A major in Blood Bank Technology Specialist explores Blood Bank Technology Specialist. A Program That Prepares Individuals To Perform Routine And Specialized Blood Testing Procedures, Collect And Process Blood Donations, And Support Physicians And Other Clinicians Administering Transfusion Therapy. Includes Instruction In Basic Cellular Biology, Immunohematology, Blood Bank Procedures, Blood Typing, Antigen And Antibody Identification Tests, Hemolytic And Transfusion Responses And Diseases, Donor Selection, Blood Drawing And Storage, Blood Separation, Viral Marker Testing, Laboratory And Personnel Supervision, Safety And Sterilization, And Applicable Laws And Regulations. Read on to learn the key facts every blood bank technology specialist student should know — including career paths, salary data, the skills you will develop, and the best colleges offering blood bank technology specialist programs.
In the U.S., blood bank technology specialist is a widely-pursued major, with 241 degrees awarded annually.
Our 2026 Best Blood Bank Technology Specialist Schools ranking analyzes these 13 schools to determine the best overall colleges for blood bank technology specialist students. Continue reading to check out one of our many unbiased rankings of blood bank technology specialist programs later in this article.
Studies in Blood Bank Technology Specialist build a specific mix of skills, knowledge, and abilities — derived from O*NET surveys of workers in the occupations blood bank technology specialist graduates commonly enter.
The skill set built by a blood bank technology specialist program reflects the day-to-day work of related occupations:
According to O*NET, a blood bank technology specialist major emphasizes the following knowledge areas:
There are several blood bank technology specialist degree levels. The table below shows the typical length of the most common levels, and how many graduates earn each one.
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Certificate | Varies | 162 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 79 |
People currently working in careers related to blood bank technology specialist tend to have obtained the following education levels.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 34.3% |
| Bachelor’s degree | 16.3% |
| Master’s degree | 9.5% |
| Postsecondary certificate | 9.3% |
| Doctoral degree | 7.6% |
| High school diploma or equivalent | 7.5% |
| Some college courses | 6.6% |
| Post-doctoral training | 4.2% |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 2.6% |
| First professional degree | 2.2% |
View the chart below to get an idea of what level of education most of those in blood bank technology specialist careers hold.
Source: ONET Online education / training / experience requirements.*
Studying blood bank technology specialist can lead to numerous career paths. These are some of the most common occupations related to blood bank technology specialist.
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to blood bank technology specialist.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Histology Technicians | 2,948,902 | -0.2% |
| Medical and Clinical Laboratory Technicians | 1,550,596 | 12.4% |
| Health Specialties Teachers, Postsecondary | 1,335,407 | 10.7% |
The U.S. Department of Education tracks median earnings of blood bank technology specialist graduates 1, 4, and 5 years after completion. Wages typically rise as graduates gain experience.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $42,942 |
| 4 years | $39,910 |
| 5 years | $44,672 |
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, field-of-study earnings tracker.
Salaries for blood bank technology specialist graduates vary widely by occupation. The following table shows the top highest-paying careers blood bank technology specialist grads often go into.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Medical and Clinical Laboratory Technicians | $155,908 |
| Histology Technicians | $80,721 |
| Health Specialties Teachers, Postsecondary | $46,663 |
With 13 different blood bank technology specialist programs to choose from, finding the best fit can be a challenge. We have analyzed these schools to produce unbiased blood bank technology specialist school rankings to help you.
If you are interested in blood bank technology specialist, you may also want to explore other closely related fields of study within the same broad area.
More about our data sources and methodologies.