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Job outlook for histopathology technicians in the United States
Are histopathology technician jobs in demand?
Histopathology technician job and salary trends over time
Histopathology technician jobs over time
Histopathology technician job growth rate over time
| Year | # of jobs | % of population |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 124 | 0.00% |
| 2020 | 127 | 0.00% |
| 2019 | 127 | 0.00% |
| 2018 | 125 | 0.00% |
| 2017 | 126 | 0.00% |
Average histopathology technician salary over time
Histopathology technician salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | $59,825 | $28.76 | +2.8% |
| 2025 | $58,199 | $27.98 | --0.7% |
| 2024 | $58,618 | $28.18 | +2.5% |
| 2023 | $57,163 | $27.48 | +2.0% |
| 2022 | $56,061 | $26.95 | --0.1% |
Histopathology technician jobs by state
Most common states for histopathology technicians
| Rank | State | Population | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Alaska | 739,795 | 103 | 14% |
| 2 | Maine | 1,335,907 | 167 | 13% |
| 3 | New Hampshire | 1,342,795 | 142 | 11% |
| 4 | Vermont | 623,657 | 67 | 11% |
| 5 | Massachusetts | 6,859,819 | 707 | 10% |
| 6 | Iowa | 3,145,711 | 326 | 10% |
| 7 | Delaware | 961,939 | 95 | 10% |
| 8 | Minnesota | 5,576,606 | 513 | 9% |
| 9 | Utah | 3,101,833 | 266 | 9% |
| 10 | North Carolina | 10,273,419 | 783 | 8% |
| 11 | New Jersey | 9,005,644 | 679 | 8% |
| 12 | Missouri | 6,113,532 | 479 | 8% |
| 13 | Maryland | 6,052,177 | 455 | 8% |
| 14 | Colorado | 5,607,154 | 440 | 8% |
| 15 | Wisconsin | 5,795,483 | 435 | 8% |
| 16 | Connecticut | 3,588,184 | 281 | 8% |
| 17 | Nebraska | 1,920,076 | 147 | 8% |
| 18 | Rhode Island | 1,059,639 | 84 | 8% |
| 19 | Arizona | 7,016,270 | 504 | 7% |
| 20 | West Virginia | 1,815,857 | 121 | 7% |
Most common cities for histopathology technicians
| Rank | City | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl | Avg. salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bethesda | 1 | 2% | $64,065 |
| 2 | Fayetteville | 1 | 1% | $47,968 |
| 3 | Little Rock | 1 | 1% | $48,056 |
| 4 | Detroit | 1 | 0% | $68,441 |
Histopathology Technician job outlook: Expert opinions
Our panel of histopathology technician experts
University of Alabama in Huntsville
Kettering University
Pennsylvania State University
Eastern Kentucky University
Missouri University of Science and Technology
University of Hawaii at Manoa
Indiana University of Pennsylvania
Palm Beach State College
University of Arizona
Southeastern Louisiana University
The University of New Hampshire's Central Science
University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee
Dr. Luis Rogelio Cruz-Vera
Associate ProfessorUniversity of Alabama in Huntsville
Department of Biological Sciences
What skills stand out on Histopathology Technician resumes?
Dr. Luis Rogelio Cruz-Vera: Good standing on biochemical concepts.
What soft skills should all Histopathology Technicians possess?
Dr. Luis Rogelio Cruz-Vera: Planification.
What hard/technical skills are most important for Histopathology Technicians?
Dr. Luis Rogelio Cruz-Vera: Pipetting, quantitative analysis, computer writing.
What are the biggest trends we'll see in the Histopathology Technician job market given the pandemic?
Daniel Ludwigsen: In responding to this and other questions, I'm considering the perspective of graduates from my programs, with a bachelor's degree in Engineering Physics or Applied Physics. Most of our grads are looking at full-time positions in engineering, particularly R&D and product development, or consulting/project engineering directly with their employers' customers. In sectors that are in demand, these positions are seeing an accelerated shift in the ways of working-just like we see in most professions. Working at least a portion of the week at home, less travel, more video conferencing, all force employees to sharpen their essential skills in communication, project management, and basically, working with diverse teams.
What Histopathology Technician skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Daniel Ludwigsen: Graduates from our programs often find that graduate degrees, masters, or even doctorates, fit into their career trajectories well. If I were advising a graduating senior considering a gap year, I would suggest a certificate program in a relevant field, such as programming, data science, or similar areas. While these incorporate broadly applicable skills as well as valuable disciplinary perspective, these certificate programs often offer credit that can later be applied toward a graduate degree.
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for Histopathology Technicians to find work opportunities?
Patrick Drohan Ph.D.: Depends on what they want to do, are they single, etc. If you are flexible and qualified you can land a job anywhere. If you are social, then moving to remote parts of Alaska might not be the best idea. If you are looking for a niche, having relative experience prior to applying will be important. There are lots of qualified candidates today who have impressive entry-level resumes. Women tend to be more qualified than men too.
What are the biggest trends we'll see in the Histopathology Technician 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 general advice would you give to a Histopathology Technician?
