AI exposure by occupation, O*NET 29-2011.04

Will AI replace Histotechnologists?

Histotechnologists: AI can already handle 13 of 16 tasks; the work mostly needs a standard-tier model.

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Every task, scored

The 16 tasks O*NET 30.3 lists for Histotechnologists, from most to least exposed. 13 reach 60 or more, the level at which AI already handles a task.

Task AI exposure Evidence Model tier Importance
Compile materials for distribution to pathologists, such as surgical working drafts, requisitions, and slides. 85 Estimated Frontier 4.6
Compile and maintain records of preventive maintenance and instrument performance checks according to schedule and regulations. 80 Estimated Efficient 4.5
Embed tissue specimens into paraffin wax blocks, or infiltrate tissue specimens with wax. 75 Estimated Efficient 4.9
Cut sections of body tissues for microscopic examination, using microtomes. 75 Estimated Efficient 4.8
Stain tissue specimens with dyes or other chemicals to make cell details visible under microscopes. 75 Estimated Efficient 4.7
Perform tests by following physician instructions. 75 Estimated Standard 4.5
Operate computerized laboratory equipment to dehydrate, decalcify, or microincinerate tissue samples. 75 Estimated Efficient 4.4
Prepare substances, such as reagents and dilution, and stains for histological specimens according to protocols. 75 Estimated Efficient 4.4
Resolve problems with laboratory equipment and instruments, such as microscopes, mass spectrometers, microtomes, immunostainers, tissue processors, embedding centers, and water baths. 75 Estimated Efficient 4.3
Examine slides under microscopes to ensure tissue preparation meets laboratory requirements. 75 Estimated Standard 4.3
Identify tissue structures or cell components to be used in the diagnosis, prevention, or treatment of diseases. 75 Estimated Standard 3.9
Supervise histology laboratory activities. 75 Estimated Frontier 3.8
Perform electron microscopy or mass spectrometry to analyze specimens. 75 Estimated Efficient 3.5
Prepare or use prepared tissue specimens for teaching, research or diagnostic purposes. 35 Estimated Efficient 4.1
Teach students or other staff. 35 Estimated Efficient 3.7
Perform procedures associated with histochemistry to prepare specimens for immunofluorescence or microscopy. 10 Estimated No tier 4.0

Observed: scored from AI use recorded in the Anthropic Economic Index (June 2026 release), 0 of 16 tasks. Estimated: scored from the task's O*NET 30.3 work activity, 16 of 16. Importance is O*NET's 1 to 5 rating of how central the task is. Model tier is the lowest tier that can do the task under the published rubric; "No tier" marks hands-on work.

The model tier this role needs

A standard-tier model or lower covers 82% of the role's importance-weighted task work. 94% of the work is something AI can address at some tier, and 6% is hands-on.

Efficient, standard and frontier tiers come from the JobRoute model tier reference. The recommended tier is the lowest one that covers 80% of the work AI can address. How the method works.

Wages, employment and outlook

BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (May 2025) publishes no national employment or wage figure for this O*NET occupation.

Adjacent roles

The occupations that reuse the most of this role's skills, with the usual time to move. These are the first places to look when you plan to redeploy or retrain people in this role.

Skill overlap and transition time from the JobRoute role adjacency graph on O*NET 30.3 skills.

Questions about Histotechnologists and AI

Will AI replace Histotechnologists?

AI already handles 13 of the 16 tasks O*NET lists for this occupation, at a task exposure of 60 or more, and the role's importance-weighted exposure is 68 out of 100. JobRoute scores tasks, not whole jobs, so the score shows how much of the work changes rather than whether the job disappears.

What is the AI exposure of Histotechnologists?

68 out of 100 on JobRoute's task exposure measure, the importance-weighted average of the role's O*NET task scores. Higher means more of the work is AI-doable today. 0 of the 16 task scores are observed in the Anthropic Economic Index (June 2026 release), and the other 16 are estimated from each task's O*NET work activity.

Which Histotechnologists tasks can AI already do?

The tasks with the highest exposure are: Compile materials for distribution to pathologists, such as surgical working drafts, requisitions, and slides; Compile and maintain records of preventive maintenance and instrument performance checks according to schedule and regulations; Embed tissue specimens into paraffin wax blocks, or infiltrate tissue specimens with wax. They are three of the 13 tasks that reach 60 or more.

What AI model tier does this role need?

A standard-tier model or lower covers 82% of the role's importance-weighted task work. JobRoute assigns each task the lowest tier that can do it under a published rubric and recommends the lowest tier that covers 80% of the work AI can address.

How to cite

Data version 2026-11-02, JobRoute method v1.0.0. Download all occupations or this occupation as JSON. Methodology.

JobRoute (2026). AI exposure: Histotechnologists. Data version 2026-11-02, method v1.0.0. Built on O*NET 30.3, BLS OEWS May 2025 and the Anthropic Economic Index (June 2026). CC BY 4.0. https://www.jobroute.ai/jobs/histotechnologists

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