Pathologist Duties and Responsibilities: As a pathologist you examine and diagnose bodily fluids such as urine and blood. They also diagnose a disease by tissue from a biopsies and pap smears. They can also perform autopsies to determine the cause of death. Salary: $302,610 Education: They are required to complete medical school, residency, and maybe a fellowship. They are required to have a license. Demand or Need for this Profession: License Reflection: I am interested in becoming a pathologist because I will like to discover new diseases or the cause of death.