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Healthcare (Technical)29-2011.02Specialization

Cytotechnologists

Stain, mount, and study cells to detect evidence of cancer, hormonal abnormalities, and other pathological conditions following established standards and practices.

$60,780
Median Pay
6-12 years
Training
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In Transition
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View Medical Laboratory Technicians

This is a specialization of

Medical Laboratory Technicians

Career Overview Video

AI Impact Assessment

AI Resilience Score

Score 2/6: high AI task exposure indicates this career is being transformed by AI (estimated from legacy data)

🟠In Transition

How we calculated this:

AI Exposure
High+0

91% of tasks can be accelerated by AI

Job Growth
Stable+1

0% projected (2024-2034)

Human Advantage
Moderate+1

EPOCH score: 16/25

Total Score2/6
Methodology: v2.0 - GPTs are GPTs / BLS / EPOCH Additive ScoringUpdated: 2026-01-09
View full methodology →

Key Responsibilities

  • Examine cell samples to detect abnormalities in the color, shape, or size of cellular components and patterns.
  • Document specimens by verifying patients' and specimens' information.
  • Submit slides with abnormal cell structures to pathologists for further examination.
  • Prepare and analyze samples, such as Papanicolaou (PAP) smear body fluids and fine needle aspirations (FNAs), to detect abnormal conditions.
  • Examine specimens, using microscopes, to evaluate specimen quality.
  • Maintain effective laboratory operations by adhering to standards of specimen collection, preparation, or laboratory safety.
  • Provide patient clinical data or microscopic findings to assist pathologists in the preparation of pathology reports.
  • Assist pathologists or other physicians to collect cell samples by fine needle aspiration (FNA) biopsy or other method.
  • Prepare cell samples by applying special staining techniques, such as chromosomal staining, to differentiate cells or cell components.
  • Adjust, maintain, or repair laboratory equipment, such as microscopes.

Education & Training

Typical Entry Education

Bachelor's degree

Time to Job Ready

6-12 years

Based on Job Zone 5. For formal education duration only, see education_duration.

Technology Skills

Ansible softwareAntek HealthWare LabDAQAspyra CyberLABCerner Millennium PathNetClinical Software Solutions CLIN1 SuiteClinLab LISComp Pro Med PolytechCPSI CPSI SystemCSS CLS-2000Custom Software Systems StarLabElekta Impac Software IntelliLabEpicLab Laboratory Information SystemeTeleNext LISFletcher-Flora Health Care Systems FFlex eSuite LISFletcher-Flora Health Care Systems LabPak LIS

Key Abilities

Oral ComprehensionWritten ComprehensionNear VisionInductive ReasoningProblem SensitivityDeductive ReasoningFlexibility of ClosureArm-Hand SteadinessFinger DexterityVisual Color Discrimination

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Find jobs and training programs for cytotechnologists- Median salary: $61K/year

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Compensation Details

$36,770
10th Percentile
$60,780
Median
$93,900
90th Percentile

Based on 334,380 employed workers

Also Known As

Certified CytotechnologistCytologistCytology Applications SpecialistCytology CoordinatorCytology Technical SpecialistCytopathology TechnologistCytotechnologist

Data from O*NET 30.1 and BLS Occupational Employment Statistics

O*NET Code: 29-2011.02