How to hire a cytotechnologist

How to hire a cytotechnologist, step by step

Here's a step-by-step cytotechnologist hiring guide:

• Step 1: Identify your hiring needs
• Step 2: Create an ideal candidate profile
• Step 3: Make a budget
• Step 4: Write a cytotechnologist job description
• Step 5: Post your job
• Step 6: Interview candidates
• Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new cytotechnologist
• Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist

What does a cytotechnologist do?

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   Before you post your cytotechnologist job, you should take the time to determine what type of worker your business needs. While certain jobs definitely require a full-time employee, it's sometimes better to find a cytotechnologist for hire on a part-time basis or as a contractor.

   Determine employee vs contractor status

   Is the person you're thinking of hiring a US citizen or green card holder?

   Yes

   No

   A cytotechnologist's background is also an important factor in determining whether they'll be a good fit for the position. For example, cytotechnologists from different industries or fields will have radically different experiences and will bring different viewpoints to the role. You also need to consider the candidate's previous level of experience to make sure they'll be comfortable with the job's level of seniority.

   Here's a comparison of cytotechnologist salaries for various roles:

   Type of Cytotechnologist	Description	Hourly rate
   Cytotechnologist	Medical laboratory technologists (commonly known as medical laboratory scientists) and medical laboratory technicians collect samples and perform tests to analyze body fluids, tissue, and other substances.	$12-45
   Vascular Technician	Typically working together with physicians and nurses, a vascular technician specializes in performing imaging and diagnostic examinations to assess a patient's vascular health. Their responsibilities usually include gathering and analyzing patient information and medical history, operating diagnostic equipment, performing adjustments, discussing the extent of procedures to patients, and assisting them, making them feel comfortable every step of the way... Show more	$23-62

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • ASCP
   • Patients
   • Proficiency Testing
   • Test Results
   • CLIA
   • Clinical Laboratory
   • Cytotechnology
   • Patient Care
   • Standard Operating Procedure
   • Needle Aspirations
   • Body Fluids
   • Laboratory Procedures
   • FNA
   • Laboratory Equipment

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Identify, verify and maintain an appropriate stock of control blocks for use in IHC staining.
   • Process approximately 1,200 GYN , 400 non-GYN, and 400 FNA samples per year.
   • Perform routine maintenance and quality control documentation for IHC staining equipment.
   • Process cell samples using microtomy wet tissue trimming and immunohistochemistry staining techniques.
   • Perform testing, training and technical supervision of all cytology and histology procedures.
   • Perform QC slide screening and data entry

   More cytotechnologist duties

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in your cytotechnologist job description is a great way to entice the best and brightest candidates. A cytotechnologist salary can vary based on several factors:

   • Location. For example, cytotechnologists' average salary in montana is 54% less than in alaska.
   • Seniority. Entry-level cytotechnologists earn 74% less than senior-level cytotechnologists.
   • Certifications. A cytotechnologist with a few certifications under their belt will likely demand a higher salary.
   • Company. Working for a prestigious company or an exciting start-up can make a huge difference in a cytotechnologist's salary.

   Average cytotechnologist salary

   $49,566yearly

   $23.83 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level cytotechnologist salary

   $25,000 yearly salary

   Updated January 19, 2026

   Average cytotechnologist salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
   1	New York	$64,920	$31
   2	California	$63,162	$30
   3	Connecticut	$56,419	$27
   4	Maryland	$54,295	$26
   5	Arizona	$53,767	$26
   6	Massachusetts	$53,613	$26
   7	Virginia	$50,668	$24
   8	Michigan	$50,185	$24
   9	North Dakota	$50,096	$24
   10	Pennsylvania	$49,177	$24
   11	Illinois	$47,468	$23
   12	Ohio	$47,329	$23
   13	Missouri	$46,696	$22
   14	Nebraska	$45,684	$22
   15	North Carolina	$45,420	$22
   16	Washington	$44,922	$22
   17	Minnesota	$44,717	$22
   18	Oregon	$44,048	$21
   19	Texas	$42,502	$20
   20	Florida	$39,495	$19

   Average cytotechnologist salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
   1	OSF HealthCare	$134,103	$64.47	12
   2	University of Maryland Medical System	$133,086	$63.98	41
   3	Brigham and Women's Hospital	$119,963	$57.67	38
   4	Stanford Health Care	$119,736	$57.57	17
   5	UMass Memorial Health	$113,146	$54.40	21
   6	Dignity Health	$110,791	$53.26	80
   7	Westpac	$103,676	$49.84
   8	Mid-Columbia Medical Center	$103,518	$49.77
   9	UofL Hospital	$103,409	$49.72	14
   10	Novant Health	$101,566	$48.83	30
   11	UC Health	$101,392	$48.75	24
   12	Mohawk Valley Health System	$101,106	$48.61
   13	Montrose Memorial Hospital	$99,104	$47.65	1
   14	Nebraska Medicine	$98,995	$47.59	11
   15	Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center	$97,454	$46.85
   16	Sutter Health	$96,284	$46.29	78
   17	Christiana Care Health Services, Inc.	$94,793	$45.57	3
   18	Moffitt Cancer Center	$92,888	$44.66	7
   19	TAJ Technologies	$92,318	$44.38
   20	Griffin Hospital	$91,556	$44.02

4. Writing a cytotechnologist job description

   A good cytotechnologist job description should include a few things:

   • Summary of the role
   • List of responsibilities
   • Required skills and experience

   Including a salary range and the first name of the hiring manager is also appreciated by candidates. Here's an example of a cytotechnologist job description:

   Cytotechnologist job description example

   Our mission is clear. We bring to life a healing ministry through our compassionate care and exceptional service.
   
