Phlebotomists
Machines can already do 29% of this job's tasks. By 2035 that rises to 66%. The job changes before it disappears.
Share of the work machines can do
Worldwide baseline, 2026 to 2050
Phlebotomists in 2026: the short answer
- Today: machines can do 29% of this job's tasks, and AI use is already seen in 0% of them.
- Forecast: machines can do half of its tasks by 2032, and 66% by 2035, according to the 311 Strategic Intelligence Unit.
- Size: 143,540 people do this job in the United States, on a median pay of $45,230 a year.
- Contact with people: it scores 85% for contact with people.
- Also called: Lab Liaison Technician, Mobile Examiner, Patient Service Technician (PST), Phlebotomist Lab Assistant (Phlebotomist Laboratory Assistant).
Updated by the 311 Strategic Intelligence Unit. These are worldwide baseline figures; the Workforce Starburst shows them for your country. Go deeper: How ready am I? or an executive briefing.
How the work changes, task by task
The tasks that take up most of the day, with the share of each that machines can do in 2026 (dark) and 2035 (pink). Worldwide baseline.
| Task | Share of the day | Machines can do | 2026 to 2035 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Draw blood from veins by vacuum tube, syringe, or butterfly venipuncture methods | 29% | 30% to 75% | |
| Match laboratory requisition forms to specimen tubes | 8% | 20% to 60% | |
| Enter patient, specimen, insurance, or billing information into computer | 7% | 70% to 95% | |
| Process blood or other fluid samples for further analysis by other medical professionals | 7% | 20% to 60% | |
| Confirm the identities of patients by verifying their personal information | 6% | 62% to 90% | |
| Explain fluid or tissue collection procedures to patients | 5% | 40% to 68% | |
| Organize or clean blood-drawing trays, ensuring that all instruments are sterile and all needles, syringes, or related items are of first-time use | 4% | 20% to 60% | |
| Conduct standards tests, such as blood alcohol, blood culture, oral glucose tolerance, glucose screening, blood smears, or peak and trough drug levels tests | 4% | 3% to 30% |
The skills this job runs on
The skills phlebotomists use most, most used first.
Safer jobs nearby
Jobs with a similar skill shape where machines can do less of the work by 2035.
- Magnetic Resonance Imaging Technologists44% of tasks by 2035 · US median $95,480
- Medical Assistants63% of tasks by 2035 · US median $45,690
- Cardiovascular Technologists and Technicians44% of tasks by 2035 · US median $74,310
- Air Traffic Controllers62% of tasks by 2035 · US median $148,080
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Questions
When will machines do half of the tasks of Phlebotomists?
Machines can do half of its tasks by 2032. That is the worldwide baseline from the 311 Workforce Starburst, before adjusting for country.
Will AI take the job of phlebotomists?
Machines can do 29% of the tasks of phlebotomists today and 66% by 2035. The job changes before it disappears: the routine tasks move first.
Sources and citing
Tasks and their share of the day: O*NET 31.0, occupation 31-9097.00 (US Department of Labor, CC BY 4.0). Pay and jobs: US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. AI use today: Anthropic Economic Index (CC BY). Scoring and forecast: the 311 Strategic Intelligence Unit; after 2035 the figures extend each trend, with lower confidence. Foresight, not advice.
Cite as: 311 Institute (2026). Phlebotomists: the outlook to 2050. 311 Workforce Starburst. https://www.311institute.com/jobs/phlebotomists/