How Competitive is a Pathology Residency? Updated for 2023

If you want a career as a pathologist, here is how competitive the medical specialty is to match into a pathology residency. Pathology is the branch of medicine that involves the the study of the causes and effects of disease or injury. The word pathology also refers to the study of disease in general, incorporating a wide range of bioscience research fields and medical practices.

Statistics on the Pathology Match

In 2022, pathology had a total of 827 applicants and 631 spots. This equates to 1.31 applicants per position. Of the 230 U.S. MD seniors who applied, 6 did not match.

Osteopathic (DO) Students Matching into Pathology

In 2022, the total number of DO Senior Applicants was 81. Of those, 75 matched, for a 92.59% match percentage. This makes pathology a Very Friendly field for osteopathic students.

International Medical Graduates (IMGs) Matching into Pathology

Because there are only 0.36 U.S. MD applicants per 1 program spot, pathology is considered to be Very Friendly for IMGs students.

Honors, Research and Awards for Pathology Residency Candidates

The average matched U.S. applicant had 6.2 volunteer experiences and 3.4 work experiences. They had 3.4 research experiences and 8.5 abstracts, presentations and publications. That makes this specialty on where the number of publications needed is Medium.

Average Step 1 and Step 2 Scores for Pathology

The mean U.S. Step 1 score for matched medical students in Pathology was 233. The mean USMLE Step 2 CK score was 245.

Overall Competitiveness of Pathology Residency and Chances of Matching

The overall competitiveness level of pathology is Low for a U.S. senior. With a Step 1 score of 200, the probability of matching is 86%. With a Step 1 score of >240, the probability is 99%.

How long is a residency in pathology? What is the lifestyle like for a pathology resident?

Compared to other residencies, pathology has a Short training length. As far as lifestyle, pathologists generally have a Low stress lifestyle. Of course, lifestyle is very subjective and if you love what you do, it does not matter! And if you hate what you do, it can still be rough no matter what. In medicine, you should find the specialty that makes you enjoy your everyday interactions with patients, staff and colleagues.

What is the average salary for a pathologist?

The average salary post-graduation from a pathology residency is $318,000, provided one does not go on to sub-specialty training which can change the salary substantially. Academic versus private practice as well as location also play a large role in physician compensation.

What are fellowships one can do from a pathology residency?

Following the successful completion of general pathology residency, some physicians may choose to continue their graduate medical education with subspecialty training. Board-certified subspecialists complete additional training and qualifying examinations beyond those required for board certification in pathology. Currently, the American Board of Pathology certifies the following fellowships:

• • Blood Banking-Transfusion Medicine
  • Chemical Pathology
  • Cytopathology
  • Forensic Pathology
  • Hematology
  • Medical Microbiology
  • Neuropathology
  • Pediatric Pathology

What are the best pathology residencies in the country?

The best residency for pathology, or any specialty, is very driven by personal preference and situation. How close you are to family, loved ones, the type of training environment, the opportunities available are all things to take into consideration above and beyond name recognition of a program. However, there are some highly regarded names in the world of pathology including:

• • Mt Sinai
  • Columbia
  • Johns Hopkins
  • Cedar-Sinai
  • Yale- New Haven Hospital
  • NYU

Much of the data above is available from the AAMC Charting the Outcomes report.

Explore Other Specialties: