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Job outlook for cytotechnologists in the United States
Cytotechnologist job and salary trends over time
Cytotechnologist jobs over time
Cytotechnologist job growth rate over time
| Year | # of jobs | % of population |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 1,552 | 0.00% |
| 2020 | 1,588 | 0.00% |
| 2019 | 1,587 | 0.00% |
| 2018 | 1,564 | 0.00% |
| 2017 | 1,569 | 0.00% |
Average cytotechnologist salary over time
Cytotechnologist salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $49,566 | $23.83 | +2.8% |
| 2024 | $48,218 | $23.18 | --0.7% |
| 2023 | $48,566 | $23.35 | +2.5% |
| 2022 | $47,360 | $22.77 | +2.0% |
| 2021 | $46,447 | $22.33 | +0.9% |
Cytotechnologist jobs by state
Most common states for cytotechnologists
| Rank | State | Population | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | New Hampshire | 1,342,795 | 388 | 29% |
| 2 | Vermont | 623,657 | 154 | 25% |
| 3 | Maine | 1,335,907 | 277 | 21% |
| 4 | South Dakota | 869,666 | 169 | 19% |
| 5 | Massachusetts | 6,859,819 | 1,213 | 18% |
| 6 | Minnesota | 5,576,606 | 1,021 | 18% |
| 7 | Alaska | 739,795 | 133 | 18% |
| 8 | Pennsylvania | 12,805,537 | 2,018 | 16% |
| 9 | Delaware | 961,939 | 158 | 16% |
| 10 | North Dakota | 755,393 | 121 | 16% |
| 11 | New York | 19,849,399 | 2,884 | 15% |
| 12 | Ohio | 11,658,609 | 1,695 | 15% |
| 13 | Indiana | 6,666,818 | 995 | 15% |
| 14 | Maryland | 6,052,177 | 892 | 15% |
| 15 | Iowa | 3,145,711 | 484 | 15% |
| 16 | West Virginia | 1,815,857 | 269 | 15% |
| 17 | Montana | 1,050,493 | 156 | 15% |
| 18 | New Jersey | 9,005,644 | 1,222 | 14% |
| 19 | Wisconsin | 5,795,483 | 818 | 14% |
| 20 | Rhode Island | 1,059,639 | 144 | 14% |
Most common cities for cytotechnologists
| Rank | City | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl | Avg. salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Milford | 2 | 7% | $54,414 |
| 2 | Burlington | 1 | 4% | $53,256 |
| 3 | Cambridge | 3 | 3% | $53,554 |
| 4 | Arlington Heights | 2 | 3% | $47,508 |
| 5 | Palo Alto | 2 | 3% | $63,148 |
| 6 | Lakewood | 3 | 2% | $38,484 |
| 7 | Phoenix | 9 | 1% | $53,767 |
| 8 | Atlanta | 3 | 1% | $38,208 |
| 9 | Aurora | 2 | 1% | $38,469 |
| 10 | Overland Park | 2 | 1% | $40,526 |
| 11 | Berkeley | 1 | 1% | $62,893 |
| 12 | Boulder | 1 | 1% | $38,289 |
| 13 | Burbank | 1 | 1% | $60,449 |
| 14 | Dallas | 3 | 0% | $39,814 |
| 15 | Baltimore | 2 | 0% | $54,142 |
| 16 | Memphis | 2 | 0% | $38,070 |
| 17 | Minneapolis | 2 | 0% | $44,717 |
| 18 | Oklahoma City | 2 | 0% | $38,445 |
Cytotechnologist job outlook: Expert opinions
Our panel of cytotechnologist experts
Eastern Kentucky University
Palm Beach State College
Southeastern Louisiana University
The University of New Hampshire's Central Science
University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee
What are the biggest trends we'll see in the Cytotechnologist job market given the pandemic?
Dr. Tanea Reed Ph.D.: Although employment in the chemical and pharmaceutical manufacturing sectors are trending downward due to the current pandemic, the job outlook for chemists is promising. As there is high demand for laboratory technician positions to analyze COVID-19 samples using classical laboratory techniques. Many jobs are available for those with bachelor's and master's level degrees. Additionally, the need for those studying chemistry to work on potential treatments for the virus including other vaccines is great.
What type of skills will young Cytotechnologists need?
Dr. Alexandra Gorgevska Ph.D.: Graduates [of all ages] will continue to need hands-on skills, the ability to work both in the group and individual settings, and, most importantly, be curious and teachable. Soft skills have taken on greater importance over the years, so we provide ongoing events for outreach, scientific communication, interview preparation, etc., to help provide students with ways to improve and grow their soft skills.
We are seeing scientific communications transitioning from in-person to remote settings, and our students are excelling at rising to the challenges. South Florida has a diverse life science career field, and our students continue to be well prepared to enter the job market and succeed in their career paths.
Mohammad Saadeh Ph.D.
Department HeadSoutheastern Louisiana University
Department of Industrial and Engineering Technology
What technology do you think will become more important and prevalent for Cytotechnologists in the next 3-5 years?
Mohammad Saadeh Ph.D.: IoT and automation.
Will there be an enduring impact of the coronavirus pandemic on Cytotechnologists?
Glen P. Miller: Yes, there will be many enduring impacts. Office spaces and buildings will be devalued somewhat, while remote work and virtual meetings have become and will remain important. In chemistry and tangential fields, there will always be a need for in-person work in specialized laboratories, but the manner in which we communicate results internally and externally has changed. There will be less emphasis on in-person communication and a greater emphasis on remote and electronic communication, including email and video reports/presentations. Business travel will drop while skills that enable effective electronic communication will play an even larger role than they already do. Writing skills, including but not limited to technical writing, will become an increasingly valued characteristic of top employees. An ability to speak in a clear, articulate manner will also be prized. None of this, however, supersedes the need for graduates with a robust background in chemistry and a strong work ethic to match.
Gerald Bergtrom Ph.D.
Professor of Biological Sciences (Emeritus) & Teaching & Learning ConsultantUniversity of Wisconsin-Milwaukee
Biological Sciences Department
What Cytotechnologist skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Gerald Bergtrom Ph.D.: The answers here depend on why the gap year is needed. If the need is to have an income, this would need to be balanced against other desirable needs and wishes.
- Thinking about a whole gap year, the student should make a long-term commitment to skills improvement and fill in gaps in a resume or job application.
-If the new graduate can afford it, spend some time traveling, to be exposed to different cultures and languages. If the student lives in an area with a growing LatinX population, learning some Spanish would be useful.
-If it looks like the gap year will not include activities related to the job they hope to get at the end of the year, then take at least one STEM course in their area of interest so as not to lose their edge. This could be an online course (for example, a MOOC). Do it for credit if necessary, to prove (to themselves and others) that they still love and want to succeed in science.