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Major · Health Professions

Cytotechnology/Cytotechnologist

A program that prepares individuals to work with pathologists to detect changes in body cells that may indicate, and permit diagnosis of, the early development of cancers and other diseases. Includes instruction in biochemistry, microbiology, applied mathematics, microscopy, slide preparation, identification of cellular structures and abnormalities, and laboratory procedures and safety.

Schools offering
16
Annual completions
42
Typical degree level
Associate's + Bachelor's
Median earnings (5yr)
$70k

About this major

A program that prepares individuals to work with pathologists to detect changes in body cells that may indicate, and permit diagnosis of, the early development of cancers and other diseases. Includes instruction in biochemistry, microbiology, applied mathematics, microscopy, slide preparation, identification of cellular structures and abnormalities, and laboratory procedures and safety.

Section 3 · Careers

Where this major leads

Occupations most often associated with this major, from the federal BLS+O*NET crosswalk. Job-growth projections and median wages are national.

Occupation Median wage Job growth Typical education
Health specialties teachers, postsecondary $106k +17.3% Doctoral or professional degree
Section 4 · Earnings

Earnings at a glance

Median graduate earnings from the federal College Scorecard, 5 and 10 years out.

Median 5-year earnings

$70k

Associate's vs Bachelor's — early-career earnings

Associate's

$57k

Bachelor's

$78k

Section 6 · Where to study

Top colleges for Cytotechnology/Cytotechnologist

Ranked by annual completions at the associate's or bachelor's level — a proxy for program scale.

College Location Assoc. Bach. Total
Southwest Wisconsin Technical College Fennimore, WI 16 0 16
The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center Houston, TX 0 10 10
Indiana University-Indianapolis Indianapolis, IN 0 7 7
University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences Little Rock, AR 0 5 5
Edgewood College Madison, WI 0 3 3
Thomas Jefferson University Philadelphia, PA 0 1 1
State University of New York at Plattsburgh Plattsburgh, NY 0 0 0
Upstate Medical University Syracuse, NY 0 0 0
Claflin University Orangeburg, SC 0 0 0
Seattle University Seattle, WA 0 0 0
Section 9 · Frequently asked

Common questions

What can I do with a Cytotechnology/Cytotechnologist degree?
Graduates commonly pursue careers such as Health specialties teachers, postsecondary.
Is a Cytotechnology/Cytotechnologist associate's enough, or do I need a bachelor's?
Both credentials exist. The associate's is typically faster and cheaper; the bachelor's unlocks higher-earning roles. See our earnings table above.
How many colleges offer Cytotechnology/Cytotechnologist?
16 colleges offered this major in the most recent IPEDS year, graduating about 42 students a year combined.