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Phlebotomist

Overview and Key Facts

medical technologist doing a blood draw
Education
Education
Post high school credential
Median Pay
Median Pay
$43,660
Job Growth
Job Growth
5.60%
(Above US Average)
Jobs in 2034
Jobs in 2034
147,500

What Do They Do?

A phlebotomist could...

 
blood samples ready for laboratory
Collect and organize blood samples to be sent to a laboratory for analysis.
drawing blood from a patient
Draw blood for donation or laboratory testing.
laboratory vials with blood samples
Verify patient information is labeled correctly on blood vials.
Newborn foot getting blood work done
Perform newborn blood work in a hospital.
 
blood samples ready for laboratory drawing blood from a patient laboratory vials with blood samples Newborn foot getting blood work done

Overview Listen to this section

If you like working with patients while also being up and mobile during the work-day, a career in Phlebotomy may be for you! A phlebotomist works with patients to collect and manage blood samples. During the day you may help calm patients' nerves, collect blood samples, or dispose of biohazardous material — all while working in a fast-growing career field!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A3c4BlLri_U

Do You Have the Skills and Characteristics of a Phlebotomist?


  1. Service Orientation: ?
  2. Social Perceptiveness: ?
  3. Active Listening: ?
  4. Speaking: ?
  5. Critical Thinking: ?
More skills...

Core Tasks

Think about if you'd like the typical tasks a Phlebotomist might do:
  • 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.
  • Conduct standards tests, such as blood alcohol, blood culture, oral glucose tolerance, glucose screening, blood smears, or peak and trough drug levels tests.
  • Dispose of blood or other biohazard fluids or tissue, in accordance with applicable laws, standards, or policies.
  • Collect specimens at specific time intervals for tests, such as those assessing therapeutic drug levels.
  • Process blood or other fluid samples for further analysis by other medical professionals.
  • Provide sample analysis results to physicians to assist diagnosis.
  • Enter patient, specimen, insurance, or billing information into computer.
  • Document route of specimens from collection to laboratory analysis and diagnosis.
  • Draw blood from capillaries by dermal puncture, such as heel or finger stick methods.
  • Conduct hemoglobin tests to ensure donor iron levels are normal.
  • Transport specimens or fluid samples from collection sites to laboratories.
  • Collect fluid or tissue samples, using appropriate collection procedures.
  • Explain fluid or tissue collection procedures to patients.
  • Train other medical personnel in phlebotomy or laboratory techniques.

Salary & Job Openings

Median Salary (Yearly Pay)

Tap or scroll over map to see median salaries for each state

Future Jobs

Blast-Off:

How Will Phlebotomist Jobs Grow by 2034?
Projected % Growth
Rapid growth
(10% or higher)
Much faster than average
(7% - 10%)
Faster than average
(5% - 7%)
About as fast as average
(3% - 5%)
Slower than average
(0% - 3%)
Decreasing
Average of all U.S. jobs (5.3%)
Phlebotomist jobs (5.60%)
Source: https://www.bls.gov/emp/tables/occupational-projections-and-characteristics.htm

Steps to Get There: Becoming a Phlebotomist

High School Subjects to Study

Aim to study the yellow-shaded subjects.
Math
Algebra 1
Geometry
Algebra 2
Pre-Calculus
Calculus
Statistics
Science
Biology
Chemistry
Physics
Environmental Science
Physiology
Bio-Medical / Biotech
IT &
Engineering
Computer Science
Applied Technology
Drafting & CAD Training
Core
English
Foreign Language
Business
Psychology / Sociology

Career Pathway Listen to this section

Some employers hire candidates with a high school diploma and train them on the job. Whether through formal education or employer-provided training, the training that all phlebotomists receive includes instruction on how to identify, label, and track blood samples.

