Phlebotomists build service orientation, social perceptiveness and coordination skills that carry over to other work. Below are 25 careers ranked by how closely their skills match, with pay from BLS May 2025. The closest match is Cardiovascular Technologists and Technicians (86%).
Updated October 2026 · Data: O*NET 31.0 and BLS OEWS May 2025 · How we match careers
Sorted by skill match.
| # | Career | Skill match | Median pay | Pay change | Extra education |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Cardiovascular Technologists and Technicians | 86% | $74,310 | +64% | None |
| 2 | Neurodiagnostic Technologists | 82% | $50,290Pay for the broader BLS group “Health Technologists and Technicians, All Other” | Not compared | None |
| 3 | Ophthalmic Medical Technologists | 81% | $50,290Pay for the broader BLS group “Health Technologists and Technicians, All Other” | Not compared | None |
| 4 | Radiologic Technologists and Technicians | 81% | $80,110 | +77% | None |
| 5 | Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses | 80% | $64,400 | +42% | None |
| 6 | Ophthalmic Medical Technicians | 80% | $45,570 | +1% | None |
| 7 | Nursing Assistants | 78% | $42,260 | −7% | None |
| 8 | Veterinary Technologists and Technicians | 78% | $47,380 | +5% | None |
| 9 | Paramedics | 78% | $60,600 | +34% | None |
| 10 | Nuclear Medicine Technologists | 78% | $101,370 | +124% | None |
Compared with Phlebotomists, median $45,230. Skill match is our estimate (0–99) from O*NET 31.0 skills, knowledge, work activities and interests, adjusted for preparation and big pay drops. Pay: BLS OEWS May 2025, national median.
How important each skill is in work as phlebotomists (O*NET importance, scale 1–5).
The gaps that show up most often across your top 10 matches.
Free and low-cost training: use the CareerOneStop training finder below.
A concrete first step, the skills to add, and the hard parts of each job, from O*NET 31.0 education, training and work context data.
86% skill match · $74,310 · +64% pay
Operations Monitoring · Operation and Control · Negotiation
82% skill match · $50,290 (broader BLS group)
Operation and Control · Troubleshooting · Systems Evaluation
81% skill match · $50,290 (broader BLS group)
Management of Personnel Resources · Persuasion · Negotiation
If you want to stay close to what you do now, these roles are the nearest.
The closest matches are Cardiovascular Technologists and Technicians (86% skill match, median $74,310), Neurodiagnostic Technologists (82% skill match, median $50,290) and Ophthalmic Medical Technologists (81% skill match, median $50,290), based on O*NET 31.0 data and BLS May 2025 pay.
Among the 25 matches, 19 pay more than phlebotomists at the median. The biggest increases: Radiation Therapists (+133%, $105,310), Nuclear Medicine Technologists (+124%, $101,370) and Diagnostic Medical Sonographers (+114%, $96,590).
25 of the 25 matches usually need no more education than you have now, based on O*NET Job Zones.
We compare the importance of skills, knowledge, work activities and interests in O*NET 31.0 for your job and every other career, then adjust for extra preparation and big pay drops. The full method is on our Methodology page.