Healthcare Support
Phlebotomists
Also called: Lab Liaison Technician, Mobile Examiner, Patient Service Technician (PST), Phlebotomist Lab Assistant (Phlebotomist Laboratory Assistant)
US median pay
$45,230
per year, 2025
Job growth 2025–35
+6.8%
faster than average
Openings a year (US)
18,000
143,900 employed
Typical entry education
Postsecondary nondegree award
Preparation 3/5 · Medium preparation
What this job is
Draw blood for tests, transfusions, donations, or research. May explain the procedure to patients and assist in the recovery of patients with adverse reactions.
What they do day to day
- Confirm the identities of patients by verifying their personal information.
- Match laboratory requisition forms to specimen tubes.
- Dispose of contaminated sharps, in accordance with applicable laws, standards, and policies.
- 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.
- Draw blood from veins by vacuum tube, syringe, or butterfly venipuncture methods.
- Organize or clean blood-drawing trays, ensuring that all instruments are sterile and all needles, syringes, or related items are of first-time use.
- Enter patient, specimen, insurance, or billing information into computer.
- Conduct standards tests, such as blood alcohol, blood culture, oral glucose tolerance, glucose screening, blood smears, or peak and trough drug levels tests.
- Process blood or other fluid samples for further analysis by other medical professionals.
Skills and knowledge that matter most
Skills
- Service Orientation3.6/5
- Social Perceptiveness3.5/5
- Instructing3.1/5
- Coordination3.1/5
- Judgment and Decision Making3.0/5
- Complex Problem Solving3.0/5
- Time Management2.9/5
- Quality Control Analysis2.6/5
Knowledge
- Customer and Personal Service4.4/5
- English Language4.2/5
- Administrative3.5/5
- Education and Training3.4/5
- Computers and Electronics3.4/5
- Public Safety and Security3.1/5
Importance rated by people working in the job (1 = not important, 5 = extremely important).
Education and preparation
Preparation level 3 of 5 — Medium preparation. Usually vocational training, an associate's degree or an apprenticeship.
Typical entry education (BLS): Postsecondary nondegree award.
Who this job suits
Mostly Realistic
Hands-on work with tools, machines, plants or animals
Conventional
Organising data, details and procedures
Investigative
Ideas, research and solving problems
Based on the Holland (RIASEC) interest profile for this occupation.