Histotechnologists
Apply knowledge of health and disease causes to evaluate new laboratory techniques and procedures to examine tissue samples. Process and prepare histological slides from tissue sections for microscopic examination and diagnosis by pathologists. May solve technical or instrument problems or assist with research studies.
$62,930 a year (for the broader BLS group this job sits in).
of the working time. Estimate.
- 4%
- 4%
- 92%
Anthropic's data does not cover this job.
On the chosen pace and reliability. Estimate.
Share of the working time within reach, now to 2030
What each choice means: , , , , . Every pace starts from .
At this date and pace, models finish tasks up to 4.4 h long four times in five.
How far this has come
With GPT-4, measured in March 2023, 0% of this job's working time was within reach at . With Claude 3.7 Sonnet, measured in February 2025, 0%. With Claude Mythos Preview (early), measured in April 2026, 4%. Today's estimate: 4%.
A backcast: today's task data with the best model METR had measured by each date. It shows how fast the models have moved, not what anyone forecast at the time.
The tasks
Sorted by . 16 tasks from .
| Task | Kind | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Supervise histology laboratory activities.Done daily by most who do it. | 18% | 1.7 h50 min to 6.7 h | Stays with people | |
| Prepare or use prepared tissue specimens for teaching, research or diagnostic purposes.Done daily by most who do it. | 11% | 1.3 h25 min to 2.5 h | Stays with people | |
| Stain tissue specimens with dyes or other chemicals to make cell details visible under microscopes.Done daily by most who do it. | 10% | 38 min17 min to 1.3 h | Stays with people | |
| Perform procedures associated with histochemistry to prepare specimens for immunofluorescence or microscopy.Done several times a day by most who do it. | 9% | 1.1 h25 min to 2.1 h | Stays with people | |
| Resolve problems with laboratory equipment and instruments, such as microscopes, mass spectrometers, microtomes, immunostainers, tissue processors, embedding centers, and water baths.Done daily by most who do it. | 8% | 1.3 h25 min to 3.3 h | Stays with people | |
| Embed tissue specimens into paraffin wax blocks, or infiltrate tissue specimens with wax.Done several times a day by most who do it. | 7% | 25 min13 min to 1.3 h | Stays with people | |
| Cut sections of body tissues for microscopic examination, using microtomes.Done hourly or more by most who do it. | 6% | 17 min8 min to 50 min | Stays with people | |
| Perform tests by following physician instructions.Done daily by most who do it. | 6% | 38 min13 min to 1.7 h | Stays with people | |
| Compile materials for distribution to pathologists, such as surgical working drafts, requisitions, and slides.Done daily by most who do it. | 5% | 21 min13 min to 38 min | Stays with people | |
| Operate computerized laboratory equipment to dehydrate, decalcify, or microincinerate tissue samples.Done daily by most who do it. | 5% | 33 min13 min to 1.3 h | Stays with people | |
| Teach students or other staff.Done more than yearly by most who do it. | 4% | 1.3 h25 min to 2.5 h | Stays with people | |
| Prepare substances, such as reagents and dilution, and stains for histological specimens according to protocols.Done daily by most who do it. | 3% | 29 min17 min to 1.1 h | Stays with people |
Within reach, per task: the share of the task's time whose instances are short enough for a model to finish at the chosen date, pace and reliability. Half by: the date half of that time comes within reach.
Jobs that share skills with this one
From O*NET's related occupations. Within reach now and by the end of 2028, long-run pace, four in five.
Where this job works
The industry groups that employ the most of it (BLS, May 2025). Counts are for the broader BLS group this job sits in.
Where the most of these jobs are
The metro areas with the most people in it (BLS, May 2025). Counts are for the broader BLS group this job sits in.