Dr. Tanea Reed Ph.D.: To a graduate just starting out, I would highly recommend establishing a list of short-term and long-term goals. Think about where they see themselves in the next 5 to 10 years and how they plan to reach them using SMART goals (specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound). Additionally, if they have not already done so, they should set up a LinkedIn account as many jobs can be found on that platform. New graduates should plan on making multiple resumes that can be used when applying to different jobs based on the criteria (i.e., skills, academic, etc.). Lastly, I would recommend making a list of their "dream jobs and companies" and research the skills needed to perform the duties of their dream job and learn more about the company itself.
Dr. Rainer Glaser
Professor and ChairMissouri University of Science and Technology
Chemistry Department
What skills stand out on Histopathology Technician resumes?
Dr. Rainer Glaser: Chemistry competence is key, of course. As a close second, chemists need to demonstrate effective team player competence. Communication skills are essential, in conversation and in writing. Effective collaboration requires highly developed skills to work with team members, peers, and leadership.
Christopher Bae Ph.D.
Professor, Department ChairUniversity of Hawaii at Manoa
Department of Anthropology
Will there be an enduring impact of the coronavirus pandemic on Histopathology Technicians?
Christopher Bae Ph.D.: Yes and no. Obviously, hiring in anthropology, like most academic fields, has become more difficult now because of the economic impact of COVID-19 worldwide. However, anthropology graduates are still managing to find job placement in postdoctoral research fellowships, cultural resource management firms, and non-governmental organizations. The applied areas of anthropology are where positions can still be found fairly regularly. Moving forward, however, I anticipate a rebound, like in most fields, of hires more broadly in anthropology.
What type of skills will young Histopathology Technicians need?
Christopher Bae Ph.D.: Several things really make a resume stand out when hitting the job market. First and foremost, experience in the field and/or laboratory and the ability to show that one is capable of starting a project from scratch and seeing it through to final completion (as evidenced from resulting conference presentations and publications). Undergraduate students should try to gain experience as interns and in field schools. This gives them some experience, and they get a chance to see whether the field is right for them. Graduate students need to develop advanced analytical skills as they work through their qualitative and quantitative datasets. Having a high grade point average can help as well if the hiring firm requests academic transcripts.
What Histopathology Technician skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Benjamin Ford: Students taking a gap year should think about where they want to end up, both geographically and in terms of a career, and position themselves accordingly. That might mean moving to where they eventually want to live, taking a job to pay the bills, and volunteering with an organization to build local contacts. They should also work to develop the skills that will make them necessary in their intended career. The world became much more digital in the last nine months. We will likely return to many of our pre-pandemic physical practices, but aspects of our remote-everything existence will likely stick with us. Developing skills to be successful in a digital environment will be important.
What type of skills will young Histopathology Technicians 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.
What experience really stands out on Histopathology Technician resumes?
Dr. Alexandra Gorgevska Ph.D.: The Palm Beach State College Biotechnology Program is a very hands-on intensive training program that ensures our graduates are well versed in fundamental life science laboratory techniques and sterile/aseptic techniques and instrumentation skills. As part of our program, students can earn two College Credit Certificates along with an A.S. degree that includes an industry internship experience.
We are very fortunate to have an excellent relationship with our business partners who are familiar with our facilities, worked with us for many years, and are aware of the vast instrumentation and hands-on training our students receive. They continue to provide career opportunities for our students and interns.
What type of skills will young Histopathology Technicians need?
John Wilbur Ph.D.: In the short-term, testing skills like PCR and ELISA seems essential, but I think the enduring skills or working with a team, writing, and other communication skills are most important.
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 Histopathology Technicians in the next 3-5 years?
Mohammad Saadeh Ph.D.: IoT and automation.
Will there be an increase or decrease in demand for Histopathology Technicians in the next 5 years?
Mohammad Saadeh Ph.D.: There will be an increase; however, employers will be looking for a unique set of qualities/abilities. Some of the trends have been: technical writing, sales, communication, besides the technical skills, which must be current with the evolution in communication methods that we are experiencing.
How do you envision technology impacting Histopathology Technicians in the next 5 years?
Glen P. Miller: The chemistry field is constantly impacted by advancements in scientific instrumentation, hardware, and software, especially those that cut across adjacent fields like biology and materials science. Job seekers should be well-grounded in current technologies while aware of recent developments and trends.
Will there be an enduring impact of the coronavirus pandemic on Histopathology Technicians?
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 Histopathology Technician 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.
What experience really stands out on Histopathology Technician resumes?
Gerald Bergtrom Ph.D.: -A strong academic record, especially in the sciences.
-For any applicant, a research experience with a faculty or private-sector mentor is always a stand-out. Whether or not for academic credit, a valuable experience does not require that research efforts be successful. However, it will be supported by listing the mentor among the job applicant's academic references.
-The applicant should provide a written description of any independent research (laboratory or other) to be appended to the job application and cover letter. This document should communicate a clear understanding of the project and their role in it. I used to have my undergrad independent study researchers talk about their projects at weekly lab meetings. By the time they were looking for a job (or, for that matter, applying to grad school), I wanted these students to be able to articulate hypotheses being tested, to show how their experimental design would test predictions of alternative results, and finally to discuss their progress and any results obtained from their piece of the project. The ability to write clearly about their independent study goals and experience will reflect communication skills, a measure of scientific understanding, and their enthusiasm and pleasure of "doing science."
-Extracurricular activities that include collaborative work (team sports are suitable for this).
-Extracurricular volunteer activities that expose students to social situations outside of family, friends, and classmates. An ability to write about these experiences engagingly is always a stand-out asset.