by our College Data Analytics TeamA major in Histologic Technician covers Histologic Technician. A Program That Prepares Individuals, Under The Supervision Of Histotechnologists And Other Clinical Laboratory Scientists, To Prepare And Process Tissue Samples And Perform Routine Histologic Procedures And Tests. Includes Instruction In Fixation, Dehydration, Embedding, Sectioning, Decalcification, Microincineration, Mounting, Routine And Special Steaming, Laboratory Mathematics, Laboratory Procedures And Safety, Instrumentation And Microscopy, Computer Applications, Preparation Of Museum Specimens, And Recording And Administrative Procedures. Read on to learn the essential details every histologic technician major should know — including career paths, salary data, the skills you will develop, and the best colleges offering histologic technician programs.
Across the country, histologic technician draws strong interest, with 260 degrees awarded annually.
Our 2026 Best Histologic Technician Schools ranking analyzes these 19 schools to determine the best overall colleges for histologic technician students. Continue reading to check out one of our many unbiased rankings of histologic technician programs later in this article.
Coursework for Histologic Technician build a specific mix of skills, knowledge, and abilities — derived from O*NET surveys of workers in the occupations histologic technician graduates commonly enter.
Skills emphasized by a histologic technician program reflects the day-to-day work of related occupations:
According to O*NET, a histologic technician major emphasizes the following knowledge areas:
There are several histologic technician 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 | 44 |
| Associate Degree | 2 years | 135 |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 5 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 76 |
People currently working in careers related to histologic technician 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 histologic technician careers hold.
Source: ONET Online education / training / experience requirements.*
Majoring in histologic technician prepares you for a variety of career paths. Below are some of the most common occupations related to histologic technician.
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to histologic technician.
| 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 histologic technician 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 histologic technician graduates vary widely by occupation. The following table shows the top highest-paying careers histologic technician 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 19 different histologic technician programs to choose from, finding the best fit can be a challenge. We have analyzed these schools to produce unbiased histologic technician school rankings to help you.
If you are interested in histologic technician, you may also want to explore other closely related fields of study within the same broad area.
More about our data sources and methodologies.
