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How to Become a Histotechnologist

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Home » Specialties » 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: $57,380
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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: $57,380

Projected job growth: 4.9%

10th Percentile: $35,220

25th Percentile: $40,440

75th Percentile: $74,920

90th Percentile: $84,670

Projected job growth: 4.9%

State data

State Median Salary Bottom 10% Top 10%
Alabama $46,690 $29,060 $72,670
Alaska $66,740 $35,010 $100,910
Arizona $46,600 $36,670 $81,280
Arkansas $49,160 $30,430 $75,020
California $61,180 $38,940 $107,780
Colorado $63,110 $37,250 $88,500
Connecticut $78,200 $46,180 $101,300
Delaware $63,520 $38,070 $80,630
District of Columbia $64,560 $48,300 $95,740
Florida $57,110 $31,620 $79,510
Georgia $51,950 $31,830 $82,600
Hawaii $64,200 $43,780 $84,590
Idaho $47,510 $28,680 $78,640
Illinois $61,390 $36,760 $81,190
Indiana $48,810 $31,450 $76,930
Iowa $50,820 $34,240 $73,050
Kansas $50,580 $33,200 $78,880
Kentucky $50,080 $30,240 $78,150
Louisiana $59,330 $31,600 $80,060
Maine $61,170 $40,560 $80,430
Maryland $51,920 $35,930 $84,690
Massachusetts $61,130 $39,390 $97,620
Michigan $53,850 $33,950 $81,290
Minnesota $60,780 $42,280 $82,870
Mississippi $40,060 $26,790 $65,990
Missouri $48,340 $31,220 $79,820
Montana $65,040 $34,170 $89,190
Nebraska $55,340 $36,340 $80,550
Nevada $62,640 $35,560 $96,850
New Hampshire $76,470 $45,510 $92,200
New Jersey $67,820 $43,200 $97,180
New Mexico $48,500 $30,440 $74,980
New York $79,640 $44,160 $105,840
North Carolina $49,640 $34,070 $78,020
North Dakota $58,470 $36,990 $81,740
Ohio $57,380 $36,360 $79,600
Oklahoma $49,580 $31,230 $75,910
Oregon $75,320 $44,530 $104,750
Pennsylvania $56,630 $36,500 $79,300
Rhode Island $64,710 $46,740 $96,940
South Carolina $47,590 $31,570 $73,670
South Dakota $49,430 $30,970 $75,030
Tennessee $55,670 $31,770 $82,470
Texas $50,070 $31,750 $81,710
Utah $45,080 $31,320 $83,900
Vermont $63,630 $40,200 $92,290
Virginia $55,180 $35,190 $81,120
Washington $62,140 $39,220 $98,390
West Virginia $56,480 $32,030 $82,260
Wisconsin $58,590 $36,510 $78,180
Wyoming $50,380 $32,120 $81,510

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) 2022 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.