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.
Cytotechnologist Salary (2026): Data, Outlook & How to Become One
Cytotechnologists 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 23, 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: Cytologist, Cytology Applications Specialist, Cytology Coordinator, Cytology Technical Specialist, Cytotechnologist.
How much do Cytotechnologists 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, Cytotechnologists 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 Cytotechnologists 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 Cytotechnologist a growing career?
Cytotechnologists1.7%
All US occupations3.1%
+1.7% projected growth vs 3.1% for all occupations.
Slower than average
BLS projects employment of Cytotechnologists 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 Cytotechnologist
Unlike the histology credentials, which have several routes each, there is exactly one domestic route to CT(ASCP): a baccalaureate degree plus completion of a CAAHEP-accredited cytology programme within the last 5 years. There is no experience-only alternative. Federal law names the same accreditor at 42 CFR 493.1483. Two further things are worth knowing before committing: the ASCP BOC now calls the credential Cytologist, and accredited programmes are transitioning from bachelor's to master's level, with 18 CAAHEP-accredited cytotechnology programmes as of 1 July 2023.
The credential path, step by step
- Earn a baccalaureate degree
The BOC specifies no particular major and no specific science coursework for CT(ASCP), only an accredited college or university degree. The American Society of Cytopathology separately recommends 28 credits of science including chemistry and biological sciences plus 3 of mathematics or statistics, but that is a society recommendation rather than a certification requirement.
- Complete a CAAHEP-accredited cytology programme
This is the only domestic route, and there is no way around it: the American Society of Cytopathology states that to sit the ASCP examination a person must graduate from a CAAHEP-accredited programme. The accreditation has not moved to NAACLS; the Cytology Programs Review Committee sits under CAAHEP and is administered by the American Society of Cytopathology. Programmes must be completed within 5 years of applying.
- Expect a master's-level programme if you are starting now
The BOC notes that CAAHEP-accredited cytology programmes are transitioning from baccalaureate to master's level, and that a graduate of either type is eligible for CT(ASCP) under Route 1 for up to 5 years after completion. Master's graduates may instead sit the Specialist in Cytotechnology, SCT(ASCP).
- Pass the CT(ASCP) examination
Computer adaptive, 100 questions in 2 hours 30 minutes at Pearson VUE, scored 100 to 999 with 400 to pass. Application fee $260. Be careful with the international variant: the BOC warns that CT(ASCPi) and SCT(ASCPi) holders do not meet the CLIA personnel qualifications at 42 CFR 493.1483.
- Apply for a state licence where one exists
California, New York, Hawaii and Florida all regulate this role. California's cytotechnologist licence from CDPH requires a bachelor's degree with 20 semester units of biological science, 8 of chemistry and 3 of mathematics, plus either a 12-month CAAHEP-accredited cytotechnology programme or five years of full-time clinical cytology experience, and accepts ASCP certification as the approved examination. It renews annually with continuing education.
- Learn the federal workload rule before your first job
CLIA sets a hard ceiling on primary screening at 42 CFR 493.1274(d): no more than 100 slides in any 24-hour period, one patient specimen per slide, irrespective of the site or laboratory, and that maximum must be examined in no less than an 8-hour workday. The regulation states explicitly that this is an absolute maximum and must not be used as a performance target. The technical supervisor sets each individual's own limit, reassesses it at least every 6 months, and the laboratory must record both slides examined and hours spent examining them.
Exams you have to pass
Cytologist, CT(ASCP) (CT(ASCP))
Computer adaptive examination, 100 questions in 2 hours 30 minutes, scored 100 to 999 with 400 to pass. Application fee $260. One domestic eligibility route: a baccalaureate degree plus a CAAHEP-accredited cytology programme completed within the last 5 years. CMS and CDC recognised the ASCP SCT credential as an approved board examination for the CLIA personnel qualifications at 42 CFR 493.1483 with effect from July 2024, and both CT(ASCP) and SCT(ASCP) holders are recognised there.
Administered by ASCP Board of Certification, delivered at Pearson VUE.
