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Phlebotomists

Draw blood for tests, transfusions, donations, or research. May explain the procedure to patients and assist in the recovery of patients with adverse reactions.

Watch this work See majors and colleges
Other titles employers use

Lab Liaison Technician · Mobile Examiner · Patient Service Technician (PST) · Phlebotomist · Phlebotomy Technician · Registered Phlebotomist · Certified Phlebotomy Technician · Venipuncturist

Inside the work

What you would actually do.

6 responsibilities that define the role, before job titles and workplaces change the details.

  • Dispose of contaminated sharps, in accordance with applicable laws, standards, and policies.
  • Organize or clean blood-drawing trays, ensuring that all instruments are sterile and all needles, syringes, or related items are of first-time use.
  • Draw blood from veins by vacuum tube, syringe, or butterfly venipuncture methods.
  • Match laboratory requisition forms to specimen tubes.
  • Dispose of blood or other biohazard fluids or tissue, in accordance with applicable laws, standards, or policies.
  • Conduct standards tests, such as blood alcohol, blood culture, oral glucose tolerance, glucose screening, blood smears, or peak and trough drug levels tests.

Who it suits

Would this work hold your attention?

This career often appeals to people drawn to practical, organizing and analytical work.

Practical
Building, repairing, using tools, or working outdoors
Organizing
Creating order, checking details, and keeping work accurate
Analytical
Investigating questions, testing ideas, and solving problems

Skills and strengths

What you would get good at.

Compare the skills the work relies on, the subjects behind it, and the abilities that make it easier to learn.

Core skills

  • Service Orientation
  • Social Perceptiveness
  • Active Listening
  • Speaking
  • Critical Thinking
  • Reading Comprehension

Subjects to know

  • Customer and Personal Service
  • English Language
  • Administrative
  • Education and Training
  • Psychology

Useful strengths

  • Near Vision
  • Arm-Hand Steadiness
  • Problem Sensitivity
  • Oral Comprehension
  • Written Comprehension

Working day

Picture yourself doing it.

These measures show how much of the day involves people, movement, conversation, and hands-on work.

How this job scores on four measures of working conditions, out of five
MeasureOut of 5What that means here
Close to other people4.0 Arm’s length or closer, most of the day
On your feet4.3 Standing or moving for most of it
Talking face to face4.8 Continuous — the job is conversations
Working with your hands4.3 Handling tools, instruments or materials

Preparation

How people prepare for this work.

Employers usually ask for a postsecondary certificate. Other routes may also lead into the field.

  • A certificate or some college 59%
  • High school or less 32%
  • A two-year degree 5%
  • A master's degree 4%

Tools of the work

Technology you may use.

  • Medical software
  • Web platform development software
  • Spreadsheet software
  • Office suite software
  • Electronic mail software
  • Word processing software
  • Calendar and scheduling software

Opportunity near you

See where this work is growing.

Choose a state to compare the size of the field, annual openings, and expected hiring change.

Selected stateTexas
People doing this work
16,290
Job openings each year
2,190
Expected hiring change, 2022–2032
26.3%
Compare every available state
State People doing it Job openings each year Expected change
Texas 16,290 2,190 26.3%
California 15,200 2,000 15.2%
Florida 10,200 1,350 16.3%
New York 9,350 200 26.7%
New Jersey 7,120 930 11.8%
North Carolina 6,830 900 17.6%
Georgia 6,390 850 21.0%
Ohio 5,560 720 4.5%
Illinois 5,150 660 4.9%
Pennsylvania 5,150 660 3.2%
Arizona 4,610 620 26.0%
Wisconsin 3,800 500 13.4%
Virginia 3,540 460 11.0%
Tennessee 3,220 430 19.7%
Louisiana 3,190 410 7.4%
Indiana 3,120 410 8.0%
Washington 3,070 450 16.3%
Alabama 3,030 400 12.2%
Michigan 3,020 390 5.6%
Maryland 2,830 370 9.7%
Oregon 2,630 340 11.4%
Kentucky 2,530 330 7.7%
South Carolina 2,520 330 15.1%
Missouri 2,380 310 12.3%
Oklahoma 2,170 280 5.9%
Utah 2,160 290 29.3%
Connecticut 2,090 270 9.4%
Colorado 1,930 260 17.7%
Minnesota 1,470 190 9.7%
Kansas 1,320 170 6.5%
West Virginia 1,240 160 9.7%
Arkansas 1,160 150 12.6%
Puerto Rico 1,140 150 18.8%
Massachusetts 1,080 140 9.1%
Idaho 1,050 140 20.7%
Mississippi 990 130 5.3%
Nebraska 990 130 10.0%
Iowa 960 130 12.9%
Nevada 940 120 11.9%
New Mexico 930 130 27.4%
New Hampshire 750 100 7.1%
Maine 710 90 1.4%
Rhode Island 700 90 4.5%
Montana 570 80 18.8%
South Dakota 470 60 17.5%
Delaware 420 50 16.7%
North Dakota 290 40 11.5%
Alaska 230 30 9.5%
Vermont 220 30 10.0%
District of Columbia 190 20 —
Wyoming 160 20 14.3%
Virgin Islands 20 0 −33.3%

Career to college

Build a path toward this work.

Start with a related major, then compare colleges where students complete that field.

CareerPhlebotomists
Most direct field Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science/Research and Allied Professions

Where to study

Colleges with strong activity in these fields.

Start with program size, admission, and likely cost. Open a college for the full picture.

WI

University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee

Degrees each year
163
Admit rate
88%
Annual cost after aid
$12,000

Program entryApply after enrollment

Open college OH

University of Cincinnati-Main Campus

Degrees each year
152
Admit rate
88%
Annual cost after aid
$22,000

Program entryDirect to major

Open college OH

Cleveland State University

Degrees each year
142
Admit rate
95%
Annual cost after aid
$15,000

Program entryOpen major

Open college MI

Michigan State University

Degrees each year
68
Admit rate
84%
Annual cost after aid
$17,000

Program entryOpen major

Open college NC

Winston-Salem State University

Degrees each year
54
Admit rate
69%
Annual cost after aid
$15,000

Program entryOpen major

Open college TN

Austin Peay State University

Degrees each year
49
Admit rate
96%
Annual cost after aid
$10,000

Program entryOpen major

Open college KY

University of Kentucky

Degrees each year
46
Admit rate
92%
Annual cost after aid
$16,000

Program entryDirect to major

Open college NY

CUNY Hunter College

Degrees each year
45
Admit rate
54%
Annual cost after aid
$6,000

Program entryApply after enrollment

Open college

Compare every college offering clinical/medical laboratory science/research and allied professions

Keep exploring

Careers with something in common.

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