Also known as: Certified Histologic Technician (Certified Histologic Tech), Clinical Histology Technician (Clinical Histology Tech), Histologic Aide, Histologic Technician (HT)
Your shift begins at 7:00 AM at the City Medical Center's Pathology Lab. You change into scrubs, don a clean lab coat, and put on your safety glasses and gloves, a routine you never skip. First, you check the specimen accession log to see the incoming biopsies and surgical resections from yesterday and overnight. The tissue processor has finished its cycle, so you begin to unload the cassettes, each containing a small, formalin-fixed tissue sample, ready for the next crucial step in its journey to diagnosis.
Software and technologies flagged by O*NET as Hot or In-Demand for this role.
How this work is typically performed, based on O*NET work context data.
Source: O*NET Work Context (v31.0)
The outlook for Histology Technicians is growing through 2035, meaning more opportunities are expected. With experience, you can advance to roles like Histology Supervisor, Medical Laboratory Technologist, or Pathologist Assistant, taking on more responsibility in lab operations or specialized diagnostics.
Career ladder
Often before this role
Where it can lead
$43,323 - $86,646 per year
Estimated for US-wide average
Bachelor's Degree
Minimum educational requirement for this position
Based on job level & field
Cell/Cellular Biology and Histology
Bachelor • Healthcare & Life Sciences • 4 years
Pathology/Experimental Pathology
Bachelor • Healthcare & Life Sciences • 4 years
Anatomy
Bachelor • Healthcare & Life Sciences • 4 years
Healthcare Assistance
Vocational • Healthcare & Life Sciences • 1 year
Medical Assistance
Vocational • Healthcare & Life Sciences • 2 years
Health and Welfare
Vocational • Healthcare & Life Sciences • 2 years