How to hire a pathology laboratory technologist

How to hire a pathology laboratory technologist, step by step

Here's a step-by-step pathology laboratory technologist hiring guide:

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

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   Before you start hiring a pathology laboratory technologist, 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?

   Yes

   No

   Hiring the perfect pathology laboratory technologist also involves considering the ideal background you'd like them to have. Depending on what industry or field they have experience in, they'll bring different skills to the job. It's also important to consider what levels of seniority and education the job requires and what kind of salary such a candidate would likely demand.

   The following list breaks down different types of pathology laboratory technologists and their corresponding salaries.

   Type of Pathology Laboratory Technologist	Description	Hourly rate
   Pathology Laboratory Technologist	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.	$13-28
   Medical Technologist-Microbiology	A Medical Technologist-Microbiology helps in the detection and diagnosis of diseases and infections through appropriate laboratory analyses. They perform a wide range of virological, mycological, bacteriological, and parasitological tests to provide information on the causes and progress of diseases.	$19-36
   Medical Technologist, Generalist	A Medical Technologist Generalist performs day-to-day operations in the laboratory such as routine testing, quality control, and maintenance of instruments. They also develop, perform, and evaluate the accuracy of laboratory procedures.	$20-37

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Data Entry
   • OSHA
   • Specimen Handling
   • Medical Terminology
   • Laboratory Tests
   • Computer System
   • Data Collection
   • Harvest
   • Lab Equipment
   • Stat
   • Equipment Maintenance
   • Epic
   • Direct Supervision
   • Tissue Samples

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Operate and manage standard quality control on laboratory equipment as well as some specialize equipment for serology studies.
   • Perform both RNA and DNA PCR (RT-PCR) assays.
   • Master DNA/RNA extraction and amplification.
   • Programme DNA extraction, amplification and analysis software.
   • Evaluate quality control using standard laboratory tests and measurement controls and maintain compliance with CLIA, OSHA, safety and risk-management guidelines
   • Fill in for the transcription department when they have people out of the office.

3. Make a budget

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

   • Location. For example, pathology laboratory technologists' average salary in north carolina is 47% less than in alaska.
   • Seniority. Entry-level pathology laboratory technologists 51% less than senior-level pathology laboratory technologists.
   • Certifications. A pathology laboratory technologist 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 pathology laboratory technologist's salary.

   Average pathology laboratory technologist salary

   $41,812yearly

   $20.10 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level pathology laboratory technologist salary

   $29,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 20, 2025

4. Writing a pathology laboratory technologist job description

   A job description for a pathology laboratory technologist 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 pathology laboratory technologist job description:

   Pathology laboratory technologist job description example

   We are more than a health system. We are a belief system. We believe wellness and sickness are both part of a lifelong partnership, and that everyone could use an expert guide. We work hard, care deeply and reach further to help people uncover their own power to be healthy. We inspire hope. We learn, grow, and achieve more - in our careers and in our communities.
   
   Job Description Summary:
   
   This position works in the CytoPrep lab supporting the Cytology Section of the Department of Pathology. Responsibilities include case accessioning; entering gross description of cytology specimens; preparation, staining, and cover slipping of fine needle aspirate samples; maintaining instrumentation in the department, maintaining supplies; disposal of old specimens; identify and resolve labeling/identification discrepancies. Patient interaction required as this position supports Radiology and Endoscopy during FNA, EBUS and EUS procedures.
   
   Minimum Qualifications:
   
   High School or GED (Required) HT - Histotechnician Registered - American Society for Clinical Pathology
   Experience in a position such as Technical Lab Assistant or other hospital based assistant (surgery, gen med). Highly skilled communicator and critical thinking skills. Medical terminology and Basic anatomy knowledge. strong computer skills.
   
   Work Shift:
   Day
   
   Scheduled Weekly Hours :
   40
   
   Department
   Cytology
   
   Join us!
   ... if your passion is to work in a caring environment
   ... if you believe that learning is a life-long process
   ... if you strive for excellence and want to be among the best in the healthcare industry
   
   Equal Employment Opportunity
   
   OhioHealth is an equal opportunity employer and fully supports and maintains compliance with all state, federal, and local regulations. OhioHealth does not discriminate against associates or applicants because of race, color, genetic information, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, ancestry, national origin, veteran status, military status, pregnancy, disability, marital status, familial status, or other characteristics protected by law. Equal employment is extended to all person in all aspects of the associate-employer relationship including recruitment, hiring, training, promotion, transfer, compensation, discipline, reduction in staff, termination, assignment of benefits, and any other term or condition of employment

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   To find the right pathology laboratory technologist for your business, consider trying out a few different recruiting strategies:

   • Consider internal talent. One of the most important sources of talent for any company is its existing workforce.
   • Ask for referrals. Reach out to friends, family members, and current employees and ask if they know or have worked with pathology laboratory technologists they would recommend.
   • Recruit at local colleges. Attend job fairs at local colleges to recruit pathology laboratory technologists who meet your education requirements.
   • Social media platforms. LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter now have more than 3.5 billion users, and you can use social media to reach potential job candidates.

   Post your job online:

   • Post your pathology laboratory technologist job on Zippia to find and recruit pathology laboratory technologist candidates who meet your exact specifications.
   • Use field-specific websites such as healthcarejobsite, health jobs nationwide, hospitalcareers, medreps.com.
   • Post a job on free websites.

6. Interview candidates

   Recruiting pathology laboratory technologists requires you to bring your A-game to the interview process. The first interview should introduce the company and the role to the candidate as much as they present their background experience and reasons for applying for the job. During later interviews, you can go into more detail about the technical details of the job and ask behavioral questions to gauge how they'd fit into your current company culture.

   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 pathology laboratory technologist

   Once you have selected a candidate for the pathology laboratory technologist position, it is time to create an offer letter. In addition to salary, the offer letter should include details about benefits and perks that are available to the employee. Ensuring your offer is competitive is vital, as qualified candidates may be considering other job opportunities. The candidate may wish to negotiate the terms of the offer, and it is important to be open to discussion and reach a mutually beneficial agreement. After the offer has been accepted, it is a good idea to formalize the 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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