Clinical Pathologist Jobs in California
Clinical Pathologist jobs in California are among the most active in the country, concentrated in academic medical centers, large integrated health systems, and reference laboratory networks, with openings from AP/CP-board-eligible residents through senior attending and laboratory director roles. Los Angeles, San Francisco, and San Diego anchor the largest hiring volumes, where institutions such as UCLA Health, UCSF Health, and Quest Diagnostics maintain ongoing clinical pathologist needs. Hematopathology, molecular pathology, and anatomic pathology with gastrointestinal or dermatopathology subspecialty focus are consistently in highest demand across California. Find a role that fits below and apply directly.
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Veterinary Preclinical Clinical Pathologist
As a Veterinary Preclinical Clinical Pathologist, you will be part of the IDEXX BioAnalytics (IBA) division. IBA is a dynamic and rapidly growing business that has been providing non-clinical pathology services, animal health monitoring diagnostics, and biological testing services for more than 40 years, with an experienced staff that includes ACVP and ACLAM board certified veterinary scientists, molecular biologists, and geneticists. We serve innovators in the biomedical and life science fields from highly respected educational institutions to world-class pharmaceutical companies and independent researchers developing life-changing therapeutics.
About the Role:
We are seeking an experienced Comparative Clinical Pathologist to join our dynamic team of ACVP and ACLAM board certified veterinary scientists to support the IDEXX BioAnalytics mission in providing high quality non-clinical toxicology and clinical pathology testing services to the biomedical research community. Responsibilities include supporting veterinary clinical trials and nonclinical research by performing microscopic evaluation and interpretation of peripheral blood smears, bone marrow aspirates, and cytology samples derived from non-clinical studies; authoring comprehensive clinical pathology contributing scientist reports; consultation with researchers regarding collection of samples and selection of appropriate tests; and collaboration with pathologists or other scientists to correlate findings from nonclinical studies.
The successful candidate will also serve as a non-clinical safety development resource by helping to validate new test offerings for commercialization. Beneficial areas of expertise include non-clinical safety testing, emerging safety biomarker identification, toxicologic clinical pathology, drug development, and regulatory science. The role will also have strong alignment with internal team members in providing customer insights into our product and service offerings along with providing the scientific perspectives necessary to support commercial strategies.
What You Will Do:
Client-Facing Scientific Partnership
- Consult with customers on study design, sample collection, and optimal testing strategies, especially in toxicologic pathology
- Deliver expert interpretation of clinical pathology data to translate complex scientific results into clear, actionable insights that drive confident decision-making
Data Interpretation & Scientific Contribution
- Review and interpret nonclinical study data and collaborate with pathologists and scientists to correlate findings across studies
- Author high-quality clinical pathology reports and contributing scientist narratives
- Provide scientific and technical guidance to ensure integrity, compliance, and consistency of laboratory processes
Innovation & Thought Leadership
- Scope and advise on emerging or established safety biomarkers to expand testing menu
- Support validation/qualification of new safety biomarkers and testing methodologies to expand IDEXX BioAnalytics’ diagnostic and bioanalytical offerings
- Develop white papers, manuscripts, and scientific publications
- Present at conferences, seminars, and client engagements as a subject matter expert
Cross-Functional Impact
- Partner with commercial and marketing teams to shape customer-facing messaging and training
- Provide scientific insights that inform product development and business strategy
- Provide scientific and technical advice to laboratory personnel to assure compliance with sample handling and processing procedures and provision of high-quality results
What You Will Need to Succeed:
- Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM or equivalent)
- ACVP board certification or eligibility (additional certifications such as DABT or DACLAM are a plus)
- Typically, 3+ years of relevant experience (CRO, pharma, or biotech preferred)
- Solid foundation in clinical pathology, toxicology, and preclinical research
- Knowledge of laboratory techniques, clinical chemistry, and GCP/regulatory expectations
- Proven ability to communicate complex science clearly to diverse audiences—both technical and non-technical
- A client-focused, consultative mindset with a passion for collaboration and problem-solving
- Strategic thinking, analytical rigor, and the ability to work across functions and priorities
- Familiarity with current topics and issues in preclinical toxicology testing and animal-based research
Why IDEXX?
We offer competitive compensation and benefits, including:
- Base salary: $150K–$160K, may have additional flexibility based on experience and qualifications
- Annual bonus opportunity
- Potential yearly merit increases
- Paid time off and comprehensive benefits
- 401(k) matching
- Opportunities to collaborate with experts across veterinary medicine, diagnostics, and medical affairs while contributing to meaningful scientific and educational initiatives.
We are proud of the work we do because our work matters. An innovation leader in every industry we serve, we follow our Purpose and Guiding Principles to help pet owners worldwide keep their companion animals healthy and happy, to ensure safe drinking water for billions, and to help farmers protect livestock and poultry from diseases. We have customers in over 175 countries and a global workforce of over 10,000 talented people.
So, what does that mean for you? We enrich the livelihoods of our employees with a positive and respectful work culture that embraces challenges and encourages learning and discovery. At IDEXX, you will be supported by competitive compensation, incentives, and benefits while enjoying purposeful work that drives improvement.
Let’s pursue what matters together.
IDEXX values a diverse workforce and workplace and strongly encourages women, people of color, LGBTQ+ individuals, people with disabilities, members of ethnic minorities, foreign-born residents, and veterans to apply.
IDEXX is an equal opportunity employer. Applicants will not be discriminated against because of race, color, creed, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, religion, national origin, citizenship status, disability, ancestry, marital status, veteran status, medical condition, or any protected category prohibited by local, state, or federal laws.
See All 10 Clinical Pathologist Jobs in California
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Find Clinical Pathologist JobsClinical Pathologist Jobs by City in California
Where California roles are concentrated, by current openings.
Clinical Pathologist Job Market in California
A snapshot from current California openings, updated as new roles post.
Who's Hiring
- Ascend Rehab2

- University of California, San Francisco2

- Altos Labs1

- El Camino Health1

- IDEXX Laboratories1

Top Industries Hiring
- Healthcare & Medical Services6
- Education4
- Animal Care & Pet Services1
- Biotechnology & Pharmaceuticals1
What California Employers Look For
The qualifications that appear most often in clinical pathologist jobs across California.
- Active California physician and surgeon license issued by the Medical Board of California
- Board certification in anatomic pathology, clinical pathology, or AP/CP combined
- Completion of an ACGME-accredited pathology residency program
- Fellowship training in a relevant subspecialty such as hematopathology or molecular pathology
- Experience with laboratory information systems and digital pathology platforms
- Strong working knowledge of CAP accreditation standards and CLIA regulatory requirements
Clinical Pathologist Jobs in California: Frequently Asked Questions
How do you become a clinical pathologist in California?
Becoming a clinical pathologist in California requires completing medical school, an ACGME-accredited pathology residency, and then obtaining a California physician and surgeon license through the Medical Board of California. Licensure requires passing USMLE Steps one through three. Most California health systems also require board certification in anatomic and clinical pathology through the American Board of Pathology before hire, and subspecialty fellowship training strengthens competitiveness significantly.
How much do clinical pathologists make in California?
Clinical pathologists in California earn a median of about $186,300 a year, based on May 2025 Bureau of Labor Statistics wage data, ranging from around $105,750 for the lowest 10% to over $387,760 for the top 10%. Pay rises with experience, specialty, and employer.
Which companies hire clinical pathologists in California?
Employers hiring clinical pathologists in California right now include Ascend Rehab, University of California, San Francisco, and Altos Labs, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of June 2026. California's combination of large academic health systems, integrated networks such as Kaiser Permanente, and major reference laboratory operators creates broad and consistent demand across the state.
Which California cities have the most clinical pathologist jobs?
San Francisco, Los Angeles, and Elk Grove have the most clinical pathologist openings in California. Los Angeles and San Francisco lead because of their dense concentration of academic medical centers, tertiary-care hospitals, and regional reference laboratories, while San Diego's strong biotech and health system presence drives steady openings in that market as well.
Are there remote clinical pathologist jobs in California?
Yes, but they're limited. Clinical pathology involves significant bench work and direct laboratory oversight that requires on-site presence for most roles, so fully remote positions are uncommon. About 0% of clinical pathologist openings tied to California are remote or hybrid as of June 2026, and those tend to involve telepathology consultation, digital slide review, or administrative laboratory director responsibilities rather than hands-on diagnostic work.
How can I get hired as a clinical pathologist in California with little or no experience?
The most realistic entry path is securing a California-based pathology residency, since California programs at institutions such as UCSF, UCLA, and Cedars-Sinai serve as the primary pipeline into attending roles at those same systems. New residents completing California programs are well-positioned to apply for junior attending or locum positions at community hospitals and regional reference labs. Subspecialty fellowship completion, CAP membership, and demonstrated digital pathology proficiency give candidates without extensive attending experience a clear edge in California's competitive market.
Where can I find and apply to clinical pathologist jobs in California?
You can find and apply to clinical pathologist jobs in California on Migrate Mate, which lists current openings across the state. Find roles that fit your specialty and experience level and apply directly to employers.
See All 10 Clinical Pathologist Jobs in California
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