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Histology Technicians

Typical education: Associate degreeModerate pressure

What they do

Prepare histological slides from tissue sections for microscopic examination and diagnosis by pathologists. May assist with research studies.

Kinds of work

  • Realistic: Hands-on work with tools, machines, plants or animals, often outdoors.
  • Investigative: Science, research, figuring out how things work and solving complex problems.
  • Conventional: Organizing information, following clear procedures and working with data and details.

Moderate pressure: How much pressure workers in this job report: deadlines, conflict, dealing with upset people, the cost of mistakes, responsibility for others' safety, competition and long hours. It varies a lot from one employer to the next. Source: U.S. Department of Labor worker surveys.

Pay, tasks and more

Salary

United States $62,930 Median per year · $30.26/hr Most earn $38,910–$100,990

BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, 2025.

What you might do

  • Embed tissue specimens into paraffin wax blocks, or infiltrate tissue specimens with wax.
  • Cut sections of body tissues for microscopic examination, using microtomes.
  • Operate computerized laboratory equipment to dehydrate, decalcify, or microincinerate tissue samples.
  • Stain tissue specimens with dyes or other chemicals to make cell details visible under microscopes.
  • Archive diagnostic material, such as histologic slides and blocks.
  • Mount tissue specimens on glass slides.

Job outlook

United States
3% more jobs by 2035, about as fast as average · about 20,800 openings a year

Openings include new jobs and jobs left by workers who retire or change careers. Projections: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. "Bright Outlook": U.S. Department of Labor.

Where they work

The Bureau of Labor Statistics doesn't break this career out by industry.

Experience before this job: 3 to 6 months

Some people start through an apprenticeship: paid training on the job, often with classes. Search apprenticeships on Apprenticeship.gov (opens in a new tab) ↗

Career path

How people usually get into this career, from school to their first job and beyond.

Typical education: Associate degreeExperience before this job: 3 to 6 monthsEntry-level

Histology technician is a hands-on lab job that usually requires an associate degree plus a few months of related lab experience. You can often start with a two-year program and some on-the-job training, so it's reachable without a four-year degree.

  1. High school diploma with strong science classes

    4 years

    Biology, chemistry, and math build the foundation you need for a lab program and for the college-level science that follows.

  2. Associate degree in histotechnology or clinical laboratory science

    2 years

    A two-year program teaches tissue processing, slide preparation, staining techniques, lab safety, and microscope work, which is the core of this job.

  3. Laboratory assistant or lab aide

    3-6 months

    Entry lab work gives you practical experience handling specimens and following lab procedures before you take on histology tasks directly.

  4. Histology Technician

    Ongoing

    You prepare tissue slides for pathologists to examine and diagnose, and you may help with research studies.

Where it can lead

  1. Histotechnologist

    6 months to 1 year of related experience, plus a bachelor's degree of experience first

    Histotechnologists usually need a bachelor's degree and take on more complex work, such as specialized staining, quality control, and problem solving in the lab.

What you can do now

Ideas for high school and college students.

In high school

  • Take biology and chemistryThese classes teach the basic science behind staining, tissue processing, and lab safety.
  • Join a science club or fairScience clubs and fairs let you practice lab techniques, careful record keeping, and presenting your results.
  • Volunteer at a hospital or clinicVolunteering shows you how a healthcare lab fits into patient care and may let you meet lab staff.
  • Get a part-time job that rewards careful workJobs in pharmacies, food labs, or retail stockrooms build reliability and attention to detail.

In college

  • Take anatomy, microbiology, and organic chemistryThese courses cover the tissue structure, staining chemistry, and lab methods you'll use every day as a histology technician.
  • Look for a campus lab job or research assistant roleWorking in a lab, even as a washer or assistant, gives you hands-on experience that counts toward the lab background employers want.
  • Apply to an associate program with a clinical practicumPrograms with supervised hands-on training let you practice slide preparation before you start working.
  • Join a pre-health or science student organizationThese groups connect you with peers, guest speakers, and sometimes shadowing opportunities in pathology labs.
  • Ask about summer lab internshipsSummer internships at hospitals or research institutes can give you direct experience and professional references.

Tips for getting started

  • Ask a local hospital, clinic, or research lab whether you can shadow a histology or pathology lab team. Seeing the work up close helps you decide if it's a good fit.
  • Choose an associate program that includes hands-on lab hours and possibly a clinical practicum, since real bench experience is what employers look for.
  • Build comfort with careful, detailed work now, such as neat lab notes and precise measuring, because accuracy matters a lot when slides are used for diagnosis.

Related jobs a step up

Education, experience and related careers: U.S. Department of Labor. The step-by-step path, where it can lead and what you can do now were written by AI as typical examples; many people take other ways.

College majors that lead here

Majors: U.S. Department of Education and BLS (CIP–SOC crosswalk). Earnings and debt: College Scorecard, typical across U.S. colleges.

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