How to hire a histologist

How to hire a histologist, step by step

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

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

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   Before you start hiring a histologist, identify what type of worker you actually need. Certain positions might call for a full-time employee, while others can be done by a part-time worker or contractor.

   Determine employee vs contractor status

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

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   A histologist's background is also an important factor in determining whether they'll be a good fit for the position. For example, histologists 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.

   The following list breaks down different types of histologists and their corresponding salaries.

   Type of Histologist	Description	Hourly rate
   Histologist	Medical scientists conduct research aimed at improving overall human health. They often use clinical trials and other investigative methods to reach their findings.	$16-48
   Researcher	A researcher is responsible for collating, organizing, and verifying necessary information for a specific subject. Researchers' duties include analyzing data, gathering and comparing resources, ensuring facts, sharing findings with the whole research team, adhering to required methodologies, performing fieldwork as needed, and keeping critical information confidential... Show more	$17-57
   Research And Development Scientist	A research and development scientist specializes in conducting scientific studies and experiments to develop new products and technologies. They usually work at laboratories where they are in charge of conducting research and assessments, coming up with new ideas, performing tests, streamlining product requirements and guidelines, collaborating with fellow experts, utilizing previous studies and advanced software, and maintaining records of all procedures... Show more	$30-60

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • ASCP
   • Patient Care
   • Immunohistochemistry
   • Tissue Samples
   • Lab Equipment
   • Frozen Sections
   • Sectioning
   • Tissue Processing
   • Microtome
   • IHC
   • Mohs
   • Surgical Pathology
   • OSHA
   • Surgical Specimens

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Manage a group of three laboratory technicians performing ELISA assays and protein purification.
   • Perform routine histology functions, special stains, frozen sectioning and Immunohistochemistry.
   • Perform routine histology tasks including embedding, sectioning, and routine staining.
   • Provide routine histology embedding, microtome processing and staining.
   • Place on slides using a Microtome.
   • Order all supplies for IHC department.

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in your histologist job description is one of the best ways to attract top talent. A histologist can vary based on:

   • Location. For example, histologists' average salary in utah is 58% less than in delaware.
   • Seniority. Entry-level histologists 66% less than senior-level histologists.
   • Certifications. A histologist with certifications usually earns a higher salary.
   • Company. Working for an established firm or a new start-up company can make a big difference in a histologist's salary.

   Average histologist salary

   $59,183yearly

   $28.45 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level histologist salary

   $34,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 16, 2025

4. Writing a histologist job description

   A job description for a histologist role includes a summary of the job's main responsibilities, required skills, and preferred background experience. Including a salary range can also go a long way in attracting more candidates to apply, and showing the first name of the hiring manager can also make applicants more comfortable. As an example, here's a histologist job description:

   Histologist job description example

   **Make a difference every single day!**
   
   At Cedars-Sinai, we're motivated by a collective spirit of innovation and the challenge to continuously improve. Above all, we share a real passion for helping others. Day after day, from department to department, our people give their all to create a community unlike any other. This is just one of the many reasons U.S. News & World Report has named us one of America's Best Hospitals-and now we invite you to join us and make a difference every single day in service of this outstanding work - excellence and innovation in patient care, research, and community service. From working with a team of dedicated professionals to using state-of-the-art facilities, you'll have great resources to do something incredible-for yourself, and for others.
   
   **What will you be doing in this role?**
   
   The Histologist functions with general direction from supervisory personnel. Responsibilities include performing routine and technically complex laboratory procedures requiring cognitive, manipulative, and problem-solving skills. The Histologist's activities include operating and maintaining laboratory equipment, monitoring, and evaluating the quality of tissue processing, verifying, and evaluating quality control results, and resolving technical and quality control problems. Additional duties include general support functions necessary for the routine operation of the laboratory. Performs all job duties with sensitivity and attention to the developmental issues of the patient population(s) being served.
   
   **Educational Requirements:**
   
   + AA degree from an accredited Histology Training Program or equivalent.
   
   **License/Certification Requirements:**
   
   + Histo Certificate (ASCP), preferred.
   
   **Experience:**
   
   + One year of experience in histopathology under supervision of a licensed pathologist and certified histologist, preferred.
   
   **Working Title:** Histologist, IHC - PD -Day
   
   **Department:** Immunohistochemistry-IHC
   
   **Business Entity:** Clinical & Support Services
   
   **Job Category:** ,Pathology/Lab,Pathology/Lab
   
   **Job Specialty:** Pathology
   
   **Position Type:** Per Diem
   
   **Shift Length:** 8 hour shift
   
   **Shift Type:** Day
   
   Cedars-Sinai is an EEO employer. Cedars-Sinai does not unlawfully discriminate on the basis of the race, religion, color, national origin, citizenship, ancestry, physical or mental disability, legally protected medical condition (cancer-related or genetic characteristics or any genetic information), marital status, sex, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, pregnancy, age (40 or older), military and/or veteran status or any other basis protected by federal or state law.

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5. Post your job

   There are a few common ways to find histologists for your business:

   • Promoting internally or recruiting from your existing workforce.
   • Ask for referrals from friends, family members, and current employees.
   • Attend job fairs at local colleges to meet candidates with the right educational background.
   • Use social media platforms like LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter to recruit passive job-seekers.

   Post your job online:

   • Post your histologist job on Zippia to find and recruit histologist candidates who meet your exact specifications.
   • Use field-specific websites.
   • Post a job on free websites.

6. Interview candidates

   Your first interview with histologist candidates should focus on their interest in the role and background experience. As the hiring process goes on, you can learn more about how they'd fit into the company culture in later rounds of interviews.

   It's also good to ask about candidates' unique skills and talents. You can move on to the technical interview if a candidate is good enough for the next step.

   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 histologist

   Once you've decided on a perfect histologist 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 also good etiquette to follow up with applicants who don't get the job by sending them an email letting them know that the position has been filled.

   To prepare for the new employee's start date, you can create an onboarding schedule and complete any necessary paperwork, such as employee action forms and onboarding documents like I-9 forms, benefits enrollment, and federal and state tax forms. Human Resources should also ensure that a new employee file is created.

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 histologist?