ZipRecruiter

Log In

1

Veterinary Pathologist Jobs in Chicago, IL (NOW HIRING)

Allergan

Senior Principal Pathologist

North Chicago, IL · On-site

$150 - $200/hr

Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM or equivalent) plus post graduate training in veterinary pathology. * Board Certification in Veterinary Anatomic Pathology (ACVP or equivalent) strongly preferred.

New

AbbVie

Senior Principal Pathologist

North Chicago, IL · On-site

$160K/yr

Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM or equivalent) plus post graduate training in veterinary pathology. * Board Certification in Veterinary Anatomic Pathology (ACVP or equivalent) strongly preferred.

next page

Showing results 1-20

All JobsVeterinary Pathologist JobsVeterinary Pathologist Jobs in Chicago, IL

Veterinary Pathologist information

See Chicago, IL salary details

$46.9K

$256.5K

$398.7K

How much do veterinary pathologist jobs pay per year?

As of Sep 8, 2026, the average yearly pay for veterinary pathologist in Chicago, IL is $256,507.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $209,600.00 and $310,100.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

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 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 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 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.

How long does it take to be a veterinary pathologist?

Becoming a veterinary pathologist typically requires completing a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM) degree, which takes about four years, followed by a pathology residency program that lasts an additional three to four years. Certification by the American College of Veterinary Pathologists (ACVP) is also necessary and involves passing a rigorous exam after completing training.

How much does a veterinary pathologist make in the US?

Veterinary pathologists in the US typically earn a median annual salary of around $80,000 to $120,000, depending on experience, location, and employer. Advanced training and certification can lead to higher compensation, especially in research or academic settings.
More about Veterinary Pathologist jobs

What are the most commonly searched types of Veterinary Pathologist jobs in Chicago, IL?

The most popular types of Veterinary Pathologist jobs in Chicago, IL are:

What are popular job titles related to Veterinary Pathologist jobs in Chicago, IL?

For Veterinary Pathologist jobs in Chicago, IL, the most frequently searched job titles are:

What job categories do people searching Veterinary Pathologist jobs in Chicago, IL look for?

The top searched job categories for Veterinary Pathologist jobs in Chicago, IL are:

Veterinary Pathologist jobs near you
Infographic showing various Veterinary Pathologist job openings in Chicago, IL as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 87% Full Time, and 13% Part Time. Highlights an 100% In-person job distribution, with an average salary of $256,507 per year, or $123.3 per hour.

Senior Principal Pathologist

Allergan

North Chicago, IL • On-site

$150 - $200/hr

Other

Medical, Dental, Vision, Retirement, PTO

Posted 2 days ago

New

Job description

Company Description

About AbbVie

AbbVie's mission is to discover and deliver innovative medicines and solutions that solve serious health issues today and address the medical challenges of tomorrow. We strive to have a remarkable impact on people's lives across several key therapeutic areas including immunology, oncology and neuroscience - and products and services in our Allergan Aesthetics portfolio. For more information about AbbVie, please visit us at www.abbvie.com. Follow @abbvie on LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, X and YouTube.

Job Description

Job Description

The primary function is to assess the safety of experimental compounds by evaluating their effects across available nonclinical safety models. Act as a scientific subject matter expert for preclinical safety data for other AbbVie departments as a member of cross-functional project teams. Develop and conduct those portions of study protocols that deal with anatomic and clinical pathology including not only the collection and evaluation of data regarding gross, microscopic, ultra-structural, and clinical pathology but, lastly, the preparation of comprehensive reports correlating these data. Integrate data sourced from in vivo studies as well as in vitro models and in silico predictions to generate a comprehensive safety assessment for early drug development programs.

Responsibilities

  • Provide scientific expertise to scientific staff of other departments as a member of cross-functional teams.
  • In cooperation with the Toxicology Department, design, direct, and evaluate in vivo studies to determine the potential toxicity of experimental compounds in different species of animals. This includes advanced endpoints (molecular pathology, ultrastructure, imaging, -omics, etc)
  • Integrates the anatomic pathology data, clinical pathology data and other study findings to generate a pathology report as a component of the Toxicology report.
  • Partner with toxicologists, pathologists and other functions to develop optimal strategies to address specific toxicology issues as well as select and advance Development compounds.
  • Ability to function in multidisciplinary teams to address regulatory queries.
  • Serves and/or leads issue resolution teams and participates in due diligence teams.
  • Responsible for compliance with applicable Corporate and Divisional Policies and procedures.
Qualifications

Qualifications

  • Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM or equivalent) plus post graduate training in veterinary pathology.
  • Board Certification in Veterinary Anatomic Pathology (ACVP or equivalent) strongly preferred.
  • Candidates with a Ph.D. in pathology or related discipline are strongly preferred.
  • Familiarity with related fields: pharmacology, toxicology and drug development.
  • Seasoned experience in biological research, supervisory abilities, and the ability to work effectively with other people.
  • Excellent oral and written skills with a proven record of scientific contributions to the scientific community.
  • At least 5-15 years of experience as a veterinary pathologist in the pharmaceutical business is required.
Additional Information

Applicable only to applicants applying to a position in any location with pay disclosure requirements under state or local law:

  • The compensation range described below is the range of possible base pay compensation that the Company believes in good faith it will pay for this role at the time of this posting based on the job grade for this position. Individual compensation paid within this range will depend on many factors including geographic location, and we may ultimately pay more or less than the posted range. This range may be modified in the future.
  • We offer a comprehensive package of benefits including paid time off (vacation, holidays, sick), medical/dental/vision insurance and 401(k) to eligible employees.
  • This job is eligible to participate in our long-term incentive programs.

Note: No amount of pay is considered to be wages or compensation until such amount is earned, vested, and determinable. The amount and availability of any bonus, commission, incentive, benefits, or any other form of compensation and benefits that are allocable to a particular employee remains in the Company's sole and absolute discretion unless and until paid and may be modified at the Company’s sole and absolute discretion, consistent with applicable law.

AbbVie is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to operating with integrity, driving innovation, transforming lives and serving our community. Equal Opportunity Employer/Veterans/Disabled.

US & Puerto Rico only - to learn more, visit https://www.abbvie.com/join-us/equal-employment-opportunity-employer.html

US & Puerto Rico applicants seeking a reasonable accommodation, click here to learn more:

https://www.abbvie.com/join-us/reasonable-accommodations.html

#J-18808-Ljbffr

Apply