation on the same basis, not just roles that happen to share a job title.
For career planners, this profile should be read alongside the task, skill, and knowledge breakdowns below and the list of employers whose workforce composition includes Physicians, pathologists. Adjacent occupations shown further down offer lateral moves that preserve industry knowledge while potentially reducing exposure.
Education & Entry Requirements
Top Tasks (O*NET)
- 1. Examine microscopic samples to identify diseases or other abnormalities.
- 2. Diagnose diseases or study medical conditions, using techniques such as gross pathology, histology, cytology, cytopathology, clinical chemistry, immunology, flow cytometry, or molecular biology.
- 3. Write pathology reports summarizing analyses, results, and conclusions.
- 4. Communicate pathologic findings to surgeons or other physicians.
- 5. Identify the etiology, pathogenesis, morphological change, and clinical significance of diseases.
- 6. Read current literature, talk with colleagues, or participate in professional organizations or conferences to keep abreast of developments in pathology.
- 7. Consult with physicians about ordering and interpreting tests or providing treatments.
- 8. 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).
- 9. Review cases by analyzing autopsies, laboratory findings, or case investigation reports.
- 10. Manage medical laboratories.
Key Skills Required
- Reading Comprehension
- Writing
- Critical Thinking
- Active Listening
- Science
- Active Learning
- Complex Problem Solving
- Speaking
- Judgment and Decision Making
- Monitoring
Knowledge Areas
- Medicine and Dentistry
- Biology
- English Language
- Education and Training
- Customer and Personal Service
- Chemistry
- Administration and Management
- Computers and Electronics
- Administrative
- Personnel and Human Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
Will AI replace Physicians, pathologists?
Physicians, pathologists has an AI exposure score of 27%, indicating a medium level of automation risk. The majority of tasks in this role require human judgment, creativity, or physical presence that AI cannot easily replicate.
What is the job outlook for Physicians, pathologists?
According to BLS Employment Projections 2024-2034, Physicians, pathologists is projected to grow by 4.2% over the decade. Current employment stands at approximately 12,600 workers.
What skills are needed for Physicians, pathologists?
Key skills for Physicians, pathologists include Reading Comprehension, Writing, Critical Thinking, and others. Typical entry-level education is Doctoral or professional degree.
How much do Physicians, pathologists earn?
Wage data for Physicians, pathologists varies by region, experience, and employer. The Bureau of Labor Statistics publishes median wage estimates in its Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics program.
What education is required for Physicians, pathologists?
The typical entry-level education for Physicians, pathologists is Doctoral or professional degree. Employers generally expect None of related work experience. On-the-job training typically involves Internship/residency. Requirements can vary by employer and specialization.
Which companies employ Physicians, pathologists?
Physicians, pathologists roles exist across many industries and employers. Workforce composition is estimated from BLS industry-occupation employment distributions matched to SEC-registered public companies.
AI Exposure Rating
Medium automation risk based on 10 analyzed tasks. Most tasks require human judgment and are resistant to automation.
Nationwide occupations with similar workforce profiles
Two data-derived peer sets for Physicians, pathologists: AI-exposure neighbors and BLS 2034 growth neighbors (distinct comparison neighborhoods, cross-occupation).
Similar AI exposure score
Nearest O*NET task-automability scores nationwide (27% here).
- Civil engineers · AI exposure 27%
- Clinical and counseling psychologists · AI exposure 27%
- Coating, painting, and spraying machine setters, operators, and tenders · AI exposure 27%
- Concierges · AI exposure 27%
Similar projected growth (2024–2034)
Nearest BLS employment change rates nationwide (+4.2% here).
- Airfield operations specialists · growth +4.2%
- Art directors · growth +4.2%
- Automotive service technicians and mechanics · growth +4.2%
- Drywall and ceiling tile installers · growth +4.2%
Peers are nearest-neighbor matches on published BLS + O*NET metrics among occupations with ≥10,000 workers in 2024; corpus ranks above sort the full tracked set.
Related Occupations
Showing 6 of 45 occupations with a comparable automation-risk profile.
What to do with this
Use Physicians, pathologists' numbers above to compare, not just read in isolation.
- Compare Physicians, pathologists side by side against another occupation on wage, growth, and AI exposure. Workforce comparison tool
- Understand how the AI exposure score above is actually calculated before treating it as a verdict. Reading AI exposure scores
- See the full ranked list of occupations with the lowest automation exposure nationwide. Safest occupations from AI
AI exposure scores estimate task automatability from O*NET data; they are not a certainty of job loss, and BLS growth projections are estimates, not guarantees.
Data sources: Bureau of Labor Statistics Employment Projections 2024–2034 and O*NET Database 30.0. Employment figures are rounded. Wage data from BLS Occupational Employment Statistics (OES).