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Veterinary Pathologist Jobs in California (NOW HIRING)

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Veterinary Pathologist information

See California salary details

$44.9K

$245.7K

$381.9K

How much do veterinary pathologist jobs pay per year?

As of Aug 10, 2026, the average yearly pay for veterinary pathologist in California is $245,740.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $200,800.00 and $297,100.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is the difference between Veterinary Pathologist vs Veterinary Laboratory Technician?

AspectVeterinary PathologistVeterinary Laboratory Technician
Required CredentialsDoctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM) or equivalent, specialized training in pathologyAssociate's or Bachelor's degree in veterinary technology or related field
Work EnvironmentResearch labs, diagnostic laboratories, universities, or veterinary hospitalsVeterinary clinics, diagnostic labs, research facilities
Industry UsageFocuses on diagnosing diseases through tissue analysis and researchPerforms laboratory tests, prepares samples, and assists in diagnostics

While both roles work within veterinary diagnostics, Veterinary Pathologists specialize in disease diagnosis through tissue examination and research, requiring advanced degrees. Veterinary Laboratory Technicians support diagnostic processes by performing tests and preparing samples, often with less formal education. Understanding these differences helps clarify career paths and job expectations in veterinary diagnostics.

What does a veterinary pathologist do?

As a veterinary pathologist, your duties are slightly different depending on whether you work in small or large animal veterinary medicine and whether you run a practice that deals mainly with pets or a business that involves consulting and research services for a rancher or other livestock operation. As a small animal or family practice pathologist, your responsibilities are to diagnose diseases in animals. You study tissue samples from organs and body fluid to reach a diagnosis. In livestock veterinary pathology, a veterinary pathologist studies herds for communicable diseases that may affect production. Some veterinary pathologists work for the FDA or other federal programs to investigate outbreaks.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a veterinary pathologist, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Veterinary Pathologist, you need a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM) degree, board certification (such as from the ACVP), and expertise in animal disease diagnosis. Familiarity with laboratory diagnostic tools, histopathology techniques, and digital pathology systems is typically required. Strong analytical skills, attention to detail, and effective communication are vital for collaborating with veterinarians and researchers. These skills and qualifications are essential for ensuring accurate disease identification, advancing animal health research, and supporting effective treatment decisions.

How much does a veterinary pathologist make in the US?

Veterinary pathologists in the US typically earn between $70,000 and $150,000 annually, depending on experience, location, and employer. Advanced training and certification can lead to higher salaries, especially in research or academic settings.

What is a veterinary pathologist?

A veterinary pathologist is a specialized veterinarian who studies diseases in animals by examining tissues, organs, bodily fluids, and laboratory test results. They play a crucial role in diagnosing illnesses, understanding disease processes, and supporting animal health by working in laboratories, research institutions, universities, or diagnostic centers. Veterinary pathologists use their expertise to assist in disease surveillance, support public health, and contribute to advancements in both animal and human medicine. Their work can involve both clinical pathology (analyzing blood and other bodily fluids) and anatomical pathology (examining tissues and organs).

What are some common challenges faced by veterinary pathologists in their daily work?

Veterinary pathologists often encounter the challenge of diagnosing complex cases where clinical signs and laboratory findings may be ambiguous or overlap between different diseases. Additionally, they must stay current with rapidly advancing diagnostic techniques and emerging animal diseases. Balancing casework, research, and collaboration with clinicians or other scientists can also be demanding. Effective communication is essential, as pathologists frequently explain findings and recommendations to veterinarians, researchers, and sometimes animal owners.
What are the most commonly searched types of Veterinary Pathologist jobs in California? The most popular types of Veterinary Pathologist jobs in California are:
What cities in California are hiring for Veterinary Pathologist jobs? Cities in California with the most Veterinary Pathologist job openings:
Infographic showing various Veterinary Pathologist job openings in California as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 74% Full Time, and 26% Part Time. Highlights an 96% In-person, and 4% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $245,740 per year, or $118.1 per hour.

