We describe a high-throughput hyperspectral microscope. The system replaces the slit of conventional pushbroom spectral imagers with a static coded aperture mask. We present the theoretical underpinnings of the aperture coded spectral engine and describe two proof-of-concept experimental implementations. Compared to a conventional pushbroom system, the aperture coded systems have 32 times greater throughput. Both systems have about a 1nm spectral resolution over the spectral range of 550-665nm. For the first design, the spatial resolution for the system is 5.4μm, while the spatial resolution for the second system ranges from 7.7μm to 1.54μm. We describe experimental results from proof-of-concept applications of the imager to hyperspectral microscopy. © 2008 Optical Society of America.