State medians come from the same OEWS release as the national figures. The cost-of-living column divides each state median by that state's BEA Regional Price Parity, restating pay in national-average dollars so a high-cost state and a low-cost one can be compared directly.
Cytogenetic Technologist Salary (2026): Data, Outlook & How to Become One
Cytogenetic Technologists earn a median of $62,930 per year ($30.26/hr) (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Employment is projected to grow 1.7% through 2034, with about 22,600 openings a year (BLS EP, 2024–2034). Typical entry-level education: Bachelor's degree.
SOC 29-2011Healthcare Practitioners and TechnicalLast updated August 15, 2026
- Median pay
- $62,930
- Projected growth
- +1.7%
- Openings a year
- 22,600
- Typical education
- Bachelor's
BLS OEWS, May 2025
BLS EP, 2024–2034
BLS EP, 2024–2034
BLS EP, 2024–2034
Also advertised as: Certified Cytogenetic Technologist, Clinical Cytogeneticist Scientist (CCS), Cytogenetic Technologist, Cytogenetics Clinical Laboratory Specialist (CG CLSp), Cytogenetics Technical Specialist, Cytogenetics Technologist.
How much do Cytogenetic Technologists make?
10th percentile$38,910
Entry / lowest-paid tenth
25th percentile$47,650
Lower quartile
Median (50th)$62,930
Half earn more, half earn less
75th percentile$81,450
Upper quartile
90th percentile$100,990
Top-paid tenth
| Median annual wage | $62,930 |
|---|---|
| Median hourly wage | $30.26/hr |
| Mean annual wage | $67,350 |
| People employed | 332,940 |
Versus all US occupations
At $62,930, Cytogenetic Technologists earn 23% above the $50,980 median across all US occupations, a difference of $11,950 a year.
Versus healthcare practitioners and technical occupations
Inside the Healthcare Practitioners and Technical group, where the middle occupation pays $97,870, this is 36% below the group median.
Pay range
The top 10% earn $100,990 or more while the bottom 10% earn $38,910, a gap of 2.6×. That is a typical spread for a US occupation.
Rank in the bank
This median pays more than 47% of the 923 occupations in the NueCareer career bank.
Highest-paying state
New York pays the most at $97,280, and still leads at $90,140 once local prices are taken into account.
Which states pay Cytogenetic Technologists the most?
| State | Median | COL-adjusted | Employed |
|---|---|---|---|
| New York | $97,280 | $90,140 | 16,460 |
| Oregon | $83,010 | $80,311 | 2,660 |
| New Hampshire | $81,020 | $77,780 | 800 |
| Massachusetts | $79,120 | $74,813 | 10,850 |
| Vermont | $78,680 | $80,320 | 460 |
| District of Columbia | $76,560 | $69,663 | 960 |
| California | $76,010 | $68,651 | 29,210 |
| Rhode Island | $75,780 | $74,091 | 1,060 |
| Minnesota | $74,440 | $75,481 | 7,190 |
| Washington | $72,760 | $67,992 | 7,430 |
Is Cytogenetic Technologist a growing career?
Cytogenetic Technologists1.7%
All US occupations3.1%
+1.7% projected growth vs 3.1% for all occupations.
Slower than average
BLS projects employment of Cytogenetic Technologists to change 1.7% over 2024–2034, against 3.1% projected for all occupations. That is 6,000 more jobs.
Annual openings
About 22,600 openings are projected each year, 6.4% of the 351,200 jobs that existed in 2024. Most come from workers leaving the occupation, not from growth alone.
Despite limited employment growth, about 22,600 openings for clinical laboratory technologists and technicians are projected each year, on average, over the decade.
Most of those openings are expected to result from the need to replace workers who transfer to different occupations or exit the labor force, such as to retire.
An increase in the population of older adults is expected to lead to a greater need for diagnosing medical conditions, such as cancer or type 2 diabetes, through laboratory procedures. Genetic testing also is being increasingly used to aid the diagnosis and treatment of disease. Clinical laboratory technologists and technicians will be in demand to perform these laboratory tests and procedures. However, the increasing automation of laboratory workflows may dampen employment demand.
How to become a Cytogenetic Technologist
Clinical laboratory technologists and technicians typically need a bachelor’s degree to enter the occupation. Technicians sometimes qualify for jobs with an associate’s degree. Some states require technologists and technicians to be licensed. Employers may prefer to hire candidates who have certification.
| Typical entry-level education | Bachelor's degree |
|---|---|
| Preparation needed (O*NET job zone) | Medium preparation |
| Work experience in a related occupation | None |
| Typical on-the-job training | None |
What education people in the job have
O*NET incumbent survey: the highest level of education reported by people already working as cytogenetic technologists.
- Bachelor's Degree76.2%
- Post-Baccalaureate Certificate23.8%
What does a Cytogenetic Technologist do?
Analyze chromosomes or chromosome segments found in biological specimens, such as amniotic fluids, bone marrow, solid tumors, and blood to aid in the study, diagnosis, classification, or treatment of inherited or acquired genetic diseases. Conduct analyses through classical cytogenetic, fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH) or array comparative genome hybridization (aCGH) techniques.
