Phlebotomist

O*NET: Phlebotomists·31-9097.00

The Verdict:Blood collection demands hands directly accessing patients' veins, arteries, and capillaries, adapting to unique anatomy, skin types, and movement in real time. No robotic system replicates this dexterity or patient interaction. AI streamlines tracking and simple tests, but core hands-on work stays human. Healthcare expansion ensures the role's endurance over the next decade.

Resilience Score

/100

Highly Resilient

Score tiers

Highly Resilient81–100

Resilient61–80

Moderate Risk41–60

High Risk21–40

Critical Risk0–20

How is this scored?

Task Resilience

How much of this role's daily work remains beyond AI and robotic automation.

30% of score

Physical Presence

The degree to which this job needs a human present — hands-on, in the field, or in the room.

20% of score

Human Necessity

How important the unique human edge is — for trust, accountability, or judgment.

15% of score

Regulatory Shield

How strong the legal requirement is for a human in this job (by law, licensing, or credentials).

13% of score

Technological Maturity

How far AI remains from performing this role's core functions.

10% of score

Displacement Evidence

The volume of jobs in this field being eliminated by AI or automation right now.

12% of score

Score last updated: February 2026Full methodology

Avg Salary

Median annual wage from the Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2024 release.

$44k

Job Growth (10yr)

Projected change in total number of jobs (not salary) from 2024–2034. Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics Employment Projections.

+5.6%

AI Exposure

Percentage of this role's analyzed tasks that AI can handle autonomously or nearly so. 2 of 23 tasks are classified as AI-exposed.

Low exposure

Task Analysis

This role's core work is hard to automate.
15 of 23 tasks require human judgment, presence, or trust. The 26% that are AI-leverage offer an edge — professionals who learn these tools will outperform those who don't.

2exposed

6AI leverage

15human-essential

View all 23 tasks

AI Can Handle This2 tasks

Tasks AI can do autonomously or nearly so

Match laboratory requisition forms to specimen tubes.

Enter patient, specimen, insurance, or billing information into computer.

AI Leverage6 tasks

Master these tools — humans who do outperform those who don't

Document route of specimens from collection to laboratory analysis and diagnosis.

Calibrate or maintain machines, such as those used for plasma collection.

Conduct hemoglobin tests to ensure donor iron levels are normal.

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.

Provide sample analysis results to physicians to assist diagnosis.

Human Advantage15 tasks

Tasks requiring trust, presence, or novel judgment

Collect fluid or tissue samples, using appropriate collection procedures.

Dispose of blood or other biohazard fluids or tissue, in accordance with applicable laws, standards, or policies.

Dispose of contaminated sharps, in accordance with applicable laws, standards, and policies.

Draw blood from arteries, using arterial collection techniques.

Draw blood from capillaries by dermal puncture, such as heel or finger stick methods.

Draw blood from veins by vacuum tube, syringe, or butterfly venipuncture methods.

Explain fluid or tissue collection procedures to patients.

Organize or clean blood-drawing trays, ensuring that all instruments are sterile and all needles, syringes, or related items are of first-time use.

Administer subcutaneous or intramuscular injects, in accordance with licensing restrictions.

Collect specimens at specific time intervals for tests, such as those assessing therapeutic drug levels.

Determine donor suitability, according to interview results, vital signs, and medical history.

Monitor blood or plasma donors during and after procedures to ensure health, safety, and comfort.

Serve refreshments to donors to ensure absorption of sugar into their systems.

Train other medical personnel in phlebotomy or laboratory techniques.

Transport specimens or fluid samples from collection sites to laboratories.

Resilience Landscape

Phlebotomist lands in Stable, Lower Pay

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