Match the patient to the order
Verify who the patient is from their personal details, then pair the lab order with matching collection tubes.
Career profile
Phlebotomist
Phlebotomists draw blood and keep every sample tied to the person it came from.
Phlebotomy pairs careful handwork with short one-on-one talks. Sometimes you talk a nervous patient through the draw, then focus hard on needle and tubes.
A day in the life
Explain, then draw the blood
First tell the patient what to expect, then use a needle to draw blood into the collection tubes.
Label and log each specimen
Confirm labels, log specimens in the lab computer, and at some sites, prep them for storage or shipping.
Clear and reset the tray
Drop used needles in the sharps container and clean the tray before you set out new supplies.
Quick facts
Usually a certificate
United States
$45,230/year
United States · May 2025
7% projected growth
United States · 2025–2035
Quick orientation
Preparation, pay & outlook
Preparation
Usually a certificatePhlebotomy programs usually take under a year; some employers train new hires.
Pay
$45,230/yearNational median, equivalent to $21.75 an hour.
Outlook
7% projected growthAbout 18,000 openings yearly, including replacements.
Fit, tradeoffs & changing tools
You might like this if…
- You like precise handwork.
- You can keep checking small details while talking with someone.
- You are comfortable meeting patients throughout the day.
Things to weigh
- Long periods on your feet are common. Hospital and laboratory shifts may include nights or holidays.
- Blood and used needles are part of the work; careful disposal is a repeated responsibility.
Where AI may help
A robotic device called Aletta can locate a vein and carry out a blood draw. The Food and Drug Administration authorized it in 2026 for adults in outpatient settings, with oversight by a supervisor trained in phlebotomy.
What people still lead
With this device, a trained phlebotomist starts the session, checks the collection tubes, and stays available to respond to problems.
What we can’t predict yet
How widely clinics adopt robotic collection—and how much a shift moves from drawing blood to overseeing equipment—remains uncertain.
Pay in context
Earnings
Workplace type affects the pay picture.
The national range
The median was $45,230 a year, or $21.75 an hour. The 10th and 90th percentiles were $35,780 and $58,780. These describe the wage distribution, not starting and experienced pay.
Pay by workplace
Annual medians were $48,030 in outpatient care centers, $46,670 in medical and diagnostic laboratories, $44,500 in physicians' offices, and $44,220 in hospitals.
Openings include replacement hiring
Employment is projected to grow 7%, with about 18,000 openings annually. Many replace people who leave the occupation or workforce.
Getting started
Complete a qualifying phlebotomy program
- What the route involves
- Finish high school or its equivalent, then complete a phlebotomy program accredited by the National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Sciences.
- What it can lead to
- Completion within the past five years meets one eligibility route for the American Society for Clinical Pathology's Phlebotomy Technician certification examination. You must also pass the exam to earn that certification.
Enter through an employer that trains
- What the route involves
- Some employers hire high-school graduates and teach blood collection and sample tracking on the job.
- What it can lead to
- This provides an employment-based route into phlebotomy.
- What to check
- Availability depends on the employer and state requirements.
Check state requirements before choosing training. Some employers prefer professional certification.
After entry
Career paths
This starts where the entry routes leave off: early work, growing capability, and advancement or specialization.
Get established
Learn your workplace's specimen labels, computer system, and sample handoffs until you can follow a collection through to processing.
Handle competing requests
Build skill in prioritizing collections and resolving specimen problems when several requests arrive together.
Move toward a lead role
With experience, pursue lead positions that coordinate daily collection and processing while continuing hands-on phlebotomy.
Where you can work
Hospital laboratories
Some roles combine blood collection with specimen processing and shipping. You coordinate requests from physicians and other care staff, so priorities can shift as requests arrive.
- Indoors
- Lab
- Physical demands
- Safety-sensitive
Mobile blood drives
Your work location changes as the collection team travels. Alongside drawing blood, you may take donor health histories and help first-time donors feel at ease.
- Indoors
- Travel
- Safety-sensitive
Try it
See whether the job clicks before you commit to the path.
Make three fictional patient cards and matching paper sample labels, with one deliberate mismatch. Ask a friend to play a nervous patient while you check the details. Notice whether you can stay warm in conversation without losing your place.
Stay safe: Use invented information and paper only; do not practice blood collection or use needles.
Sources
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Phlebotomists — Occupational Outlook Handbook. Accessed 2026-10-03.
- O*NET OnLine / U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. National Wages: 31-9097.00 — Phlebotomists. Accessed 2026-10-03.
- O*NET OnLine. 31-9097.00 — Phlebotomists. Accessed 2026-10-03.
- American Society for Clinical Pathology Board of Certification. Phlebotomy Technician — PBT. Accessed 2026-10-03.
- Mayo Clinic. Lab Service Tech — Phlebotomist, Job 391054. Accessed 2026-10-03.
- Mayo Clinic. Lead — Lab Support Service Tech, Job 387985. Accessed 2026-10-03.
- American Red Cross. Red Cross Phlebotomists Recognition Week spotlights. Accessed 2026-10-03.
- U.S. Food and Drug Administration. FDA Authorizes First-Of-Its-Kind Robotic Blood Draw Device. Accessed 2026-10-03.