   At Mercy, we believe in careers that match the unique gifts of unique individuals careers that not only make the most of your skills and talents, but also your heart. Join us and discover why Modern Healthcare Magazine named us in its Top 100 Places to Work.

   
   Overview:

   Reporting to the Pathology Supervisor, this position is responsible for preparing and screening all cytologic specimens and interpreting findings under the direction of a pathologist as described in the regulatory standards.

   
   Qualifications:

   • Education: Bachelor's degree in a related field and completion of an accredited Cytotechnology program.
   • Experience: One year's experience prefered.
   • Certifications: Eligibility for certification or registered as cytotechnologist by the American Society of Clinical Pathologists or International Association of Cytology.

   We Offer Great Benefits:

   
   Day-one comprehensive health, vision and dental coverage, PTO, tuition reimbursement and employer-matched retirement funds are just a few of the great benefits offered to eligible co-workers, including those working 48 hours or more per pay period!

   We re bringing to life a healing ministry through compassionate care.

   
   At Mercy, our supportive community will be behind you every step of your day, especially the tough ones. You will have opportunities to pioneer new models of care and transform the health care experience through advanced technology and innovative procedures. We re expanding to help our communities grow. Join us and be a part of it all.

   
   What Makes You a Good Match for Mercy?

   Compassion and professionalism go hand-in-hand with us. Having a positive outlook and a strong sense of advocacy is in perfect step with our mission and vision. We re also collaborative and unafraid to do a little extra to deliver excellent care that s just part of our commitment. If that sounds like a good fit for you, we encourage you to apply.

   
   

   Mercy has determined this is a safety-sensitive position. The ability to work in a constant state of alertness and in a safe manner is an essential function of this job.

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   To find cytotechnologists for your business, try out a few different recruiting strategies:

   • Consider internal talent. One of the most important talent pools for any company is its current employees.
   • Ask for referrals. Reach out to friends, family members, and your current work to ask if they know any cytotechnologists they would recommend.
   • Recruit at local colleges. Attend job fairs at local colleges to recruit entry-level cytotechnologists with the right educational background.
   • Social media platforms. LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter have more than 3.5 billion users, and they're a great place for company branding and reaching potential job candidates.

   To find cytotechnologist candidates, you can consider the following options:

   • Post your job opening on Zippia or other job search websites.
   • Use niche websites that focus on engineering and technology jobs, such as healthcarejobsite, health jobs nationwide, hospitalcareers, medreps.com.
   • Post your job on free job posting websites.

6. Interview candidates

   During your first interview to recruit cytotechnologists, engage with candidates to learn about their interest in the role and experience in the field. During the following interview, you'll be able to go into more detail about the company, the position, and the responsibilities.

   Remember to include a few questions that allow candidates to expand on their strengths in their own words. Asking about their unique skills might reveal things you'd miss otherwise. At this point, good candidates can move on to the technical interview.

   The right interview questions can help you assess a candidate's hard skills, behavioral intelligence, and soft skills.

7. Send a job offer and onboard your new cytotechnologist

   Once you've decided on a perfect cytotechnologist candidate, it's time to write an offer letter. In addition to salary, it should include benefits and perks available to the employee. Qualified candidates may be considered for other positions, so make sure your offer is competitive. Candidates may wish to negotiate. Once you've settled on the details, formalize your agreement with a contract.

   It's equally important to follow up with applicants who don't get the job with an email letting them know that the position has been filled.

   To prepare for the new cytotechnologist first day, you should share an onboarding schedule with them that covers their first period on the job. You should also quickly complete any necessary paperwork, such as employee action forms and onboarding documents like I-9, benefits enrollment, and federal and state tax forms. Finally, Human Resources must ensure a new employee file is created for internal record keeping.

8. Go through the hiring process checklist

   • Determine employee type (full-time, part-time, contractor, etc.)
   • Submit a job requisition form to the HR department
   • Define job responsibilities and requirements
   • Establish budget and timeline
   • Determine hiring decision makers for the role
   • Write job description
   • Post job on job boards, company website, etc.
   • Promote the job internally
   • Process applications through applicant tracking system
   • Review resumes and cover letters
   • Shortlist candidates for screening
   • Hold phone/virtual interview screening with first round of candidates
   • Conduct in-person interviews with top candidates from first round
   • Score candidates based on weighted criteria (e.g., experience, education, background, cultural fit, skill set, etc.)
   • Conduct background checks on top candidates
   • Check references of top candidates
   • Consult with HR and hiring decision makers on job offer specifics
   • Extend offer to top candidate(s)
   • Receive formal job offer acceptance and signed employment contract
   • Inform other candidates that the position has been filled
   • Set and communicate onboarding schedule to new hire(s)
   • Complete new hire paperwork (i9, benefits enrollment, tax forms, etc.)

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How much does it cost to hire a cytotechnologist?