Those who fell into the lower 10 percent earned as little as $76,700 a year, while those in the top 10 percent earned as much as $162,470 a year. The mean annual salary of physician assistants, which includes pathologists’ assistants, was $116,080 in May 2020 according to the BLS (2020).
The salary for those who work as pathologists’ assistants can vary greatly and indeed, accurate data on the expected salary is difficult to find.
#ASCP LAB ASSISTANT CERTIFICATION COST PROFESSIONAL#
Continuing education courses are available as is a professional certification, which will be detailed further below. The AAPA offers networking opportunities via virtual and in-person careers.Īs well, joining an AAPA committee can help pathologists’ assistants advance their careers. The AAPA site features a range of information about the field, including certification, conferences, and membership resources, and offers a job hotline so members can look for positions when they are ready. To learn more about the position, prospective pathologists’ assistants can visit the site for the American Association of Pathologists’ Assistants (AAPA).
This growth is much faster than the national average for all occupations, which is just 4 percent for the same time period. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS 2021) classifies pathologists’ assistants within the physicians’ assistants category and projects job growth for the entire field to be 31 percent from 2019 to 2029. The career outlook for pathologists’ assistants is burgeoning with opportunities. For individuals who are fascinated by the work of pathology but not interested in spending all the years and tuition necessary to become a medical examiner, the pathologists’ assistant career can be an attractive choice.Ĭareer Outlook for an Assistant to a Pathologist Pursuing any career in the forensic sciences requires attention to detail and a willingness to learn and working in pathology is no different. In some cases and in some jobs, weekend work and swing shift work may be a necessity but those working in a lab environment may find that they have more of a fixed schedule. Pathologists’ assistants most often work in laboratories and hospitals, but they can also work in an academic setting or a medical examiner’s office. Some of these include preparing and assisting with postmortem exams, dissecting human tissue surgical specimens, and even helping with some of the administrative duties in a pathologist’s office, such as overseeing budgets or other employees. While this is not the type of career that is right for everyone, the job is one that has quite a bit of potential in terms of pay and career opportunity.īeing a pathologist assistant does require advanced training, specialized skills, and academic achievement, but committing to that training can result in a fulfilling career and many professional opportunities.Īn assistant to a pathologist or medical examiner will have a number of different duties and provide many services to a pathologist.
Working as a pathologists’ assistant (PA) can provide people with a career that is at once interesting and that can be quite lucrative as well. Imagine working side by side with a pathologist and helping to determine the cause of a person’s death. Becoming a Pathologists’ Assistant – Education, Licensure & Duties