Healthcare Practitioners and Technical · Holland code IRC
Cytogenetic Technologists
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.
Also called: Certified Cytogenetic Technologist, Cytogenetics Clinical Laboratory Specialist (CG CLSp), Cytogenetics Specialist, Molecular Genetics Technologist, Clinical Cytogeneticist Scientist (CCS), Cytogenetics Technical Specialist, Lab Technologist (Laboratory Technologist), Microarray Laboratory Technologist (Microarray Lab Technologist).
O*NET 29-2011.01
At a glance
- Preparation needed
- Job Zone 4 of 5
- Considerable preparation. Zone 1 is little or none; zone 5 is graduate-level.
What the work involves
The tasks workers in this occupation rate as most important, from the O*NET survey.
- Arrange and attach chromosomes in numbered pairs on karyotype charts, using standard genetics laboratory practices and nomenclature, to identify normal or abnormal chromosomes.
- Analyze chromosomes found in biological specimens to aid diagnoses and treatments for genetic diseases such as congenital disabilities, fertility problems, and hematological disorders.
- Prepare biological specimens such as amniotic fluids, bone marrow, tumors, chorionic villi, and blood, for chromosome examinations.
- Harvest cell cultures using substances such as mitotic arrestants, cell releasing agents, and cell fixatives.
- Examine chromosomes found in biological specimens to detect abnormalities.
- Prepare slides of cell cultures following standard procedures.
- Recognize and report abnormalities in the color, size, shape, composition, or pattern of cells.
- Input details of specimen processing, analysis, and technical issues into logs or laboratory information systems (LIS).
Skills and knowledge it leans on
Skills
- Reading Comprehension4.0 / 5
- Critical Thinking3.9 / 5
- Active Listening3.8 / 5
- Speaking3.8 / 5
- Writing3.6 / 5
- Science3.5 / 5
Knowledge areas
- Biology4.0 / 5
- Chemistry3.0 / 5
- English Language2.8 / 5
- Education and Training2.7 / 5
- Computers and Electronics2.6 / 5
- Public Safety and Security2.5 / 5
Importance ratings on O*NET’s 1 to 5 scale. Higher means the occupation depends on it more.
Who tends to enjoy it
How strongly this occupation draws on each of the six Holland interest types, which is the same profile the career interests test compares you against.
- Realistic72
- Investigative82
- Artistic8
- Social16
- Enterprising9
- Conventional67
The same work abroad
Other countries classify jobs differently, so these are the closest matches through the international ISCO-08 standard, not exact equivalents.
European occupation titles (ESCO)
- microbiologist · DE Mikrobiologe/Mikrobiologin · FR microbiologiste
- geneticist · DE Genetiker/Genetikerin · FR généticien/généticienne
- cytology screener · DE Zytologieassistent/Zytologieassistentin · FR technicien en dépistage cytologique/technicienne en dépistage cytologique
Closest UK occupation groups (SOC 2020)
- Biochemists and biomedical scientists (2113)68,000 employed
- Natural and social science professionals n.e.c. (2119)36,500 employed
- Other researchers, unspecified discipline (2162)78,200 employed
Employment is the UK Annual Population Survey for April 2025 to March 2026, all workers in the group, which can be broader than this one occupation.
Pay across Europe, for the whole group
Median annual earnings of all employees in “Professionals”. This is the broad ISCO group this occupation falls in, not the occupation itself, so treat it as context for the wage level, not as a salary for this job.
| Country | Median pay |
|---|---|
| Belgium | €61,714 |
| Germany | €59,529 |
| Ireland | €56,877 |
| Austria | €55,374 |
| Netherlands | €53,595 |
| Sweden | €43,567 |
| France | €41,515 |
| Spain | €35,735 |
| Italy | €33,649 |
| Portugal | €26,072 |
| Poland | €14,380 |
Eurostat Structure of Earnings Survey, businesses with ten or more employees outside public administration, in euro and not adjusted for the cost of living. Reference years differ between sources: the US, Japan and Europe figures on this page come from different survey years, so compare them as rough levels, not to the euro or yen.
Exposure to AI
This occupation sits in the middle third of the 774 occupations scored, with an exposure score of +0.28. The scores are standardized across those occupations, so 0 is the average and a score of 1 is about one standard deviation above it.
Our note on reading it: the dataset links AI applications to the abilities that occupations require, so the score reflects overlap between the two. It is a comparison between occupations, not a forecast about jobs. It does not say whether exposure means tasks are replaced or workers get more done with the tools, and it says little about one employer or one role.
Source: Felten, E., Raj, M., & Seamans, R. (2021). Occupational, industry, and geographic exposure to artificial intelligence: A novel dataset and its potential uses. Strategic Management Journal, 42(12), 2195-2217. Matched to this page by 6-digit SOC code (29-2011).
Related careers
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