What Are Average Histotechnologist Salaries and Other Histotechnician Career Questions
Histotechnologists are specialized laboratory personnel who prepare tissue samples for examination through a microscope. Laboratory tests have become increasingly important, so these samples are often used to detect, diagnose, and treat a wide variety of illnesses and diseases. However, samples may also be used to conduct vital research or to teach medical personnel. Histotechnologists are a crucial part of a medical team and must be detail-oriented and extremely accurate. If you're considering a histotechnologist career, explore salary expectations and other vital questions to help guide you in your career choice.
WHAT IS THE SALARY FOR A HISTOTECHNOLOGIST?
Histotechnologist salaries vary, just like in any field, but most medical and laboratory technicians, including histotechnologists, typically enjoy a sizable wage. According to data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median annual wage for medical and clinical laboratory technologists and technicians was $52,330 as of May 2018. Medical laboratory technologists working in general medical and surgical hospitals earned higher wages with an average of $55,040, while those working in physicians' offices earned the least at $47,060. However, because histotechnology is a specialty in the medical laboratory field, your salary will likely be higher no matter what environment you work in. Glassdoor reports that the national average salary for a histotechnologist is $61,440.
WHERE ARE HISTOTECHNOLOGISTS IN DEMAND?
Histotechnologist salaries vary by state, so you might find yourself in higher demand based on where you live. Consider these five states when considering travel histotechnologist positions.
- Washington, DC, boosts the highest histotechnologist salaries, which are 25 percent higher than average salaries for jobs posted nationwide. In the DC area, you could earn as much as $63,000 per year, according to 2016 job postings, with top employers like Washington Hospital Center and Holy Cross Health.
- Histotechnologists in Massachusetts take the No. 2 spot with an average salary of $61,000, which is 20 percent higher than the national average. The job outlook also shows moderate growth of 9 percent by the year 2026.
- New York ranked third with earnings averaging $61,000 according to 2016 job postings. Consider top employers like NYU Langone Medical Center, New York-Presbyterian Hospital, Northwell Health and Mount Sinai Medical Center.
- Histotechnologists in Connecticut enjoyed an average salary of $58,000 in 2016, which was 15 percent higher than the rest of the nation. Although this state ranked fourth nationwide, an exceptionally low projected job growth could cause it to lose momentum over ensuing years.
- With a solid fifth place ranking, histotechnologists in Georgia can expect a healthy job growth to help continue the demand for professionals in the field. Average histotechnologist salaries in the state were about 14 percent higher than other states with a median salary of $58,000.
While California consistently ranks at the top when it comes to salary in the healthcare field, the average salary for a histotechnologist in the state was only 7 percent higher than the nation average in 2016, ranking it eighth in the nation. However, demand for talented laboratory technicians is expected to grow 18 percent, which is well above the national average. Furthermore, California employs more healthcare workers than any other state with 1,226,640 healthcare professionals working in various fields and environments.
WHERE MIGHT YOU WORK?
According to the Mississippi Hospital Association Health Careers Center, the majority of histotechnologists choose a career in hospital and clinic laboratories, but they also work in medical or research laboratories, doctor's offices, pharmaceutical companies and government agencies. A survey conducted by the Department of Academic Affairs at MD Anderson Cancer Center also showed that hospitals and private laboratories were top choices for histotechnologists, but some worked in research laboratories, medical schools and veterinary medicine laboratories.
Explore more histotechnologist career opportunities while traveling the country by finding your next travel histotechnician job at AMN Healthcare.
WHAT KIND OF JOB SECURITY CAN YOU EXPECT?
Like most medical professionals, the job outlook for all medical laboratory technologists is much better than average. According to the BLS, the projected growth for all occupations in this field is 12 percent between 2016 and 2026.
Travel laboratory technician positions often pay even higher wages with average hourly rates ranging between $31 and $36. Salary packages may include a combination of taxable and non-taxable earnings, and jobs can be found in some of the most exciting locales.
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