Healthcare
Cytotechnologists
Stain, mount, and study cells to detect evidence of cancer, hormonal abnormalities, and other pathological conditions following established standards and practices.
Median salary (BLS)
$62,930
10th–90th percentile (BLS)
$39k – $101k
Job outlook
+2% (about average)
AI exposure
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reports one wage for this occupational group, which covers 3 related roles — so read the median as an approximate group figure, and the range as the truer picture for this specific title. BLS source.
Early-career check: graduates of the matching programs below typically earn $93,000 ten years after starting college — an early-career figure, vs. the all-experience BLS median above. Source: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard.
Plan a path to Cytotechnologists
Education
Typical entry: Master's degree
Plan my path to this →Typical progression
Junior Cytotechnologists
Entry / Junior
$38,910
~2 yrs to advance
Cytotechnologists
Established
$62,930
~3 yrs to advance
Senior Cytotechnologists
Senior
$81,960
Key skills
A typical day
- •Examine cell samples to detect abnormalities in the color, shape, or size of cellular components and patterns.
- •Document specimens by verifying patients' and specimens' information.
- •Submit slides with abnormal cell structures to pathologists for further examination.
- •Prepare and analyze samples, such as Papanicolaou (PAP) smear body fluids and fine needle aspirations (FNAs), to detect abnormal conditions.
- •Examine specimens, using microscopes, to evaluate specimen quality.
Fields of study
Any field
Top colleges for Healthcare
Explore all- Johns Hopkins University7% admit · $93,000 grad pay
- Harvard University4% admit · $119,000 grad pay
- University of Michigan18% admit · $87,000 grad pay
- Duke University6% admit · $105,000 grad pay
- University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill19% admit · $73,000 grad pay
Reputation-based selection; stats shown are outcome data per school.