Academic Research Scientist/Assistant/Associate/Professor

UC Davis Health System

Woodland, CA • On-site

$80K - $220K/yr

Other

Posted 27 days ago


UC Davis Health rating

8.9

Company rating: 8.9 out of 10

Based on 51 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

1st of 887 rated healthcare providers


Job description

The salary range for this position is $80,800-$220,900. This position includes membership in the https://aadocs.ucdavis.edu/policies/apm/apm-670.pdf.

Academic Research Scientist - Pharmacogenomics.

The Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine at the University of California (UC) Davis, School of Medicine is seeking a dynamic academic research investigator at the Assistant, Associate or Full Professor level in the In-Residence Series who can develop or who has already established an independent hypothesis-based research program pertinent to pharmacogenomics.

The expectation is that the candidate will spend approximately 90-95% effort conducting research and 5-10% teaching. Successful candidates are expected to develop and sustain nationally recognized, independent research programs supported by extramural funding with salary support such as NIH and other federal or foundation sources. The candidate is required to work cooperatively and collegially within a diverse environment, and the ability to build and maintain productive professional relationships with medical and technical staff, trainees, and others. The successful candidate will have the opportunity to build on the many strengths in the department, UC Davis Health and UC Davis campus including, but not limited to, strong collaborative relationships with the Alzheimer Disease Center, MIND Institute, the Institute for Regenerative Medicine, NCI designated Comprehensive Cancer Center, the UC Davis Health Firefighters Burn Institute Regional Burn Center and Shriner's Children's Hospital. The successful applicant will play an active role with the Center for Comparative Medicine, School of Veterinary Medicine, and/or the California National Primate Center. These resources provide a rich environment for translational discovery, interdisciplinary collaboration, and high-impact biomedical research. The successful applicant will serve as a bridge between veterinary and human medicine, including working with translational animal models. Involvement with the intricacies of human clinical research will be expected.

Teaching duties may include didactic lectures, seminars and laboratory teaching to undergraduate or graduate students, and/or small group teaching of residents, fellows, medical students, graduate students, and students in other health professional programs.

All faculty must demonstrate the ability to foster collegiality and work collaboratively in a diverse environment and adhere to university policies and procedures.

For the full position description and to apply, visit https://recruit.ucdavis.edu/apply/JPF07734

UC Davis conducts more than 11 million clinical tests annually in state-of-the-art clinical laboratories. Annual anatomic pathology volumes equate to: 24,000+ surgical pathology, 9,108+ gynecologic cytology, 3,777+ non-gyn cytology and 2,642 fine needle aspiration biopsies. The laboratory includes a total laboratory automation system for clinical chemistry and hematology, one of the newest and most comprehensive throughout inland northern California. Clinical services are organized into subspecialty teams to provide focused expertise for clinical teams and to enhance collaborative relationships with our clinical colleagues.

The program has many award-winning faculty educators and hosts 16 residents in combined anatomic and clinical pathology training. Fellowships include cytology, hematopathology, informatics, transfusion medicine and two subspecialty surgical pathology fellowships (gynecologic/breast and gastrointestinal/liver).

The UC Davis Department of Pathology is ranked among the top 40 academic pathology departments for NIH funding departments nationally, and our faculty are integrated as leaders and/or collaborators in every research theme within the UC Davis Health System, with special strengths in cancer, neurodegenerative diseases, novel tissue imaging and informatics/artificial intelligence. The department founded the new Center for Diagnostic Innovation (CDxI) which provides resources and expertise to support clinical trials and new test development, and serves as an epicenter for improving test delivery, decision-making, quality programs, and utilization. Core research services available in CDxI and elsewhere in the department include histology and tissue microarray, biorepositories, genomics, and proteomics.

The UC Davis School of Medicine is part of the UC Davis Health System, which is also comprised of the UC Davis Medical Center, the Betty Irene Moore School of Nursing, and the UC Davis Medical Group, an 800-member physician practice network. UCDHS has more than 10,000 faculty and staff and an annual budget of $1.6 billion; UC Davis is an established leader in the use of telecommunications and information technology to advance health. U.S. News & World Report recently ranked the SOM among the top 50 medical schools in the nation.

To apply, visit https://apptrkr.com/7319610


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