Pathologist Jobs in California
Pathologist jobs in California represent one of the most active hiring markets in the country, with demand concentrated in academic medical centers, large integrated health systems, and independent reference laboratories at every level from early-career AP/CP residents through subspecialty-trained senior staff. The heaviest hiring activity is in Los Angeles, San Francisco, and San Diego, where employers such as Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, UCSF Health, and Quest Diagnostics maintain significant pathology departments. Subspecialties seeing the strongest pull include surgical pathology, cytopathology, and molecular pathology, reflecting California's robust oncology and genomics ecosystem. Find a role that fits below and apply directly.
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INTRODUCTION
Spectrum Healthcare Resources has a potential opportunity for a Pathologist at Naval Medical Center San Diego, CA.
This contract opportunity will provide the physician to work with the nation's best; active military, veterans and their families.
Position Highlights:
- Outstanding work/life balance
- Competitive compensation to be determined in a range of $140-$200 per hour
- Outpatient environment where the focus is on patient care, not administrative responsibilities
- Opportunity to give back & care for our Nation's heroes | Compliant and appreciative patient population
- No unrealistic productivity pressures
Requirements
- Doctor of Medicine or Doctor of Osteopathy
- Board Certification through American Board of Pathology in both Anatomic and Clinical Pathology
- Preferred subspecialty certification but not required
- Minimum of 5 years of independent clinical practice required
- DEA registration & BLS & ALCS certification
- Current, full, active and unrestricted license to practice medicine in California
Contact:
Kathleen Strautmann
314-744-4144
Kathleen_strautmann@spectrumhealth.com
Company Overview: Spectrum Healthcare Resources (SHR) was established in 1988 to deliver systems and processes designed to meet the unique needs of Military and VA Health Systems. SHR is a leading organization that provides physician and clinical staffing and management services to United States Military Treatment Facilities, VA clinics and other Federal Agencies through various contracting vehicles. A Joint Commission Health Care Staffing Services firm, SHR is the military staffing division of TeamHealth, a Nationwide organization that serves 850 civilian and military hospitals with a team of 9,600 affiliated health care professionals.
EOE/Disabled/Veterans
INTRODUCTION
Spectrum Healthcare Resources has a potential opportunity for a Pathologist at Naval Medical Center San Diego, CA.
This contract opportunity will provide the physician to work with the nation's best; active military, veterans and their families.
Position Highlights:
- Outstanding work/life balance
- Competitive compensation to be determined in a range of $140-$200 per hour
- Outpatient environment where the focus is on patient care, not administrative responsibilities
- Opportunity to give back & care for our Nation's heroes | Compliant and appreciative patient population
- No unrealistic productivity pressures
Requirements
- Doctor of Medicine or Doctor of Osteopathy
- Board Certification through American Board of Pathology in both Anatomic and Clinical Pathology
- Preferred subspecialty certification but not required
- Minimum of 5 years of independent clinical practice required
- DEA registration & BLS & ALCS certification
- Current, full, active and unrestricted license to practice medicine in California
Contact:
Kathleen Strautmann
314-744-4144
Kathleen_strautmann@spectrumhealth.com
Company Overview: Spectrum Healthcare Resources (SHR) was established in 1988 to deliver systems and processes designed to meet the unique needs of Military and VA Health Systems. SHR is a leading organization that provides physician and clinical staffing and management services to United States Military Treatment Facilities, VA clinics and other Federal Agencies through various contracting vehicles. A Joint Commission Health Care Staffing Services firm, SHR is the military staffing division of TeamHealth, a Nationwide organization that serves 850 civilian and military hospitals with a team of 9,600 affiliated health care professionals.
EOE/Disabled/Veterans
See All 93 Pathologist Jobs in California
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Find Pathologist JobsPathologist Jobs by City in California
Where California roles are concentrated, by current openings.
Pathologist Job Market in California
A snapshot from current California openings, updated as new roles post.
Who's Hiring
- CommonSpirit Health10
- FOX Rehabilitation8
- Ascend Rehab6
- Sutter Health6
- University of California, San Francisco6
Top Industries Hiring
- Healthcare & Medical Services70
- Education23
- Non-Profit & Social Services8
- Consulting & Professional Services5
- Agriculture & Farming1
What California Employers Look For
The qualifications that appear most often in pathologist jobs across California.
- Valid California physician and surgeon license issued by the Medical Board of California
- Board certification or eligibility in anatomic and clinical pathology from the American Board of Pathology
- Completion of an ACGME-accredited anatomic and clinical pathology residency program
- Fellowship training in a subspecialty such as surgical, cytopathology, or molecular pathology preferred
- Experience with laboratory information systems and digital pathology platforms commonly used in California systems
- Strong familiarity with CAP accreditation standards and CLIA compliance requirements for California labs
Pathologist Jobs in California: Frequently Asked Questions
How do you become a pathologist in California?
Becoming a pathologist in California requires completing medical school, a four-year AP/CP residency accredited by the ACGME, and obtaining a California physician and surgeon license through the Medical Board of California, which requires passing USMLE Steps one, two, and three. Most positions also expect board certification from the American Board of Pathology. Many California employers additionally prefer fellowship training in a subspecialty before hiring into staff-level roles.
How much do pathologists make in California?
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 pathologists in California?
Employers hiring pathologists in California right now include CommonSpirit Health, FOX Rehabilitation, and Ascend Rehab, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of June 2026. California's density of academic medical centers, regional health systems, and national reference laboratory networks means openings surface regularly across both the public and private sectors throughout the state.
Which California cities have the most pathologist jobs?
San Francisco, Los Angeles, and San Leandro consistently account for the most pathologist openings in California. Los Angeles and San Francisco anchor the market through their large academic medical centers and tertiary-care hospital systems, while San Diego draws additional demand from its concentration of biotech and genomics employers that maintain in-house or affiliated pathology operations.
Are there remote pathologist jobs in California?
Yes, but they are limited by the nature of the work. About 0% of pathologist openings tied to California are remote or hybrid as of June 2026, reflecting that most pathology work still requires on-site specimen handling and laboratory access. The subspecialties most amenable to remote arrangements are digital pathology review, telepathology consultation, and certain molecular or informatics-focused roles where interpretation happens entirely on-screen.
How can I get hired as a pathologist in California with little or no experience?
The most realistic entry path is securing a California-based ACGME residency match, which provides supervised clinical experience while satisfying the training requirement for Medical Board of California licensure. Large systems such as UCSF Health, UCLA Health, and Cedars-Sinai run competitive residency and fellowship programs that serve as a direct pipeline into staff roles. Candidates who hold their California physician and surgeon license and have completed residency can also apply for locum tenens positions, which frequently convert to permanent offers and are a common lateral entry point for new attendings.
Where can I find and apply to pathologist jobs in California?
You can find and apply to pathologist jobs in California on Migrate Mate, which lists current openings from employers hiring across the state right now. Find roles that fit your subspecialty, experience level, and preferred location, then apply directly to the ones that match.
See All 93 Pathologist Jobs in California
Find roles in California that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
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