Career Trends: Phlebotomists

Phlebotomists draw blood for tests, transfusions, research, or blood donations. Some explain their work to patients and provide assistance when patients have adverse reactions after their blood is drawn.

Phlebotomists work mainly in hospitals, medical and diagnostic laboratories, blood donor centers, and doctors’ offices.

Phlebotomists typically enter the occupation with a postsecondary nondegree award from a phlebotomy program. Almost all employers look for phlebotomists who have earned professional certification.

Employment of phlebotomists is projected to grow 25 percent from 2014 to 2024, much faster than the average for all occupations. Hospitals, diagnostic laboratories, blood donor centers, and other locations will need phlebotomists to perform bloodwork.

This occupation supported 101,300 jobs in 2012 and 112,700 jobs in 2014, reflecting an increase of 11.3%. In 2012, this occupation was projected to increase by 26.8% in 2022 to 128,400 jobs. As of 2014, to keep pace with prediction, the expected number of jobs was 106,700, compared with an observed value of 112,700, 5.6% higher than expected. This indicates current employment trends are much better than the 2012 trend within this occupation. In 2014, this occupation was projected to increase by 27.7% in 2024 to 140,800 jobs. Linear extrapolation of the 2012 projection for 2022 results in an expected number of 133,800 jobs for 2024, 5.0% lower than the 2014 projection for 2024. This indicates expectations for future employment trends are better than the 2012 trend within this occupation.