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
- Laboratory Assistants/Phlebotomists
- Phlebotomy Technicians
- Laboratory Phlebotomists
- Lead Phlebotomists
- Certified Phlebotomists
- Medical Collectors
- Phlebotomists/Greeters
- Phlebotomists Site Lead
- Travel Phlebotomists
- Inpatient Phlebotomists
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: 33.9%
- General Medical and Surgical Hospitals: 28%
- Other Ambulatory Health Care Services: 15.9%
- Offices of Physicians: 7.2%
- Education and Hospitals (Local Government): 4.1%
- Employment Services: 4%
- Other: 6.9%
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 2022, about 33.9% of all jobs for drug testing technicians were found there.
Other top industries by percentage include General Medical and Surgical Hospitals (28%), Other Ambulatory Health Care Services (15.9%), Offices of Physicians (7.2%), Education and Hospitals (Local Government) (4.1%) and Employment Services (4%).
Top Online College For Working Adults
Franklin University is a top choice for adults who need to balance school with busy lives. Founded in 1902 in Columbus, Ohio, Franklin's main focus has been serving adult students and tailoring education to fit their needs. Nonprofit and accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (hlcommission.org/800.621.7440), Franklin offers more than 50 affordable bachelor's, master's, and doctoral programs — all available 100% online.
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 common skills - interpersonal qualities and attributes - that can help you thrive in the workplace.
In-Demand Skills for Today's Drug Testing Technicians
Top 5 Common Skills for Drug Testing Technicians
| Skills | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Customer Service | 43,727 | 47% |
| Communications | 31,230 | 34% |
| Collections | 24,703 | 27% |
| Clerical Works | 20,084 | 22% |
| Packaging And Labeling | 15,485 | 17% |
For common skills, customer service was the most desired skill found in job postings for drug testing technicians, followed by communications, collections, clerical works, packaging and labeling and good driving record.
| Skill | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Customer Service | 43,727 | 47% |
| Communications | 31,230 | 34% |
| Collections | 24,703 | 27% |
| Clerical Works | 20,084 | 22% |
| Packaging And Labeling | 15,485 | 17% |
| Good Driving Record | 15,340 | 17% |
| Leadership | 12,499 | 14% |
| Research | 10,440 | 11% |
| Computer Literacy | 10,334 | 11% |
| Detail Oriented | 9,785 | 11% |
| Professionalism | 9,623 | 10% |
| Management | 8,126 | 9% |
| Quality Assurance | 7,453 | 8% |
| Quality Control | 7,368 | 8% |
| Filing | 7,351 | 8% |
| Interpersonal Communications | 7,158 | 8% |
| Coordinating | 6,659 | 7% |
| Fine Motor Skills | 5,796 | 6% |
| Operations | 5,223 | 6% |
| Verbal Communication Skills | 5,128 | 6% |
Most In-Demand Jobs for Drug Testing Technicians
Top 5 Posted Job Titles
| Job Title | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Phlebotomists | 260,600 | 76.5% |
| Mobile Phlebotomists | 18,843 | 5.5% |
| Laboratory Assistants/Phlebotomists | 11,607 | 3.4% |
| Phlebotomy Technicians | 11,536 | 3.4% |
| Laboratory Phlebotomists | 5,853 | 1.7% |
According to job postings that were published between September 2021 and August 2022, the top job sought by employers was phlebotomists, with 62,416 unique job postings. Mobile phlebotomists were second, with 3,170 postings, followed by laboratory assistants/phlebotomists, phlebotomy technicians and laboratory 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 | 260,600 | 76.5% |
| Mobile Phlebotomists | 18,843 | 5.5% |
| Laboratory Assistants/Phlebotomists | 11,607 | 3.4% |
| Phlebotomy Technicians | 11,536 | 3.4% |
| Laboratory Phlebotomists | 5,853 | 1.7% |
| Lead Phlebotomists | 4,238 | 1.2% |
| Certified Phlebotomists | 3,603 | 1.1% |
| Medical Collectors | 3,102 | 0.9% |
| Phlebotomists/Greeters | 1,900 | 0.6% |
| Phlebotomists Site Lead | 2,252 | 0.7% |
| Travel Phlebotomists | 1,597 | 0.5% |
| Inpatient Phlebotomists | 2,296 | 0.7% |
| Phlebotomy Supervisors | 1,506 | 0.4% |
| Certified Phlebotomy Technicians | 1,899 | 0.6% |
| Drug Testing Technicians | 1,930 | 0.6% |
| Medical Assistants/Phlebotomists | 1,520 | 0.4% |
| Collections Specialists | 1,865 | 0.5% |
| PST Specialists | 2,038 | 0.6% |
| Phlebotomy Managers | 1,121 | 0.3% |
| Outreach Phlebotomists | 1,178 | 0.3% |
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?
All Occupations
The Best Adult Colleges and Careers Guide has compiled data for dozens of in-demand jobs. Explore our full catalog of occupation data by visiting the link below.