by our College Data Analytics TeamIn the latest year, 19 U.S. colleges awarded 243 degrees and certificates in Histologic Technician. Associate degrees are the most popular award, at 52% of graduates. College Factual ranks 9 schools in its 2027 Best Histologic Technician Schools ranking and compares their cost in a Best Value ranking. Graduates earn a median $43,086 one year after completing, rising to $50,767 after four years.
A 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.
Source: IPEDS 2025; College Scorecard July 2026; BLS; O*NET; College Factual rankings 2027. Data as of: July 2026.
Across the country, histologic technician draws strong interest, with 243 degrees awarded annually. 19 colleges award histologic technician degrees, an average of 13 graduates per school; the largest program awarded 45.
By level, the 243 awards include 42 certificates, 126 associate degrees, 8 bachelor’s degrees and 67 master’s degrees.
Women earned 76% of histologic technician degrees and certificates in the latest year (186 of 243). The largest groups of graduates by race and ethnicity are White (103) and Hispanic or Latino (52), and international students earned 3.
College Factual ranks 9 schools in its 2027 Best Histologic Technician Schools ranking, including 5 for associate degrees and 1 for bachelor’s degrees. It also ranks histologic technician schools within 6 states. In all, 19 colleges offer histologic technician programs; compare them by degree level below or in the Best Value Histologic Technician Colleges ranking, which weighs quality against cost.
The most common histologic technician credential is the associate degree: 126 of the 243 awarded in the latest year. Jobs related to histologic technician call most for Active Listening, Critical Thinking and Reading Comprehension, and for knowledge of Biology, English Language and Chemistry, according to O*NET. The most important abilities are Near Vision, Oral Comprehension and Oral Expression.
Top skills, rated 0–5:
Top knowledge areas, rated 0–5:
How long a histologic technician degree takes:
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Certificate | Varies | 42 |
| Associate Degree | 2 years | 126 |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 8 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 67 |
Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) is the most common level of education among workers in jobs related to histologic technician, at 34.3%.
| 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% |
Source: O*NET Online.
3 occupations are related to Histologic Technician, with an average median salary of $94,431; the strongest outlook belongs to Medical and Clinical Laboratory Technicians, at 12.4% projected job growth. Typical job titles include Histologic Aide, Histotechnician, Histology Assistant and Histology Lab Assistant (Histology Laboratory Assistant).
The occupation related to histologic technician with the most projected jobs is Histology Technicians, at 2,948,902.
| 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% |
Histologic Technician graduates earn a median $43,086 one year after completing their program, $50,767 after four years and $45,731 after five years, according to the U.S. Department of Education’s College Scorecard.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $43,086 |
| 4 years | $50,767 |
| 5 years | $45,731 |
Source: College Scorecard.
The same occupation is also the highest-paying one related to histologic technician, with a median salary of $155,908.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Medical and Clinical Laboratory Technicians | $155,908 |
| Histology Technicians | $80,721 |
| Health Specialties Teachers, Postsecondary | $46,663 |
Histologic Technician has 12 similar majors in the Health Professions field, which together award 22,219 degrees a year; the largest are Phlebotomy Technician/Phlebotomist (10,645), Clinical Laboratory Science/Medical Technology/Technologist (4,179) and Clinical/Medical Laboratory Technician (3,375). Browse all Health Professions majors or the full list of college majors.
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