Labs use software to track samples and order tests, and researchers have built experimental robots that find veins with imaging. Drawing blood from a nervous patient, a child or an older adult with hard-to-find veins is still done by a phlebotomist.
The short answer: current evidence does not point to AI replacing phlebotomists. The ILO does not score phlebotomists separately; the closest groups are medical and pathology laboratory technicians (minimal exposure, 0.31) and personal care workers in health services (not exposed, 0.15). The US Bureau of Labor Statistics projects 7 percent growth from 2025 to 2035, with about 18,000 openings a year. Projections are estimates, not guarantees.
How exposed phlebotomists are
The International Labour Organization scores occupations' tasks from 0 (cannot be automated with generative AI) to 1 (could be done without a human operator), and groups them into gradients from 1 to 4, with 4 the most exposed; below them sit minimal exposure and not exposed (ILO Working Paper 140, 2025).
| Occupation (ISCO-08) | ILO category | Mean task score (0 to 1) |
|---|---|---|
| Medical and Pathology Laboratory Technicians | Minimal exposure | 0.31 |
| Personal Care Workers in Health Services Not Elsewhere Classified | Not exposed | 0.15 |
The ILO scores groups of occupations, so these are the closest groups to phlebotomy, not a score for the job title itself.
What the BLS projects
| Occupation | Projected change 2025 to 2035 | Openings a year |
|---|---|---|
| Phlebotomists | Grow 7% | About 18,000 |
The BLS links growth to a growing and aging population that needs more medical care, including blood tests, and says blood analysis remains an essential part of medical care. Most openings come from replacing workers who retire or move to other jobs. Its outlook does not mention AI.
Where AI is helping
- Electronic orders, labels and sample tracking.
- Scheduling patients and routing samples to the lab.
- Vein-finding devices that show veins under the skin.
- Answering routine patient questions before a draw.
What stays with phlebotomists
- The draw: finding a vein and taking blood safely, often on the first try.
- Patients: calming fear, handling fainting and working with children and older adults.
- Accuracy: confirming identity and labeling samples so results match the right person.
- Checking AI help: automated instructions and summaries can be confidently wrong, which NIST calls confabulation (NIST AI 600-1). See checking AI output.
How the job is changing
Paperwork and tracking keep moving to software, while the hands-on part of the job stays with people. Robotic blood draws remain experimental. This page is general information, not medical advice.
See also will AI replace lab technicians?, will AI replace medical assistants? and will AI replace nurses?
Pay and how to get in
The US Bureau of Labor Statistics puts the median annual pay for phlebotomists at $45,230 in May 2025, against $50,980 for all workers. The typical education needed to enter is: postsecondary nondegree award. See how this job compares in AI exposure by pay and AI exposure by education level.
Questions and answers
Will AI replace phlebotomists?
Not on current evidence. The closest ILO groups show minimal or no exposure, and the BLS projects 7 percent growth from 2025 to 2035.
Can a robot draw blood?
Experimental vein-finding robots exist, but blood draws are still done by people in everyday care.
How many phlebotomist openings are expected?
The BLS projects about 18,000 openings a year, on average, over the decade.
What phlebotomy work stays human?
The draw itself, caring for patients, correct identification and labeling, and checking automated output.