- Program accreditation
CAAHEP · Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs
CAAHEP accreditation is both the certification requirement and the federal one. It is the only route to CT(ASCP), and 42 CFR 493.1483(b)(1) independently qualifies a person to examine cytology slides if they have graduated from a school of cytotechnology accredited by CAAHEP. The Cytology Programs Review Committee, administered by the American Society of Cytopathology, does the accrediting. The field is small: CAAHEP's 2023 annual report counted 18 accredited cytotechnology programmes as of 1 July 2023.
- How long the training takes
California specifies a 12-month CAAHEP-accredited cytotechnology programme for its licence, and separately allows five years of full-time clinical cytology experience in its place. Nationally, the accredited programmes are moving from baccalaureate to master's level, and the BOC treats graduates of either as eligible for 5 years after completion.
- Continuing education
Required to stay credentialed
The ASCP Credential Maintenance Program applies to anyone certified on or after 1 January 2004 and runs on a three-year cycle. CT requires 36 points: 8 in cytology, 1 in laboratory or patient safety, 1 in medical ethics and 26 in related laboratory, management or education areas. California adds its own annual renewal with continuing education for the state licence.
Licensing and state variation
Not a state license
The ASCP Board of Certification lists 11 jurisdictions that license clinical laboratory personnel: California, Florida, Hawaii, Louisiana, Montana, Nevada, New York, North Dakota, Tennessee, West Virginia and Puerto Rico. Cytotechnology is the laboratory role most consistently covered among them. California licenses cytotechnologists through CDPH Laboratory Field Services, with annual renewal, and excludes biotechnology, pharmaceutical, forensic, academic, veterinary, research and student laboratory experience from counting toward the licence. New York licenses cytotechnologists under Subpart 79-14 and accepts a California or Hawaii licence as one qualifying route. Florida licenses cytology at technologist level only, with no technician tier, and keys the requirement directly to CT(ASCP). Everywhere else the credential is the employer's requirement rather than the state's.
Who governs the credential
- ASCP Board of Certification (ASCP BOC) — Awards the CT(ASCP) credential, now titled Cytologist, and the Specialist in Cytotechnology, SCT(ASCP).
- Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP) — Accredits cytotechnology education programmes through the Cytology Programs Review Committee. Its accreditation is named in both the ASCP eligibility route and the federal CLIA personnel standard.
- Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) — Sets the CLIA personnel qualifications for examining cytology slides and the federal workload limit for primary screening.
- California Department of Public Health, Laboratory Field Services (CDPH LFS) — Issues and annually renews California's cytotechnologist licence, which permits examination of cytology specimens.
Credential detail for cytotechnologists is researched by hand from the bodies that issue it, not derived from BLS or O*NET. Sources last checked August 23, 2026. Requirements change: confirm with your own state board before enrolling in anything.
- ASCP Board of Certification: Cytologist, CT (eligibility route and fees) · checked August 23, 2026
- ASCP Board of Certification: About the examination (adaptive format, scoring) · checked August 23, 2026
- ASCP Board of Certification: CT Credential Maintenance Program requirements · checked August 23, 2026
- eCFR: 42 CFR 493.1483, Cytotechnologist qualifications · checked August 23, 2026
- eCFR: 42 CFR 493.1274, Cytology (including workload limits) · checked August 23, 2026
- CAAHEP: Committee on Accreditation for Cytology (Cytology Programs Review Committee) · checked August 23, 2026
- American Society of Cytopathology: Cytology programs · checked August 23, 2026
- California Department of Public Health: Cytotechnologist licence requirements · checked August 23, 2026
- New York State Education Department: Cytotechnologist licence requirements · checked August 23, 2026
- ASCP Board of Certification: State licensure · checked August 23, 2026
- BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook: Clinical Laboratory Technologists and Technicians · checked August 23, 2026
What the federal data says
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) | Considerable 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 cytotechnologists.
- Bachelor's Degree50.0%
- Post-Baccalaureate Certificate36.4%
- Master's Degree13.6%
What does a Cytotechnologist do?
Stain, mount, and study cells to detect evidence of cancer, hormonal abnormalities, and other pathological conditions following established standards and practices.
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
- 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.
O*NET core tasks, ordered by reported importance.
