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Healthcare

Histology Technicians

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

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 2 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 Histology Technicians

Education

Typical entry: Associate degree

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Typical progression

  1. Junior Histology Technicians

    Entry / Junior

    $38,910

    ~2 yrs to advance

  2. Histology Technicians

    Established

    $62,930

    ~3 yrs to advance

  3. Senior Histology Technicians

    Senior

    $81,960

Key skills

A typical day

  • Cut sections of body tissues for microscopic examination, using microtomes.
  • Embed tissue specimens into paraffin wax blocks, or infiltrate tissue specimens with wax.
  • Mount tissue specimens on glass slides.
  • Stain tissue specimens with dyes or other chemicals to make cell details visible under microscopes.
  • Freeze tissue specimens.

Fields of study

Any field

Top colleges for Healthcare

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Reputation-based selection; stats shown are outcome data per school.