Histology Technicians Career, Salary and Skills
No national wage record is published for this occupation in the current BLS dataset.
Occupation description
Prepare histological slides from tissue sections for microscopic examination and diagnosis by pathologists. May assist with research studies.
O*NET code
29-2012.01
Job zone
3
Typical education
Associate's Degree or other 2-year degree
Experience
None
National salary and employment
Salary data is not available for this occupation in the current BLS dataset.
Top skills
| Skill | Importance | Level |
|---|---|---|
| Critical Thinking | 3.50 | 3.62 |
| Active Listening | 3.50 | 3.38 |
| Reading Comprehension | 3.38 | 3.38 |
| Complex Problem Solving | 3.25 | 2.88 |
| Monitoring | 3.25 | 3.25 |
| Science | 3.12 | 2.75 |
| Speaking | 3.12 | 2.88 |
| Judgment and Decision Making | 3.12 | 2.75 |
| Writing | 3.00 | 3.00 |
| Coordination | 3.00 | 2.62 |
Typical tasks
- Cut sections of body tissues for microscopic examination, using microtomes.
- Embed tissue specimens into paraffin wax blocks, or infiltrate tissue specimens with wax.
- Mount tissue specimens on glass slides.
- Stain tissue specimens with dyes or other chemicals to make cell details visible under microscopes.
- Freeze tissue specimens.
- Operate computerized laboratory equipment to dehydrate, decalcify, or microincinerate tissue samples.
- Archive diagnostic material, such as histologic slides and blocks.
- Maintain laboratory equipment, such as microscopes, mass spectrometers, microtomes, immunostainers, tissue processors, embedding centers, and water baths.
Technology
- Brady Specimen Labeling System
- Cerner Millennium
- Laboratory information system LIS
- MEDITECH software
- Microsoft Access
- Microsoft Excel
- Microsoft Office software
- Microsoft Outlook
- Microsoft Word
- Specimen labeling system software
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Career and skills data: O*NET 31.0 (onetcenter.org). Figures are published survey estimates, not real-time market data.