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Veterinary Pathologist Jobs in Iowa (NOW HIRING)

Iowa State University

Medical Technologist

Ames, IA · On-site

The Lloyd Veterinary Medical Center (LVMC) at Iowa State University is seeking a skilled and ... Work collaboratively with clinicians, pathologists, technicians, and hospital support teams to ...

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Veterinary Pathologist information

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$42.7K

$233.9K

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How much do veterinary pathologist jobs pay per year?

As of Jul 27, 2026, the average yearly pay for veterinary pathologist in Iowa is $233,878.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $191,100.00 and $282,700.00 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.

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.
More about Veterinary Pathologist jobs
What are popular job titles related to Veterinary Pathologist jobs in Iowa? For Veterinary Pathologist jobs in Iowa, the most frequently searched job titles are:
What job categories do people searching Veterinary Pathologist jobs in Iowa look for? The top searched job categories for Veterinary Pathologist jobs in Iowa are:
What cities in Iowa are hiring for Veterinary Pathologist jobs? Cities in Iowa with the most Veterinary Pathologist job openings:
Veterinary Pathologist jobs near you
Infographic showing various Veterinary Pathologist job openings in Iowa as of July 2026, with employment types broken down into 100% Full Time. Highlights an 100% In-person job distribution, with an average salary of $233,878 per year, or $112.4 per hour.
Clinical or Tenure-track Assistant - Associate Professor - Clinical Pathology

Clinical or Tenure-track Assistant - Associate Professor - Clinical Pathology

Iowa State University

Ames, IA • On-site

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Life, Retirement

Posted 8 days ago

Iowa State University rating

7.3

Company rating: 7.3 out of 10

Based on 85 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

336th of 612 rated colleges and universities

Job description

Position Title:
Clinical or Tenure-track Assistant - Associate Professor - Clinical Pathology
Appointment Type:
Faculty
Job Description:
Summary of Duties and Responsibilities:
The Department of Veterinary Pathology (VPTH) at Iowa State University (ISU) College of Veterinary Medicine (CVM) in Ames, Iowa, invites applications for a full-time, assistant or associate, clinical- or tenure-track faculty position in Veterinary Clinical Pathology.
The successful candidate will join a supportive team of experienced faculty and staff committed to working collaboratively towards shared goals.
  • The ISU Clinical Pathology Laboratory (https://vetmed.iastate.edu/vpath/services/diagnostic-services/clinical-pathology-diagnostic-and-research-services/) is supported by 7 laboratory staff (MT, MLT, MLS) and 3 ACVP board-certified clinical pathologists.
  • After hours, the veterinary-care teams in the Lloyd Veterinary Medical Center (LVMC) are provided access to benchtop equipment maintained by the ISU Clinical Pathology Laboratory capable of providing CBC, chemistry, and blood-gas data for emergent patients. After-hours fluid specimens can be sent to the Mary Greeley Medical Center (https://www.mgmc.org) for Gram-staining. There are no after-hours, on-call responsibilities for the Veterinary Clinical Pathology faculty.
  • The ISU-CVM Office of Curricular Assessment and Teaching Support (OCATS) (https://teach.cvm.iastate.edu/) is comprised of pedagogical experts dedicated to providing seminars, resources, community, certifications, and on-site support for the ISU-CVM faculty.
  • Supportive resources for research efforts include the Graduate College (https://www.grad-college.iastate.edu/), the Grants Hub available from the Office of the Vice President for Research (https://www.grantshub.iastate.edu/), CVM seed grants, and access to the CVM Core Laboratory (https://corelab.research.cvm.iastate.edu/).

The successful candidate should also be collaborative and execute excellent communication skills, focus on continuous learning, and share their expertise with their colleagues.
Position responsibilities include diagnostic service (professional practice), teaching, scholarship (research/discovery), and institutional service as defined in the Faculty Handbook (https://www.provost.iastate.edu/policies/faculty-handbook). All appointments regardless of track and rank have a 5% effort to institutional service. Actual percentages are somewhat flexible depending on the candidate's expertise and departmental needs.
  • Clinical-track
    • Assignments are approximately ≥75% diagnostic service (professional practice) and teaching, with the remainder of the appointment dedicated to research/scholarly activity.
  • Tenure-track
    • Assignments are approximately 30 to 40% diagnostic service (professional practice), 35 to 40% teaching, and 20 to 30% research/scholarly activity.

