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How to Become a Histotechnologist

Histotechnologist: Fast Facts

What you’ll do: Also known as histologic technologists or tissue technologists, you’ll prepare slices of body tissue for examination by pathologists. As a histotechnologist, you’ll be performing complex procedures for processing body tissue and make judgments concerning the quality of results.

Where you’ll work: Most histotechnologists work in hospitals or clinical pathology labs, but you might also work in research laboratories, doctors’ offices, for a pharmaceutical company or for a government agency.

Degree you’ll need: Bachelor’s degree

Median annual salary: $60,780

What Is a Histotechnologist?

A histotechnologist, also referred to as a histology technician or histologic technician, is a highly specialized medical laboratory professional. They play a critical role in the diagnosis and treatment of diseases by skillfully processing tissue samples and preparing microscope slides for examination. Histotechnologists are experts in the field of histology, which involves studying the microscopic structures of tissues to aid in medical diagnoses.

Education and Training

In addition to histology and histochemistry, you’ll learn processing techniques, preparation of specimens and microscopy.

Courses in histotechnology generally include the following:

Medical Terminology
Biology
Chemistry
Immunology
Anatomy and Physiology

Licensing and Certification

In order to become a histotechnologist, you’ll need to have a bachelor’s degree and certification from a National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Sciences (NAACLS) or Committee on Allied Health Education and Accreditation (CAHEA) accredited program.

Regulations vary from state to state, but certification is highly recommended because many employers require it. The American Society for Clinical Pathology (ASCP) offers national certification and testing, which earns histotechnologists the title Certified Histotechnologist (CHTL).

Median Annual Histotechnologist Salary

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics categorized histotechnologists under clinical laboratory technicians and technologists, and reports they earn a median annual wage of .

Take a look at median annual salaries for your state.

Clinical Laboratory Technologists and Technicians

National data

Median Salary: $60,780

Projected job growth: 4.9%

10th Percentile: $36,770

25th Percentile: $45,080

75th Percentile: $78,120

90th Percentile: $93,900

Projected job growth: 4.9%

State data

State	Median Salary	Bottom 10%	Top 10%
Alabama	$47,200	$30,220	$77,020
Alaska	$64,530	$38,930	$102,790
Arizona	$59,990	$39,260	$95,120
Arkansas	$49,410	$32,810	$77,000
California	$66,610	$45,440	$120,650
Colorado	$65,150	$40,020	$96,770
Connecticut	$79,260	$43,470	$105,100
Delaware	$68,440	$46,380	$96,260
District of Columbia	$62,510	$47,790	$103,580
Florida	$58,060	$34,450	$84,890
Georgia	$62,300	$37,080	$90,170
Hawaii	$63,130	$48,150	$88,450
Idaho	$46,560	$29,000	$79,920
Illinois	$64,100	$38,400	$93,300
Indiana	$55,210	$36,290	$80,290
Iowa	$51,630	$37,110	$77,480
Kansas	$57,670	$37,100	$84,580
Kentucky	$55,670	$33,880	$81,680
Louisiana	$59,140	$35,510	$83,560
Maine	$64,970	$43,160	$85,480
Maryland	$58,240	$32,290	$92,020
Massachusetts	$65,810	$44,960	$100,360
Michigan	$59,040	$36,250	$85,390
Minnesota	$62,510	$48,340	$87,000
Mississippi	$39,800	$28,380	$72,710
Missouri	$52,120	$34,600	$83,700
Montana	$66,810	$35,270	$94,600
Nebraska	$61,680	$38,120	$86,690
Nevada	$56,770	$36,450	$100,050
New Hampshire	$79,670	$47,650	$94,370
New Jersey	$68,600	$41,480	$98,520
New Mexico	$47,530	$33,900	$76,960
New York	$80,910	$43,430	$123,830
North Carolina	$54,180	$36,340	$80,770
North Dakota	$61,810	$38,130	$84,850
Ohio	$60,630	$37,500	$82,660
Oklahoma	$54,050	$33,280	$79,210
Oregon	$78,830	$46,740	$104,950
Pennsylvania	$60,510	$38,600	$82,990
Rhode Island	$69,360	$49,690	$103,020
South Carolina	$50,680	$34,020	$77,010
South Dakota	$52,890	$32,980	$80,230
Tennessee	$58,670	$36,310	$83,000
Texas	$52,320	$35,380	$84,830
Utah	$45,570	$35,370	$80,770
Vermont	$77,020	$50,050	$102,650
Virginia	$61,150	$38,350	$87,380
Washington	$66,040	$44,070	$103,230
West Virginia	$57,900	$36,670	$84,020
Wisconsin	$60,460	$37,520	$80,660
Wyoming	$53,910	$34,580	$88,230

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) 2023 median salary; projected job growth through 2032. Actual salaries may vary depending on location, level of education, years of experience, work environment, and other factors. Salaries may differ even more for those who are self-employed or work part time.