A major in Cytogenetics/Genetics/Clinical Genetics Technology/Technologist covers Cytogenetics/genetics/clinical Genetics Technology/technologist. A Program That Prepares Individuals To Perform Analyses Of The Human Genome And Chromosomes For The Research And Diagnosis Of Genetic Diseases And Defects, In Preparation For Organ Transplants, And In Support Of Treatments For Cancers And Leukemias. Includes Instruction In Chromosome Analysis, Fluorescent In Situ Hybridization (Fish), Molecular Genetic Techniques, Cytotechnology, And Photomicrography. Continue reading for the important information every cytogenetics/genetics/clinical genetics technology/technologist major should know — including career paths, salary data, the skills you will develop, and the best colleges offering cytogenetics/genetics/clinical genetics technology/technologist programs.
In the U.S., cytogenetics/genetics/clinical genetics technology/technologist draws strong interest, with 35 degrees awarded annually.
Our 2026 Best Cytogenetics/Genetics/Clinical Genetics Technology/Technologist Schools ranking analyzes these 2 schools to determine the best overall colleges for cytogenetics/genetics/clinical genetics technology/technologist students. Continue reading to check out one of our many unbiased rankings of cytogenetics/genetics/clinical genetics technology/technologist programs later in this article.
Coursework for Cytogenetics/Genetics/Clinical Genetics Technology/Technologist build a specific mix of skills, knowledge, and abilities — derived from O*NET surveys of workers in the occupations cytogenetics/genetics/clinical genetics technology/technologist graduates commonly enter.
Skills developed in a cytogenetics/genetics/clinical genetics technology/technologist program reflects the day-to-day work of related occupations:
Based on O*NET data, a cytogenetics/genetics/clinical genetics technology/technologist major emphasizes the following knowledge areas:
There are several cytogenetics/genetics/clinical genetics technology/technologist 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 23 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 12 |
People currently working in careers related to cytogenetics/genetics/clinical genetics technology/technologist tend to have obtained the following education levels.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Bachelor’s degree | 38.3% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 19.8% |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 13.6% |
| Master’s degree | 8.2% |
| Postsecondary certificate | 6.1% |
| High school diploma or equivalent | 4.0% |
| Some college courses | 3.7% |
| Doctoral degree | 3.4% |
| Post-doctoral training | 1.9% |
| First professional degree | 1.0% |
See the chart below to get an idea of what level of education most of those in cytogenetics/genetics/clinical genetics technology/technologist careers hold.
Source: ONET Online education / training / experience requirements.*
Studying cytogenetics/genetics/clinical genetics technology/technologist can lead to numerous career paths. Below are some of the most common occupations related to cytogenetics/genetics/clinical genetics technology/technologist.
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to cytogenetics/genetics/clinical genetics technology/technologist.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Histology Technicians | 2,948,902 | -0.2% |
| Cytotechnologists | 2,585,436 | 10.3% |
| Cytogenetic Technologists | 2,100,694 | 1.9% |
| Histotechnologists | 1,678,341 | 4.1% |
| Medical and Clinical Laboratory Technicians | 1,550,596 | 12.4% |
| Health Specialties Teachers, Postsecondary | 1,335,407 | 10.7% |
| Medical and Clinical Laboratory Technologists | 678,933 | 3.9% |
Federal data tracks median earnings of cytogenetics/genetics/clinical genetics technology/technologist graduates 1, 4, and 5 years after completion. These numbers tend to grow 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 cytogenetics/genetics/clinical genetics technology/technologist graduates vary widely by occupation. The following table shows the top highest-paying careers cytogenetics/genetics/clinical genetics technology/technologist grads often go into.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Medical and Clinical Laboratory Technicians | $155,908 |
| Cytotechnologists | $155,812 |
| Cytogenetic Technologists | $155,361 |
| Histotechnologists | $125,527 |
| Histology Technicians | $80,721 |
| Medical and Clinical Laboratory Technologists | $77,339 |
| Health Specialties Teachers, Postsecondary | $46,663 |
With 2 different cytogenetics/genetics/clinical genetics technology/technologist programs to choose from, finding the best fit can be a challenge. We have analyzed these schools to produce unbiased cytogenetics/genetics/clinical genetics technology/technologist school rankings to help you.
If you are interested in cytogenetics/genetics/clinical genetics technology/technologist, you may also want to explore other closely related fields of study within the same broad area.
More about our data sources and methodologies.