細胞検査士 細胞検査士
What 細胞検査士 do
An English description is being prepared. Japanese description:
日本人の死亡原因の第1位となっているがんの細胞をはじめ、疾患に関連する細胞、病原体等を検査によって発見する。細胞の検査は、がんの発見にとって重要な検査法で、医師の診断と治療に役立っている。
検査作業では、標本作製（検体処理：塗抹、固定、染色、封入）及び顕微鏡による異型細胞やがん細胞のスクリーニングを行う。具体的には、細胞診検査では、剥離細胞や擦過、穿刺（せんし）等で得た材料で標本を作る。例えば、喀痰（かくたん）や尿、婦人科の医師が綿棒を使って取った子宮膣部の細胞、乳房のしこりから穿刺吸引した材料などを用いて標本を作り、染色をして顕微鏡で見ることができるようにする。
次に、標本のすみからすみまで全ての細胞を顕微鏡で観察する。そして正常では見られない細胞やがん細胞、あるいはがんと疑われる細胞を見つけだし、医師に確認を取り、報告書を作成する。
剥離細胞を使った検査は、検査材料を簡単に取ることができるため、子宮がん検診、肺がん検診など、大勢の人を対象とした検診に広く利用されている。
このほか、患者の患部に針を刺し、その部分の細胞を吸い取って標本を作る方法もあり、甲状腺や乳腺の検査に用いられている。
細胞検査は昭和40年頃から、子宮がん発見のための検査として重要視され始めた。この検査は簡便で費用や時間も余りかからないという利点から、広く検診に用いられるようになってきた。しかし、需要の増大に応じるには、限られた医師の数だけでは間に合わなくなったため、専門の資格を認定し、細胞検査を行う技師を養成する体制が整えられた。
◇ よく使う道具、機材、情報技術等
パソコン、顕微鏡、医療機器（聴診器、注射器等）
細胞検査士 salary
The average annual pay for 細胞検査士 in Japan is ¥4.54M (≈ $28,881; Basic Survey on Wage Structure (2025), national). The estimated median is ¥4.22M, the typical range is ¥3.21M–¥7.54M and the top 10% earn about ¥6.54M.
How does your pay compare with people your age?
Your numbers are not sent or stored. The distribution is estimated from Japan's national wage statistics, including pay differences by age.
Pay by ageest.
Estimated from the average pay and average age (37.6) using the age-wage curve of the Basic Survey on Wage Structure.
Pay by experienceest.
Pay by employment typeest.
The average hourly wage of ¥2,266 is 1.9× Japan's national average minimum wage of ¥1,177 (fiscal 2026). Minimum wage by prefecture →
Japanese pay is shown in yen (¥5.57M = 5.57 million yen ≈ 557万円). Dollar figures use the current rate of 157.25 yen per dollar and are for reference only; purchasing power differs.
Pay over time
| Year | Average pay | Employment | Openings ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | ¥4.23M | — | — |
| 2022 | ¥4.43M | — | — |
| 2023 | ¥4.59M | — | 1.88x |
| 2024 | ¥4.30M | — | 1.98x |
| 2025 | ¥4.54M | — | 1.88x |
Projected pay for 細胞検査士 (3, 5 and 10 years)est.
Today ¥4.54M → in 3 years ¥4.82M → in 5 years ¥5.02M → in 10 years ¥5.56M (10-year range ¥4.78M–¥6.45M). The model assumes pay growth of +2.0% per year.
What drives the annual growth rate
Projected pay = current pay × (1 + annual growth)^years. The annual growth rate starts from a base wage-growth rate and adds or subtracts labor demand (the job-openings-to-applicants ratio), wage momentum and AI replacement risk for each occupation. Projections are not guarantees. How it is calculated →
Outlook score for 細胞検査士
Each component is a percentile rank among all occupations in the same country (0–100). Weights: labor demand 25, wage momentum / openings 15, pay level 15, AI resistance 25, aging workforce 10 (Japan only), entry barrier 10.
Will AI replace 細胞検査士? AI replacement risk
How AI is changing this job
A written analysis for this occupation is being prepared.
AI replacement risk compares the parts of a job that are easy to hand to AI or software (processing information, documentation, repetitive computer work) with the parts that are hard to automate (physical work, working closely with people, judgment in unpredictable settings), using the MHLW job tag survey on work activities, work context, skills and knowledge. The result is a relative position among all occupations in the country, scaled to 0–100%. Methodology →
Labor demand for 細胞検査士
A ratio above 1.0 means there are more job openings than applicants (a labor shortage). The 5- and 10-year figures are estimates from the openings ratio, wage momentum and AI replacement risk.
The same job in the United States
| 細胞検査士 Japan | Medical and Clinical Laboratory Technologists United States | |
|---|---|---|
| Median / average pay | ¥4.54M ≈ $28,881 | — |
| Pay in 10 years (est.) | ¥5.56M | — |
| Outlook score | 45 | 53 |
| AI replacement risk | 67% High | 50% Moderate |
| Workers | — | — |
Matched by occupation (SOC code). Yen converted at 157.25 JPY/USD for reference; Japanese figures are averages, U.S. figures are medians, and the surveys define occupations differently.
Skills, education and requirements for 細胞検査士
Key skills
Skill levels from the MHLW job tag worker survey.
Key knowledge areas
Licenses and certifications (Japan)
- 細胞検査士
- 臨床検査技師
- 衛生検査技師
Related qualifications listed on job tag (names in Japanese). Some are mandatory, others recommended.
Education of workers
Training before entry
Related work experience
Difficulty of entry: ★★★★☆ Demanding (from education, training, experience, licenses)
How to become 細胞検査士
The typical path in Japan is shown by the education, training and experience of current workers above and in the Japanese guidance below. A detailed English guide for this occupation is being prepared.
Guidance from job tag (Japanese)
また、3年の実務経験を有する細胞検査士には2年に1回東京で行われる国際細胞検査士認定試験の受験資格が与えられ、合格すれば国際細胞検査士として海外で働く場合にも専門家としての評価を得られる。細胞検査士は、がんの早期発見、正確な判定などのための資格であり、常に最新の医学情報等を勉強し、標本中の異型細胞を見逃さない高度な細胞判定能力を維持、向上させていく必要がある。忍耐力とともに冷静な判断力、責任感が求められる。
Career path and how to earn more as 細胞検査士
Career-path guidance is being prepared. Pay by experience is shown in the Pay section.