What Do Drug Testing Technicians Do?
Wondering what the job is really like for drug testing technicians?
You've come to the right place.
Keep reading to find detailed information about what drug testing technicians do, including the type of work they are tasked with on a daily basis, industries in which they work, and the specific skills needed for a successful career.
Drug Testing Technicians Overview & Description
Let's get started with the basics about drug testing technicians by taking a look at a simple description and popular job titles.
Drug Testing Technicians draw blood for tests, transfusions, donations, or research. May explain the procedure to patients and assist in the recovery of patients with adverse reactions.
Popular Job Titles For Drug Testing Technicians
Sample of Reported Job Titles
- Phlebotomists
- Mobile Phlebotomists
- Phlebotomy Technicians
- Laboratory Assistants/Phlebotomists
- Lead Phlebotomists
- Medical Assistants/Phlebotomists
- Laboratory Phlebotomists
- Medical Assistants and Phlebotomist
- Medical Screeners/Phlebotomists
- Specimen Processor Phlebotomists
- Certified Phlebotomists
- Certified Phlebotomy Technicians
Read on for insight into the industries where the highest concentration of jobs for drug testing technicians can be found.
Best Industries for Drug Testing Technicians
Drug Testing Technicians Jobs By Industry
- Medical and Diagnostic Laboratories: 31.1%
- General Medical and Surgical Hospitals: 29.6%
- Other Ambulatory Health Care Services: 17.7%
- Offices of Physicians: 7.9%
- Education and Hospitals (Local Government): 4.1%
- Employment Services: 2.9%
- Other: 6.7%
When it comes to jobs in the United States, the largest single category of drug testing technicians can be found working in the Medical and Diagnostic Laboratories sector. In 2023, about 31.1% of all jobs for drug testing technicians were found there.
Other top industries by percentage include General Medical and Surgical Hospitals (29.6%), Other Ambulatory Health Care Services (17.7%), Offices of Physicians (7.9%), Education and Hospitals (Local Government) (4.1%) and Employment Services (2.9%).
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Certificates & Microcredentials for Drug Testing Technicians
Prepare for the Certified Phlebotomy Technician (CPT) exam with an online Phlebotomy Tech Certificate. No experience required and finish in just 2-3 months.
- Class Type: 100% Online
- Time To Complete: 2-3 months
- Cost: $2,000
What Do Drug Testing Technicians Do on a Daily Basis?
So you have a high-level understanding of what drug testing technicians do and the types of industries in which they work - but what do they really do each day?
A great way to understand the type of work drug testing technicians do is to examine actual job postings and focus on the specific skills that employers are seeking. That will help paint a clearer picture of the tasks that drug testing technicians tackle each day.
Continue reading for a breakdown of specialized skills found in job postings for drug testing technicians, as well as common skills - interpersonal qualities and attributes - that can help you thrive in the workplace.
In-Demand Skills for Today's Drug Testing Technicians
Based on 89,650 job postings
Top 5 Specialized Skills for Drug Testing Technicians
| Skills | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Phlebotomy | 89,170 | 99% |
| Venipuncture | 40,161 | 45% |
| Data Entry | 26,465 | 30% |
| Specimen Collection | 22,555 | 25% |
| Medical Assistance | 20,660 | 23% |
Top 5 Common Skills for Drug Testing Technicians
| Skills | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Customer Service | 40,529 | 45% |
| Communication | 29,738 | 33% |
| Collections | 24,107 | 27% |
| Clerical Works | 19,456 | 22% |
| Packaging And Labeling | 15,962 | 18% |
Based on 89,650 job postings related to drug testing technicians, phlebotomy was the top specialized skill sought by employers, with 99% of all postings looking for that skillset. Skills for venipuncture, data entry, specimen collection, medical assistance and specimen processing were also highly sought.