Clinical laboratory technologists (also known as medical laboratory scientists) and clinical laboratory technicians (also known as medical laboratory technicians) perform medical laboratory tests for the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of disease.
Day-to-day tasks
- Arrange and attach chromosomes in numbered pairs on karyotype charts, using standard genetics laboratory practices and nomenclature, to identify normal or abnormal chromosomes.
- Count numbers of chromosomes and identify the structural abnormalities by viewing culture slides through microscopes, light microscopes, or photomicroscopes.
- Examine chromosomes found in biological specimens to detect abnormalities.
- Select appropriate culturing system or procedure based on specimen type and reason for referral.
- Analyze chromosomes found in biological specimens to aid diagnoses and treatments for genetic diseases such as congenital disabilities, fertility problems, and hematological disorders.
- Harvest cell cultures using substances such as mitotic arrestants, cell releasing agents, and cell fixatives.
- Summarize test results and report to appropriate authorities.
- Prepare biological specimens such as amniotic fluids, bone marrow, tumors, chorionic villi, and blood, for chromosome examinations.
O*NET core tasks, ordered by reported importance.
Where cytogenetic technologists work
| General medical and surgical hospitals; private | 37% |
|---|---|
| Medical and diagnostic laboratories | 20% |
| Offices of physicians | 10% |
| Educational services; state, local, and private | 5% |
| Other ambulatory healthcare services | 4% |
BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2024–2034 edition.
Core skills
- Reading Comprehension3.9/5
- Critical Thinking3.9/5
- Writing3.8/5
- Active Listening3.6/5
- Speaking3.6/5
- Science3.3/5
- Active Learning3.3/5
- Monitoring3.1/5
Transferable skills
- Judgment and Decision Making3.5/5
- Complex Problem Solving3.4/5
- Time Management3.1/5
- Social Perceptiveness3.0/5
- Coordination3.0/5
- Systems Analysis3.0/5
- Instructing2.9/5
- Operations Monitoring2.9/5
Tools and software
- Electronic mail software · in demand
- Graphics or photo imaging software · in demand
- Object or component oriented development software · in demand
- Office suite software · in demand
- Presentation software · in demand
- Spreadsheet software · in demand
- Word processing software · in demand
- Analytical or scientific software
- Data base user interface and query software
“In demand” marks an O*NET Employer-Based Hot Technology, software named in real job postings for this occupation.
What personality type suits a Cytogenetic Technologist?
Interest profile: O*NET Occupational Interests, scored 1–7
Realisticprimary5.3
Investigativeprimary5.9
Artistic1.5
Social1.9
Enterprising1.6
Conventionalprimary5.0
Day to day this is work built around investigating, analysing and solving problems with ideas and data, combined with hands-on, practical work with tools, machines or the outdoors.
Closest MBTI types
NueCareer fit scores: cosine similarity between each MBTI type's interest vector and this occupation's O*NET interest profile. Not a BLS or O*NET figure; the method is documented on our methodology page.
Cytogenetic Technologist: frequently asked questions
How much do Cytogenetic Technologists make?
Cytogenetic Technologists earn a median of $62,930 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025), 23% above the $50,980 US median across all occupations. That works out at $30.26/hr. The middle half earn between $47,650 and $81,450. The top 10% earn $100,990 or more.
Do you need a degree to become a Cytogenetic Technologist?
Yes. BLS reports a bachelor's degree as the typical entry-level education for Cytogenetic Technologists, and O*NET rates the preparation needed as medium preparation. In O*NET's survey of people already doing the job, 76.2% hold bachelor's degree.
Is Cytogenetic Technologist a growing career?
It is growing, but slowly: 1.7% over 2024–2034 against 3.1% for all occupations (BLS EP, 2024–2034). BLS still projects about 22,600 openings a year, mostly from workers retiring or moving to other work.
What does a Cytogenetic Technologist do?
Clinical laboratory technologists (also known as medical laboratory scientists) and clinical laboratory technicians (also known as medical laboratory technicians) perform medical laboratory tests for the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of disease. A core O*NET task: arrange and attach chromosomes in numbered pairs on karyotype charts, using standard genetics laboratory practices and nomenclature, to identify normal or abnormal chromosomes. Employers most often ask for Electronic mail software, Graphics or photo imaging software, Object or component oriented development software.
Which states pay Cytogenetic Technologists the most?
The highest state medians for Cytogenetic Technologists are New York ($97,280), Oregon ($83,010), New Hampshire ($81,020) (BLS OEWS, May 2025).
What personality type suits a Cytogenetic Technologist?
O*NET scores Cytogenetic Technologists highest on the Investigative, Realistic and Conventional interest areas, so the work mixes investigating, analysing and solving problems with ideas and data with hands-on, practical work with tools, machines or the outdoors. On NueCareer's MBTI-to-interest mapping that lines up most closely with ISTJ personalities. Personality is a fit signal, not a gate. The free NueCareer quiz scores your own profile against all 923 occupations in the bank.