Histotechnologists
Health ScienceO*NET 29-2011.04United States
Apply knowledge of health and disease causes to evaluate new laboratory techniques and procedures to examine tissue samples. Process and prepare histological slides from tissue sections for microscopic examination and diagnosis by pathologists.
- Median annual earnings
- $62,842
- Projected change
- +6.1%
- Typical education
- Bachelor's degree
- Employment
- 346.09K jobs
50th percentile, United States
2025 to 2035
47.6% of the workforce
Growing to 367.16K by 2035
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The work
What histotechnologists do
Tasks reported for this occupation, ordered by how often they come up in the role.
- Embed tissue specimens into paraffin wax blocks, or infiltrate tissue specimens with wax.
- Cut sections of body tissues for microscopic examination, using microtomes.
- Stain tissue specimens with dyes or other chemicals to make cell details visible under microscopes.
- Compile materials for distribution to pathologists, such as surgical working drafts, requisitions, and slides.
- Perform tests by following physician instructions.
- Compile and maintain records of preventive maintenance and instrument performance checks according to schedule and regulations.
- Operate computerized laboratory equipment to dehydrate, decalcify, or microincinerate tissue samples.
- Prepare substances, such as reagents and dilution, and stains for histological specimens according to protocols.
- Resolve problems with laboratory equipment and instruments, such as microscopes, mass spectrometers, microtomes, immunostainers, tissue processors, embedding centers, and water baths.
- Examine slides under microscopes to ensure tissue preparation meets laboratory requirements.
- Prepare or use prepared tissue specimens for teaching, research or diagnostic purposes.
- Perform procedures associated with histochemistry to prepare specimens for immunofluorescence or microscopy.
- Identify tissue structures or cell components to be used in the diagnosis, prevention, or treatment of diseases.
- Supervise histology laboratory activities.
- Teach students or other staff.
Pay and outlook
What the job pays and where it is heading
Annual earnings range
Reported earnings by percentile, United States
- 10th percentile
- $38,718
- 25th percentile
- $47,478
- 50th percentile
- $62,842
- 75th percentile
- $81,611
- 90th percentile
- $101,595
The gold marker shows the median. Half earn more than $62,842 and half earn less.
Employment outlook
2025 to 2035 projection
+6.1%faster than average
2025346,085 jobs
2035 projected367,162 jobs
21,077 more positions over the decade, before replacement hiring.
Preparation
Education levels
What people currently working in the career hold. These are not entry requirements.
- Bachelor's degree
- 47.6%
- Associate degree
- 19%
- Certificate
- 14.3%
- Master's or Professional degree
- 9.5%
- High school diploma or less
- 4.8%
- Some college
- 4.8%
Skills
Skills employers ask for
Technical skills appearing most often in job postings for this occupation.
How the work gets done
Core competencies
Broad capabilities associated with strong performance in this occupation.
- Reading Comprehension
- Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work-related documents.
- Critical Thinking
- Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions, or approaches to problems.
- Monitoring
- Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
- Judgment and Decision Making
- Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.
- Active Listening
- Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
- Speaking
- Talking to others to convey information effectively.
- Active Learning
- Understanding the implications of new information for both current and future problem-solving and decision-making.
- Complex Problem Solving
- Identifying complex problems and reviewing related information to develop and evaluate options and implement solutions.
- Operations Monitoring
- Watching gauges, dials, or other indicators to make sure a machine is working properly.
- Writing
- Communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience.
- Time Management
- Managing one's own time and the time of others.
- Coordination
- Adjusting actions in relation to others' actions.
- Science
- Using scientific rules and methods to solve problems.
- Social Perceptiveness
- Being aware of others' reactions and understanding why they react as they do.
- Learning Strategies
- Selecting and using training/instructional methods and procedures appropriate for the situation when learning or teaching new things.
- Systems Evaluation
- Identifying measures or indicators of system performance and the actions needed to improve or correct performance, relative to the goals of the system.
- Quality Control Analysis
- Conducting tests and inspections of products, services, or processes to evaluate quality or performance.
- Instructing
- Teaching others how to do something.
- Service Orientation
- Actively looking for ways to help people.
- Persuasion
- Persuading others to change their minds or behavior.
In the market
Job titles and employers
Recent job postings in United StatesCommon job titles
- 01Histotechnologists1,704 postings
- 02Histotechnicians1,491 postings
- 03Histology Technologists988 postings
- 04Histology Technicians610 postings
- 05Lead Histotechnologists252 postings
- 06Mohs Technicians209 postings
- 07Histology Supervisors207 postings
- 08Grossing Technicians186 postings
- 09Histology Assistants151 postings
- 10Histologists141 postings
- 11Histology Laboratory Assistants104 postings
- 12Technicians73 postings
- 13Histology Managers58 postings
- 14Pathology Technicians56 postings
- 15Laboratory Assistants55 postings
- 16Travel Technicians52 postings
- 17Laboratory Technologists49 postings
- 18Pathology Supervisors37 postings
- 19Surgical Pathology Technologists37 postings
- 20Technologists33 postings
Top employers
- 01K&A Recruiting1,626 postings
- 02AMN Healthcare169 postings
- 03Labcorp150 postings
- 04Quest Diagnostics149 postings
- 05HCA Healthcare113 postings
- 06Sonic Healthcare USA89 postings
- 07Trinity Health66 postings
- 08Soliant Health63 postings
- 09UVA Health System56 postings
- 10Pathgroup53 postings
- 11Exact Sciences49 postings
- 12MedPro Healthcare Staffing48 postings
- 13Titan Medical45 postings
- 14Gqr42 postings
- 15Actalent39 postings
- 16Ingenovis Health37 postings
- 17AdventHealth33 postings
- 18Trusted Health32 postings
- 19CompHealth30 postings
- 20Spectraforce Technologies30 postings
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