Histotechnologists

Moderate Risk
Low High

Explore safer careers (4)

Lower estimated automation risk

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Why it fits

Clinical lab and microscopy expertise can help, though the role usually needs added science credentials.

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Why it fits

Broader clinical lab work reuses specimen handling, instrumentation, quality control, and protocols.

Chemical Technicians
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Higher growth
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Why it fits

Staining, reagent handling, lab safety, and instrument routines support chemical lab work.

Biological Technicians
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Research and specimen-preparation experience transfers to biology lab support roles.


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Occupation snapshot

What does this snowflake show?
The Snowflake is a visual summary of the five badges: Automation Risk (calculated), Risk (polled), Growth, Wages and Volume. It gives you an instant snapshot of an occupations profile. The colour of the Snowflake relates to its size. The better the occupation scores in relation to others, the larger and greener the Snowflake becomes.
JOB SCORE
4.2/10
What's this?
Job Score (higher is better):

We rate jobs using four factors. These are:

- Chance of being automated
- Job growth
- Wages
- Volume of available positions

These are some key things to think about when job hunting.

Risk & user votes

Calculated automation risk

49% (Moderate Risk)

Moderate Risk (41-60%): This occupation may be meaningfully affected by automation. Some parts of the role may be suitable for AI, software, or robotics, while others still rely on human skill, judgement, trust, or real-world context. People in this range may benefit from building skills that complement automation and reduce replacement risk.

More information on what this score is, and how it is calculated is available here.

Human strengths important in this job

These are human abilities and work contexts that are important in this occupation. They may help explain why parts of the role are harder to replace end-to-end, but they are not the only inputs into the automation score.

Decision-making and problem solving

Quite important
Why this matters
Analyze information, weigh tradeoffs, and choose the best solution—especially when situations are ambiguous, high-stakes, or have real-world consequences.
Jobs that also use this strength

Active learning

Quite important
Why this matters
Keeps learning from new information and applying it to make better decisions now and in the future, especially when situations change.
Jobs that also use this strength

Education and training expertise

Quite important
Why this matters
Designing and delivering instruction—adapting lessons to different learners and measuring whether training actually works.
Jobs that also use this strength

What users think

Based on 9 votes

What do you think the risk of automation is?

What is the likelihood that Histotechnologists will be replaced by robots or artificial intelligence within the next 20 years?

Pay & outlook

Wages

Moderately paid relative to other professions

In 2024, the median annual wage for Clinical Laboratory Technologists and Technicians was $61,890 ($30 per hour).

The median annual wage for Clinical Laboratory Technologists and Technicians was 25.0% higher than the national median annual wage, which stood at $49,500.

* Data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics

Growth

Slow growth relative to other professions.

The number of 'Clinical Laboratory Technologists and Technicians' job openings is expected to rise 1.7% by 2034

* Data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics for the period between 2023 and 2033
Updated projections are due 09-2025.

Volume

Significantly greater range of job opportunities compared to other professions

As of 2024 there were 343,040 people employed as 'Clinical Laboratory Technologists and Technicians' within the United States.

This represents around 0.22% of the employed workforce across the country

Put another way, around 1 in 449 people are employed as 'Clinical Laboratory Technologists and Technicians'.

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Job description

Apply knowledge of health and disease causes to evaluate new laboratory techniques and procedures to examine tissue samples. Process and prepare histological slides from tissue sections for microscopic examination and diagnosis by pathologists. May solve technical or instrument problems or assist with research studies.

O*NET-SOC code: 29-2011.04