Education- Typical Degree Needed After High School Listen to this section

Degree
Post
high school credential
AA
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctoral or Professional Degree

Typical degree for an entry-level position: Post high school credential ? Types of Degrees and Credentials

Phlebotomists typically enter the occupation with a postsecondary nondegree award from a phlebotomy program. These programs are available from community colleges, vocational schools, or technical schools and usually take less than 1 year to complete. They involve instruction in anatomy, physiology, and medical terminology and laboratory work and lead to a certificate.

The National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Sciences (NAACLS) and the American Society for Clinical Pathology (ASCP) are among the organizations that accredit phlebotomy education programs.

Companies That Hire Phlebotomists

  • Labcorp
  • Quest Diagnostics Inc
  • Biomat USA, Inc.
  • Actalent
  • BioLife Plasma Services
  • UnitedHealth Group
  • Cleveland Clinic

Try it Out with an Activity or Project

STEM Activities

STEM activities are fun hands-on explorations that usually take from 10 minutes to one hour and use readily available household or classroom materials while introducing you to STEM concepts common in this career.

Science Project Ideas

Project Ideas are in-depth STEM explorations that have a strong focus on controlling variables, taking accurate measurements, and analyzing data suitable for investigating the scientific method or the engineering design process.

On the Job

Role Models

"At any given movement you may be in labor and delivery. A happy place when a baby is born and things are, you know, going great. Sometimes you're in an intensive care unit. Sometimes you have to be at a trauma. So, you have to continually communicate with nurses, doctors, patients, sometimes family members. I love to serve people. That's a big thing for a lot of our phlebotomists." - Nacho Trujillo, Phlebotomist, Nebraska Medicine
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5f-1Dp_0ViE
"I would advise a high school student to look at the sciences, biology, chemistry, to make sure that that is part of their curriculum. So that they understand the body structure. I would also make sure that they sit back and think, “Am I a people person? Because I am going to be with people every single day. And you really got to love taking care of people and being part of the team that gets them better." - Julie Yount, Phlebotomist, Riverside Methodist Hospital
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0ARLjSRP8mw
"So you have to a people person to do this job. This job is important to doctors trying to find if there is anything wrong with the patient. Some illnesses do only go detected by blood." - Yashira, Phlebotomist, Children's Hospital
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NlGrALgtmr8

Nature of the Work

Phlebotomists' main duty is to draw blood. The blood is used for different kinds of medical laboratory testing or for procedures. This could include transfusions. A transfusion is when donated blood is provided to an individual through a narrow tube placed in your vein. In donation centers or locations that have blood drives, phlebotomists draw blood from donors. Because all blood looks the same, phlebotomists must carefully identify and label the blood they have collected. This information is then entered into a database.

Phlebotomists help a patient from the moment they walk into the laboratory. They may need to help put the patient at ease before beginning. They will verify the individual and ensure the blood vials are labeled correctly for the patient. They must ensure all equipment is properly sanitized and all proper steps are taken while drawing blood or performing transfusions. If a patient has a bad reaction after a blood draw or transfusion, the phlebotomist will assist them. After the blood draw, they will maintain, track and store the blood samples to be delivered to a testing lab or blood donation bank.

In addition to drawing blood, phlebotomists also may collect urine or other samples. They instruct patients on procedures for proper collection. After collection, they ensure that the sample is acceptable and clearly labeled in its container.

Phlebotomists must keep their work area and instruments clean and sanitary to avoid causing infections or other complications. Some phlebotomists also ship or transport blood or other samples to different locations.

Work Environment

Phlebotomists who collect blood donations sometimes travel to different offices or sites in order to set up mobile donation centers. Some phlebotomists travel to long-term care centers or patients' homes.

Phlebotomists may be required to stand for long periods of time.

Phlebotomists must be careful when handling blood, needles, and other medical supplies. Injuries may occur if they are not careful with medical equipment.

Most phlebotomists work full time. Phlebotomists who work in hospitals and labs may need to work nights, weekends, and holidays.

More Information

Ask Questions

Do you have a specific question about a career as a Phlebotomist that isn't answered on this page? Post your question on the Science Buddies Ask an Expert Forum.

Additional Resources

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