Required Minimum Qualifications:
  • Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM) or equivalent degree
  • Successful completion of a veterinary clinical pathology residency-training program through the American College of Veterinary Pathologists (ACVP) or European College of Veterinary Clinical Pathologists (ECVCP)
  • Successful completion (passing score) of the ACVP or ECVCP Phase I Certifying Exam

Preferred Qualifications:
  • Documented research experience (publications, grants, graduate student mentorship)
  • Certification in Clinical Pathology from the American College of Veterinary Pathologists and/or European College of Veterinary Clinical Pathologists

In addition to the requirements above, below are the minimum qualifications for each track and rank:
  • Clinical or Tenure-track Assistant Professor
    • Eligibility to take the ACVP or ECVCP Phase II Certifying Exam OR Diplomate of ACVP or ECVCP
    • Has MS, PhD, or equivalent advanced degree OR peer-reviewed publication record
    • Has potential to contribute significantly to the mission of the university through delivery of professional practice, teaching, research/scholarly activity, and institutional service
  • Clinical or Tenure-track Associate Professor
    • Diplomate of ACVP or ECVCP
    • Has MS, PhD, or equivalent advanced degree OR peer-reviewed publication record
    • Has record of successfully contributing to the mission of the university through delivery of professional practice, teaching, research/scholarly activity

Department/Program & College Description:
The Department of Veterinary Pathology currently has 6 ACVP board-certified anatomic pathologists, 4 ACVP board-certified clinical pathologists, 2 parasitology faculty, 1 post-doctorate parasitologist and is the home department for 1 administrative PhD educational specialist. The department includes students pursuing MS and PhD degree programs in anatomic pathology, clinical pathology and parasitology. A strong collaborative environment exists between the colleges and departments at Iowa State University. The clinical pathology section provides diagnostic services for the Veterinary College's Lloyd Veterinary Medical Center (LVMC), the Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory, regional and national veterinarians, and animal health-related research.
As the nation's first public veterinary school, Iowa State University's College of Veterinary Medicine takes pride in its heritage while shaping the future of veterinary education, research, and diagnostic service. The Iowa State University College of Veterinary Medicine is dedicated to the enhancement of the health and well-being of animals and human beings through excellence in education, research, professional practice and steadfast service to the State of Iowa, the nation and the world. The Lloyd Veterinary Medical Center is a state-of-the-art veterinary teaching hospital that provides specialized, high-quality care and comprehensive medical and surgical services for companion and large animals throughout Iowa and surrounding states. By focusing on the future and cultivating a welcoming and supportive learning environment for our learners, Iowa State University attracts students and faculty who want to make an impactful difference.
Department Unit/Website:
https://vetmed.iastate.edu/vpath
Proposed Start Date:
July 1, 2026
Number of Months Employed Per Year:
12 Month Work Period
Time Type:
Full time
Application Instructions:
To apply for this position, please click on "Apply" and complete the Employment Application. Please be prepared to enter or attach the following:
1) Resume/Curriculum Vitae
2) Letter of Application/Cover Letter addressing the required and preferred qualifications of the job posting, including a statement of teaching
3) Contact information for three external references
4) If not already board-certified, please provide a letter confirming completion of residency and eligibility letter to sit for Phase II of Certifying exam
For guaranteed consideration, please submit your application by May 15, 2026. This position is open until filled.
If you have questions regarding this position, please contact Dr. Fales-Williams at afales@iastate.edu or call (515) 294-7445.
Why Choose ISU?
Iowa State Faculty enjoy comprehensive health and work-life benefits, including medical and dental; as well as:
• Retirement benefits, including defined benefit and defined contribution plans
• Generous leave plans
• Onsite childcare (Ames, Iowa)
• Life insurance and long-term disability
• Flexible Spending Accounts
• Various voluntary benefits and discounts
• Employee Assistance Program
• Wellbeing program
Original Posting Date:
June 23, 2025
Posting Close Date:
Job Requisition Number:
R17265

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