Histology Technicians: Career Profile
Prepare histological slides from tissue sections for microscopic examination and diagnosis by pathologists. May assist with research studies.
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The Daily Work of Histology Technicians Take On?
The core tasks performed by histology technicians span:
- Cut sections of body tissues for microscopic examination, using microtomes.
- Embed tissue specimens into paraffin wax blocks, or infiltrate tissue specimens with wax.
- Mount tissue specimens on glass slides.
- Stain tissue specimens with dyes or other chemicals to make cell details visible under microscopes.
- Freeze tissue specimens.
- Operate computerized laboratory equipment to dehydrate, decalcify, or microincinerate tissue samples.
- Archive diagnostic material, such as histologic slides and blocks.
- Maintain laboratory equipment, such as microscopes, mass spectrometers, microtomes, immunostainers, tissue processors, embedding centers, and water baths.
What Histology Technicians Need to Know
Effective histology technicians draw on a mix of skills and domain knowledge.
Key Skills
The abilities most central to this role, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:
Top Knowledge Areas
Other Histology Technicians Job Titles
People in this occupation may also be known by titles such as:
- Certified Histologic Technician (Certified Histologic Tech)
- Clinical Histology Technician (Clinical Histology Tech)
- Histologic Aide
- Histologic Technician (HT)
- Histologist
- Histology Assistant
- Histology Consultant
- Histology Coordinator
Employment and Demand
There are roughly 2,955,520 histology technicians working in the United States today. This occupation is expected to decline by -0.2% over the projection horizon.
How Much Do Histology Technicians Make?
| Statistic | Value |
|---|---|
| Annual median | $80,721 |
| Hourly median | $38.81 |
| 10th percentile | $47,438 |
| 25th percentile | $64,080 |
| 75th percentile | $97,363 |
| 90th percentile | $114,005 |
Pay can vary substantially based on experience, location, and industry.
Tools and Technology
- Medical software: MEDITECH software (hot technology)
- Data base user interface and query software: Microsoft Access (hot technology)
- Spreadsheet software: Microsoft Excel (hot technology)
- Office suite software: Microsoft Office software (hot technology)
- Electronic mail software: Microsoft Outlook (hot technology)
- Word processing software: Microsoft Word (hot technology)
The Day-to-Day Environment
The work environment for histology technicians tends to involve the following characteristics:
- Wear Common Protective or Safety Equipment such as Safety Shoes, Glasses, Gloves, Hearing Protection, Hard Hats, or Life Jackets
- Importance of Being Exact or Accurate
- Spend Time Making Repetitive Motions
- Spend Time Using Your Hands to Handle, Control, or Feel Objects, Tools, or Controls
- Indoors, Environmentally Controlled
Getting Started in This Career
Most histology technicians positions require an associate’s degree as the typical entry-level education. The role falls in Medium Preparation Needed (Job Zone 3), signaling the level of preparation typically expected.
Similar Occupations
Similar Occupations
- Microbiologists (Supplemental)
- Molecular and Cellular Biologists (Supplemental)
- Biological Technicians (Primary-Long)
- Chemical Technicians (Supplemental)
- Physicians, Pathologists (Supplemental)
- Medical and Clinical Laboratory Technologists (Primary-Short)
- Cytogenetic Technologists (Primary-Short)
- Cytotechnologists (Primary-Short)
Degree Programs
Students preparing for histology technicians typically earn programs in:
Health Professions and Related Programs
7 programs across 2 majors
References
Data on this page comes from the following authoritative sources:
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics — Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) for employment and wage data by state and industry.
- BLS Employment Projections for total employment and growth forecasts.
- O*NET (Occupational Information Network) for skills, knowledge, tasks, work activities, work context, technology, and education-zone data.
SOC code: 29-2012.01 (Medical and Clinical Laboratory Technicians).
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