A histotechnologist prepares tissue samples for examination under a microscope, helping pathologists diagnose disease. The work is precise, lab-based, and requires a bachelor's degree. Here is what the job involves, what it takes to succeed, and how to enter the field.
Pathly builds you a free, personalized roadmap and helps your counselor champion you along the way.
Histotechnologists process human tissue samples by cutting, staining, and preparing them for microscopic analysis. You inspect equipment and materials to ensure quality, document your work carefully, and monitor processes throughout the day. You evaluate samples against established standards and communicate findings with supervisors and lab colleagues. Your critical thinking helps you solve problems when samples don't meet expectations. The work is methodical and requires strong attention to detail, as your preparation directly supports accurate medical diagnoses.
Core work activities
Career video courtesy of CareerOneStop.
Histotechnologists earn a median of $62,930 a year, based on 2025 data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Pay rises with experience, specialty, and location.
The outlook is modest. Employment is projected to grow 2 percent from 2024 to 2034, little or no change for all occupations, with about 22,600 openings a year.
Top skills
Knowledge areas
You will need a bachelor's degree to enter this field. Your coursework will emphasize biology, chemistry, and production processes, building the scientific foundation the work demands. During your education, you will develop skills in reading comprehension, active learning, and science through lab work and classroom study. Look for programs that include hands-on training in tissue processing and staining techniques. After completing your degree, you may pursue additional credentials to advance your career and demonstrate your expertise to employers.
Most histotechnologists complete a bachelor's degree program with lab-based coursework and hands-on training. The path is fairly direct, but choosing the right program matters, so Pathly can map the histotechnologist path that fits you with your counselor to map out schools, timelines, and next steps.
Many histotechnologists must be licensed, and professional certifications can strengthen your resume.
Common certifications
Licensing is handled at the state level and the requirements vary, so check the licensing board in your state. Pathly shows your state's specific steps inside your roadmap.
You are drawn to investigative work that involves careful analysis and problem-solving. You enjoy working with scientific processes and take satisfaction in precision and accuracy.
Reading about a career is the easy part. Turning it into a plan is where most students get stuck. Pathly takes you from curious to a clear next step, and gives your counselor the insight to champion you along the way.
Start with a quick quiz and assessments that surface your personality, your EQ, and what really motivates you, so your next steps are built around who you actually are.
Your free AI guide weighs this career against your strengths and goals, and surfaces the colleges, trades, and scholarships that match, so you know if it truly fits before you commit.
Get a personalized, step-by-step plan to reach this career, with the training, coursework, and credentials tracked in one place. Link your school or IEC and your counselor in the loop.
Last updated July 1, 2026.
Data sources. Career details from the O*NET 30.3 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA), used under CC BY 4.0. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. Salary and outlook figures from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025 wages; 2024–2034 projections), delivered via the CareerOneStop API. Certification, licensing, wage, and outlook data from CareerOneStop, sponsored by USDOL/ETA and the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED).