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.
Also called: Lab Liaison Technician · Mobile Examiner · Patient Service Technician (PST) · Phlebotomist · Phlebotomy Technician · Registered Phlebotomist
Median pay (national)
$43,660
$34,860–$57,750 (10th–90th)
Employed (US)
138,880
BLS OEWS, May 2024
Outlook 2024–34
+5.6%
~18,400 openings/yr
Typical entry
Postsecondary nondegree award
What the numbers say
Refit analysis ·Pay for phlebotomists shows a relatively narrow range: the top 10% earn $57,750 versus $34,860 at the bottom 10% — 1.7x. The median of $43,660 leaves roughly 32% of headroom to the 90th percentile, which is where seniority, specialization, and the skills below tend to pay off.
Refit analysis ·Employment is projected to change +5.6% from 2024 to 2034 — faster than the 3% all-occupation average. Even so, BLS projects about 18,400 openings a year, mostly to replace workers who retire or change careers.
Refit analysis ·Where you work moves the number a lot. Across the 52 states with released data, California pays the most for this role (median $55,460, +27% vs the national median), while Puerto Rico sits lowest at $25,950 — a 114% spread for the same job title.
Refit analysis ·O*NET rates Active Listening, Speaking, Critical Thinking as the highest-importance skills here — so a resume aimed at this role should lead with evidence of those, not a generic skills list. On the tools side, O*NET flags Microsoft Office software as in-demand technologies for this role.
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Top skills employers ask for
Ranked by O*NET importance for this occupation.
- Active Listening
- Speaking
- Critical Thinking
- Reading Comprehension
- Writing
- Monitoring
- Active Learning
- Learning Strategies
- Science
- Mathematics
What they actually do
Core O*NET tasks for this role.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
Tools & technology
- Microsoft Office software
- JavaScript
- MEDITECH software
- Donor management system software
- Electronic medical record EMR software
- Iatric Systems MobiLab
- Laboratory information system LIS
- Medical procedure coding software
- MEDITECH Blood Bank
- MEDITECH Laboratory and Microbiology
- Scheduling software
- Microsoft Excel
- Microsoft Outlook
- Microsoft Word
Knowledge areas
- Customer and Personal Service
- English Language
- Administrative
- Education and Training
- Psychology
- Computers and Electronics
- Medicine and Dentistry
- Administration and Management