As for common skills, customer service was the most desired skill found in job postings for drug testing technicians, followed by communication, collections, clerical works, packaging and labeling and good driving record.
| Skill | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Phlebotomy | 89,170 | 99% |
| Venipuncture | 40,161 | 45% |
| Data Entry | 26,465 | 30% |
| Specimen Collection | 22,555 | 25% |
| Medical Assistance | 20,660 | 23% |
| Specimen Processing | 20,447 | 23% |
| Billing | 19,934 | 22% |
| Capillary | 19,464 | 22% |
| Laboratory Testing | 18,204 | 20% |
| Pediatrics | 15,416 | 17% |
| Geriatrics | 14,661 | 16% |
| Medical Laboratory | 10,067 | 11% |
| Statistics | 9,016 | 10% |
| Vital Signs | 8,929 | 10% |
| Specimen Labeling | 8,524 | 10% |
| Data Recording | 6,938 | 8% |
| Blood Donation Drives | 6,558 | 7% |
| Medical Terminology | 6,453 | 7% |
| Electrocardiography | 6,011 | 7% |
| Specimen Preparation | 5,777 | 6% |
| Skill | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Customer Service | 40,529 | 45% |
| Communication | 29,738 | 33% |
| Collections | 24,107 | 27% |
| Clerical Works | 19,456 | 22% |
| Packaging And Labeling | 15,962 | 18% |
| Good Driving Record | 15,831 | 18% |
| Detail Oriented | 11,905 | 13% |
| Leadership | 10,770 | 12% |
| Research | 9,974 | 11% |
| Operations | 9,912 | 11% |
| Computer Literacy | 9,370 | 10% |
| Professionalism | 9,103 | 10% |
| Filing | 8,613 | 10% |
| Management | 8,480 | 9% |
| Quality Control | 7,421 | 8% |
| Quality Assurance | 6,524 | 7% |
| Fine Motor Skills | 6,261 | 7% |
| Interpersonal Communications | 5,534 | 6% |
| Lifting Ability | 5,468 | 6% |
| Teamwork | 5,385 | 6% |
Most In-Demand Jobs for Drug Testing Technicians
Top 5 Posted Job Titles
| Job Title | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Phlebotomists | 182,105 | 69.5% |
| Mobile Phlebotomists | 20,941 | 8% |
| Phlebotomy Technicians | 9,785 | 3.7% |
| Laboratory Assistants/Phlebotomists | 10,038 | 3.8% |
| Lead Phlebotomists | 5,894 | 2.3% |
According to job postings that were published between September 2022 and August 2023, the top job sought by employers was phlebotomists, with 53,527 unique job postings. Mobile phlebotomists were second, with 3,214 postings, followed by phlebotomy technicians, laboratory assistants/phlebotomists and lead phlebotomists.
Expand the section below to see unique job postings for all occupations related to drug testing technicians.
| Job Title | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Phlebotomists | 182,105 | 69.5% |
| Mobile Phlebotomists | 20,941 | 8% |
| Phlebotomy Technicians | 9,785 | 3.7% |
| Laboratory Assistants/Phlebotomists | 10,038 | 3.8% |
| Lead Phlebotomists | 5,894 | 2.3% |
| Medical Assistants/Phlebotomists | 4,384 | 1.7% |
| Laboratory Phlebotomists | 4,000 | 1.5% |
| Medical Assistants and Phlebotomist | 2,642 | 1% |
| Medical Screeners/Phlebotomists | 3,026 | 1.2% |
| Specimen Processor Phlebotomists | 2,272 | 0.9% |
| Certified Phlebotomists | 2,092 | 0.8% |
| Certified Phlebotomy Technicians | 2,354 | 0.9% |
| Phlebotomists/Greeters | 1,220 | 0.5% |
| Inpatient Phlebotomists | 2,273 | 0.9% |
| Travel Phlebotomists | 1,405 | 0.5% |
| Phlebotomy Supervisors | 1,255 | 0.5% |
| Phlebotomists Technician | 1,975 | 0.8% |
| Phlebotomy Managers | 1,293 | 0.5% |
| Phlebotomists/Donor Care Specialists | 1,979 | 0.8% |
| Phlebotomy Instructors | 1,008 | 0.4% |
Additional Links
Ready to dig deeper into career information for drug testing technicians? Visit our other pages focused on salary and education for drug testing technicians.
How much do drug testing technicians make?
Drug Testing Technicians: How do you become one?
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