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US job code 29-2011.04High change by 2035

Histotechnologists

Machines can already do 22% of this job's tasks. By 2035 that rises to 54%. The job changes before it disappears.

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Share of the work machines can do

Worldwide baseline, 2026 to 2050

100%75%50%25%20262035205022%Half: 2035

Histotechnologists in 2026: the short answer

  • Today: machines can do 22% of this job's tasks.
  • Forecast: machines can do half of its tasks by 2035, and 54% by 2035, according to the 311 Strategic Intelligence Unit.
  • Contact with people: it scores 64% for contact with people.
  • Also called: Clinical Lab Manager (Clinical Laboratory Manager), Histology Lab Manager (Histology Laboratory Manager), Histology Specialist, Histology Technologist.

Updated by the 311 Strategic Intelligence Unit. These are worldwide baseline figures; the Workforce Starburst shows them for your country. Go deeper: How ready am I? or an executive briefing.

Machines can do today
22%of the tasks, 2026
By 2035
54%half the tasks by 2035
US median pay
Not publisheda year, May 2025
US jobs
Not published
Contact with people
64%how people-facing
Step 1AnticipateWhat is changing? Free to everyone

How the work changes, task by task

The tasks that take up most of the day, with the share of each that machines can do in 2026 (dark) and 2035 (pink). Worldwide baseline.

TaskShare of the dayMachines can do2026 to 2035
Cut sections of body tissues for microscopic examination, using microtomes20%
18% to 51%
Stain tissue specimens with dyes or other chemicals to make cell details visible under microscopes14%
18% to 51%
Embed tissue specimens into paraffin wax blocks, or infiltrate tissue specimens with wax12%
27% to 64%
Compile materials for distribution to pathologists, such as surgical working drafts, requisitions, and slides8%
18% to 51%
Examine slides under microscopes to ensure tissue preparation meets laboratory requirements8%
27% to 64%
Operate computerized laboratory equipment to dehydrate, decalcify, or microincinerate tissue samples7%
18% to 51%
Perform procedures associated with histochemistry to prepare specimens for immunofluorescence or microscopy7%
18% to 51%
Prepare substances, such as reagents and dilution, and stains for histological specimens according to protocols5%
18% to 51%
Step 2AssessWhy should I care? Free to everyone

The skills this job runs on

The skills histotechnologists use most, most used first.

Professionalism and work ethicLearning aptitude and mindsetMoral intelligence and integrityPhysical and manualAdaptability and resilienceProduction and makingCollaborationCommunicationCritical thinking and problem solvingSelf-management

Safer jobs nearby

Jobs with a similar skill shape where machines can do less of the work by 2035.

Step 3ActWhat do I do about it? Free plan and up
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Questions

When will machines do half of the tasks of Histotechnologists?

Machines can do half of its tasks by 2035. That is the worldwide baseline from the 311 Workforce Starburst, before adjusting for country.

Will AI take the job of histotechnologists?

Machines can do 22% of the tasks of histotechnologists today and 54% by 2035. The job changes before it disappears: the routine tasks move first.

Sources and citing

Tasks and their share of the day: O*NET 31.0, occupation 29-2011.04 (US Department of Labor, CC BY 4.0). Pay and jobs: US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. AI use today: Anthropic Economic Index (CC BY). Scoring and forecast: the 311 Strategic Intelligence Unit; after 2035 the figures extend each trend, with lower confidence. Foresight, not advice.

Cite as: 311 Institute (2026). Histotechnologists: the outlook to 2050. 311 Workforce Starburst. https://www.311institute.com/jobs/histotechnologists/