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What Do Phlebotomist Do?
Occupation Description Draw blood for tests, transfusions, donations, or research. May explain the procedure to patients and assist in the recovery of patients with adverse reactions.
Life As a Phlebotomist
- Administer subcutaneous or intramuscular injects, in accordance with licensing restrictions.
- Process blood or other fluid samples for further analysis by other medical professionals.
- Collect specimens at specific time intervals for tests, such as those assessing therapeutic drug levels.
- Match laboratory requisition forms to specimen tubes.
- Serve refreshments to donors to ensure absorption of sugar into their systems.
- Train other medical personnel in phlebotomy or laboratory techniques.
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Skills Needed to be a Phlebotomist
Phlebotomists state the following job skills are important in their day-to-day work.
Service Orientation: Actively looking for ways to help people.
Social Perceptiveness: Being aware of others’ reactions and understanding why they react as they do.
Active Listening: Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
Speaking: Talking to others to convey information effectively.
Critical Thinking: Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
Reading Comprehension: Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.
Types of Phlebotomist Jobs
- Phlebotomy Technician
- Long Term Care Phlebotomist
- Phlebotomy Director
- Phlebotomy Supervisor
- Collections Technician
Job Demand for Phlebotomists
There were about 122,700 jobs for Phlebotomist in 2016 (in the United States). New jobs are being produced at a rate of 24.5% which is above the national average. The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts 30,100 new jobs for Phlebotomist by 2026. There will be an estimated 16,900 positions for Phlebotomist per year.
The states with the most job growth for Phlebotomist are Utah, Arizona, and Colorado. Watch out if you plan on working in Rhode Island, Connecticut, or Mississippi. These states have the worst job growth for this type of profession.
Do Phlebotomists Make A Lot Of Money?
Phlebotomists make between $25,020 and $49,060 a year.
Phlebotomists who work in California, District of Columbia, or New York, make the highest salaries.
Below is a list of the median annual salaries for Phlebotomists in different U.S. states.
| State | Annual Mean Salary |
|---|---|
| Alabama | $31,420 |
| Alaska | $42,290 |
| Arizona | $32,810 |
| Arkansas | $28,690 |
| California | $45,030 |
| Colorado | $35,800 |
| Connecticut | $39,310 |
| Delaware | $39,120 |
| District of Columbia | $41,600 |
| Florida | $32,280 |
| Georgia | $32,190 |
| Idaho | $31,920 |
| Illinois | $36,090 |
| Indiana | $34,290 |
| Iowa | $30,760 |
| Kansas | $32,890 |
| Kentucky | $31,130 |
| Louisiana | $29,970 |
| Maine | $31,190 |
| Maryland | $39,760 |
| Massachusetts | $39,970 |
| Michigan | $32,450 |
| Minnesota | $38,630 |
| Mississippi | $29,460 |
| Missouri | $31,320 |
| Montana | $32,240 |
| Nebraska | $32,000 |
| Nevada | $38,320 |
| New Hampshire | $39,870 |
| New Jersey | $38,090 |
| New Mexico | $29,700 |
| New York | $40,630 |
| North Carolina | $32,070 |
| North Dakota | $33,340 |
| Ohio | $34,230 |
| Oklahoma | $31,570 |
| Oregon | $39,150 |
| Pennsylvania | $34,370 |
| Rhode Island | $39,930 |
| South Carolina | $31,180 |
| South Dakota | $27,670 |
| Tennessee | $30,090 |
| Texas | $33,000 |
| Utah | $31,290 |
| Vermont | $35,740 |
| Virginia | $35,960 |
| Washington | $39,410 |
| West Virginia | $30,200 |
| Wisconsin | $35,530 |
| Wyoming | $32,160 |
Tools & Technologies Used by Phlebotomists
Below is a list of the types of tools and technologies that Phlebotomists may use on a daily basis:
- Microsoft Excel
- Microsoft Word
- Microsoft Office
- JavaScript
- Microsoft Outlook
- MEDITECH software
- Scheduling software
- Medical procedure coding software
- Electronic medical record EMR software
- Laboratory information system LIS
- Iatric Systems MobiLab
Becoming a Phlebotomist
Learn what Phlebotomist education requirements there are.
How Long Does it Take to Become a Phlebotomist?
Where Phlebotomists Work
The table below shows the approximate number of Phlebotomists employed by various industries.
References:
Image Credit: Staff Sgt. Jerilyn Quintanilla via U.S. Air Force photo
More about our data sources and methodologies.