by our College Data Analytics TeamStudying Cytotechnology/Cytotechnologist covers Cytotechnology/cytotechnologist. A Program That Prepares Individuals To Work With Pathologists To Detect Changes In Body Cells That May Indicate, And Permit Diagnosis Of, The Early Development Of Cancers And Other Diseases. Includes Instruction In Biochemistry, Microbiology, Applied Mathematics, Microscopy, Slide Preparation, Identification Of Cellular Structures And Abnormalities, And Laboratory Procedures And Safety. Continue reading for the key facts every cytotechnology/cytotechnologist major should know — including career paths, salary data, the skills you will develop, and the best colleges offering cytotechnology/cytotechnologist programs.
Across the country, cytotechnology/cytotechnologist draws strong interest, with 127 degrees awarded annually.
Our 2026 Best Cytotechnology/Cytotechnologist Schools ranking analyzes these 16 schools to determine the best overall colleges for cytotechnology/cytotechnologist students. Continue reading to check out one of our many unbiased rankings of cytotechnology/cytotechnologist programs later in this article.
Coursework for Cytotechnology/Cytotechnologist build a specific mix of skills, knowledge, and abilities — derived from O*NET surveys of workers in the occupations cytotechnology/cytotechnologist graduates commonly enter.
Skills emphasized by a cytotechnology/cytotechnologist program reflects the day-to-day work of related occupations:
According to O*NET, a cytotechnology/cytotechnologist major emphasizes the following knowledge areas:
There are several cytotechnology/cytotechnologist 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 | 6 |
| Associate Degree | 2 years | 16 |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 26 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 79 |
People currently working in careers related to cytotechnology/cytotechnologist tend to have obtained the following education levels.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Bachelor’s degree | 49.8% |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 19.2% |
| Master’s degree | 11.5% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 7.3% |
| Doctoral degree | 3.8% |
| Postsecondary certificate | 3.4% |
| Post-doctoral training | 2.9% |
| Some college courses | 1.1% |
| High school diploma or equivalent | 1.0% |
View the chart below to get an idea of what level of education most of those in cytotechnology/cytotechnologist careers hold.
Source: ONET Online education / training / experience requirements.*
Studying cytotechnology/cytotechnologist opens doors to a variety of career paths. These are some of the most common occupations related to cytotechnology/cytotechnologist.
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to cytotechnology/cytotechnologist.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Cytotechnologists | 2,585,436 | 10.3% |
| Cytogenetic Technologists | 2,100,694 | 1.9% |
| Histotechnologists | 1,678,341 | 4.1% |
| Health Specialties Teachers, Postsecondary | 1,335,407 | 10.7% |
| Medical and Clinical Laboratory Technologists | 678,933 | 3.9% |
Federal data tracks median earnings of cytotechnology/cytotechnologist graduates 1, 4, and 5 years after completion. Earnings tend to climb 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 cytotechnology/cytotechnologist graduates vary widely by occupation. The following table shows the top highest-paying careers cytotechnology/cytotechnologist grads often go into.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Cytotechnologists | $155,812 |
| Cytogenetic Technologists | $155,361 |
| Histotechnologists | $125,527 |
| Medical and Clinical Laboratory Technologists | $77,339 |
| Health Specialties Teachers, Postsecondary | $46,663 |
With 16 different cytotechnology/cytotechnologist programs to choose from, finding the best fit can be a challenge. We have analyzed these schools to produce unbiased cytotechnology/cytotechnologist school rankings to help you.
If you are interested in cytotechnology/cytotechnologist, you may also want to explore other closely related fields of study within the same broad area.
More about our data sources and methodologies.