Working conditions and hours
Most clinical laboratory technologists and technicians work full time. Because they may work in medical facilities that are always open, such as hospitals, they may have shifts that include nights, weekends, or holidays.
Where the work happens
- Indoors, in a climate-controlled space, every day
Physical demands
- Seated for more than half the working day
Working with people
- Face-to-face discussions every day
Pressure and stakes
- Mistakes carry very serious consequences
Autonomy
- A lot of freedom to make decisions without checking first
Schedules: BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2024–2034 edition. Conditions: O*NET Work Context survey, showing only the signals people in the job report decisively one way or the other.
Where cytotechnologists 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
- Active Listening3.8/5
- Critical Thinking3.8/5
- Speaking3.1/5
- Writing3.0/5
- Active Learning3.0/5
- Monitoring3.0/5
- Science2.9/5
Transferable skills
- Complex Problem Solving3.3/5
- Judgment and Decision Making3.1/5
- Social Perceptiveness3.0/5
- Time Management3.0/5
- Coordination2.9/5
- Instructing2.9/5
- Service Orientation2.9/5
- Operations Monitoring2.6/5
Tools and software
- Expert system software · in demand
- Medical software · in demand
- Office suite software · in demand
- Spreadsheet software · in demand
- Word processing software · in demand
“In demand” marks an O*NET Employer-Based Hot Technology, software named in real job postings for this occupation.
What personality type suits a Cytotechnologist?
Interest profile: O*NET Occupational Interests, scored 1–7
Realisticprimary5.9
Investigativeprimary6.1
Artistic1.1
Social2.4
Enterprising1.8
Conventionalprimary4.9
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.
Cytotechnologist: frequently asked questions
How much do Cytotechnologists make?
Cytotechnologists 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 Cytotechnologist?
Yes. BLS reports a bachelor's degree as the typical entry-level education for Cytotechnologists, and O*NET rates the preparation needed as considerable preparation. In O*NET's survey of people already doing the job, 50.0% hold bachelor's degree.
Is Cytotechnologist 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 Cytotechnologist 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: examine cell samples to detect abnormalities in the color, shape, or size of cellular components and patterns. Employers most often ask for Expert system software, Medical software, Office suite software.
Which states pay Cytotechnologists the most?
The highest state medians for Cytotechnologists are New York ($97,280), Oregon ($83,010), New Hampshire ($81,020) (BLS OEWS, May 2025).
What personality type suits a Cytotechnologist?
O*NET scores Cytotechnologists 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.
How long does it take to become a Cytotechnologist?
California specifies a 12-month CAAHEP-accredited cytotechnology programme for its licence, and separately allows five years of full-time clinical cytology experience in its place. Nationally, the accredited programmes are moving from baccalaureate to master's level, and the BOC treats graduates of either as eligible for 5 years after completion.
Do you need a license to work as a Cytotechnologist?
Not a state license. The ASCP Board of Certification lists 11 jurisdictions that license clinical laboratory personnel: California, Florida, Hawaii, Louisiana, Montana, Nevada, New York, North Dakota, Tennessee, West Virginia and Puerto Rico. Cytotechnology is the laboratory role most consistently covered among them. California licenses cytotechnologists through CDPH Laboratory Field Services, with annual renewal, and excludes biotechnology, pharmaceutical, forensic, academic, veterinary, research and student laboratory experience from counting toward the licence. New York licenses cytotechnologists under Subpart 79-14 and accepts a California or Hawaii licence as one qualifying route. Florida licenses cytology at technologist level only, with no technician tier, and keys the requirement directly to CT(ASCP). Everywhere else the credential is the employer's requirement rather than the state's.
What exams and certifications apply to a Cytotechnologist?
The CT(ASCP) (Cytologist, CT(ASCP)). Computer adaptive examination, 100 questions in 2 hours 30 minutes, scored 100 to 999 with 400 to pass. Application fee $260. One domestic eligibility route: a baccalaureate degree plus a CAAHEP-accredited cytology programme completed within the last 5 years. CMS and CDC recognised the ASCP SCT credential as an approved board examination for the CLIA personnel qualifications at 42 CFR 493.1483 with effect from July 2024, and both CT(ASCP) and SCT(ASCP) holders are recognised there.