Phlebotomists take blood from patients, to be used for research, tests, donations, or transfusions. They provide care and attention to the patient, and help those who find it difficult to give blood.
They work mainly in hospitals, medical practices, blood donor centers, laboratories, and doctors’ offices. Almost all offices require a phlebotomists to have completed at least a professional certification.
As well as the hands on work of a phlebotomist, there are administration duties too. Maintaining medical records, arranging appointments, and making any relevant notes are all part of their day-to-day duties.
If you’re reading this article, there’s a high chance that you’re interested in becoming a phlebotomist. You might also want to check out our phlebotomy training guide.
Phlebotomist Salary
How much do phlebotomists make? Records report the average phlebotomist’s salary to be . This is the median wage at the time, taken by calculating the point in which half the workers in the profession earned more than, and half earned less than.
To find the phlebotomists starting salary we need to look at the amount the lowest 10% earns less than. In this profession it’s $25,020, while the higher 10% of earners are above $49,060.
The difference between the lowest and highest 10% is lower than a lot of other professions. This is mainly due to the lack of career progression for phlebotomists. There are not a lot of professional qualifications to advance their careers, along with many positions to advance too.
However, you can have a look at what options are available by clicking the button above, or below.
The fluctuation in salary is down to a number of factors, these include; geographic location of work, years of experience, and levels of qualifications. As with all jobs in the medical field, a high degree of professionalism and a good working reputation is very important.
Phlebotomists typically work full time. Although if working in hospitals or laboratories, it’s normal to work shift patterns, late nights, weekends and holidays to cover the 24 hour opening hours.
Top 5 Paying States
| Flag | State | Employment per 1000 Jobs | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | Alaska | 0.43 | $18.53 | $38,540 |
 | New York | 0.57 | $18.17 | $37,790 |
 | California | 0.76 | $18.16 | $37,770 |
 | Maryland | 0.75 | $17.88 | $37,190 |
 | Massachusetts | 0.78 | $17.71 | $36,830 |
Top Paying Industries
| Industry | Percent of industry employment | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Insurance Carriers | – | $20.61 | $42,870 |
| Specialty Hospitals | 0.33 | $17.71 | $36,850 |
| Home Health Care Services | – | $17.19 | $35,760 |
| Engineering, Architectural, and Related Services | 0.01 | $17.15 | $35,660 |
| Scientific Development and Research Services | 0.05 | $16.90 | $35,140 |
Phlebotomist Job Description
Working as a phlebotomist can be an interesting and rewarding job. They typically see several new people on a daily basis, meeting people from all backgrounds. So what do phlebotomists do?
Phlebotomists draw blood from patients to be used for testing, donations, lab work, and more. As a phlebotomist you have to expect to work with babies, children, adults and the elderly.
They work with other members of the healthcare profession. From liaising with reception workers, to assisting doctors and nurses. Some phlebotomists also communicate directly with laboratories to discuss the blood samples and results.
Some key duties in a phlebotomist’s job description:
• Collecting blood samples from patients.
• Labelling vials and sending to laboratories for testing.
• Centrifuge samples if required.
• Being friendly and courteous to all patients.
• Understand infection control procedures.
• Manage confidential and sensitive information.
A phlebotomist’s career can be enhanced with various certifications and qualifications. Most phlebotomists start as students, working in practice under supervision and earning their certification. The more experience and high level of qualifications leads to more responsibility and a higher salary.
Phlebotomy classes are usually available as non-college courses, meaning you do not have to work towards a degree or attend college classes. There are some differing requirements across different states, but this is the typical situation.
Working as a phlebotomist there is a great deal of satisfaction to be had. You are helping patients of ill health, and making a difference in their lives. This is why good communication and interpersonal skills are a must.
A great deal of speed and accuracy is required, the working environment is often a fast paced one. Mistakes can cause huge problems, so the ability to work under pressure in an accurate fashion is a desirable skill.
Phlebotomist Salary by State
| Flag | State | Employment per 1000 Jobs | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | Alabama | 1.042 | $12.87 | $26,760 |
| Alaska | 0.427 | $18.53 | $38,540 |
 | Arizona | 0.956 | $14.38 | $29,910 |
 | Arkansas | 0.804 | $12.19 | $25,350 |
| California | 0.76 | $18.16 | $37,770 |
 | Colorado | 0.759 | $17.11 | $35,580 |
 | Connecticut | 1.01 | $17.59 | $36,590 |
 | Delaware | 1.101 | $17.60 | $36,600 |
 | Florida | 0.855 | $13.63 | $28,350 |
 | Georgia | 0.895 | $14.26 | $29,660 |
 | Hawaii | 1.034 | $16.71 | $34,760 |
 | Idaho | 1.037 | $14.31 | $29,760 |
 | Illinois | 0.883 | $16.27 | $33,850 |
 | Indiana | 0.889 | $13.90 | $28,910 |
 | Iowa | 0.706 | $13.50 | $28,080 |
 | Kansas | 0.526 | $14.25 | $29,640 |
 | Kentucky | 1.076 | $13.71 | $28,520 |
 | Louisiana | 0.977 | $13.69 | $28,470 |
 | Maine | 0.928 | $13.85 | $28,800 |
| Maryland | 0.745 | $17.88 | $37,190 |
| Massachusetts | 0.78 | $17.71 | $36,830 |
 | Michigan | 0.593 | $13.69 | $28,470 |
 | Minnesota | 0.666 | $16.76 | $34,850 |
 | Mississippi | 0.779 | $12.44 | $25,880 |
 | Missouri | 0.736 | $13.13 | $27,310 |
 | Montana | 0.562 | $14.48 | $30,110 |
 | Nebraska | 0.655 | $14.20 | $29,540 |
 | Nevada | 0.732 | $17.19 | $35,760 |
 | New Hampshire | 1.04 | $15.88 | $33,040 |
 | New Jersey | 1.217 | $16.68 | $34,690 |
 | New Mexico | 0.569 | $13.93 | $28,970 |
| New York | 0.573 | $18.17 | $37,790 |
 | North Carolina | 1.105 | $13.63 | $28,350 |
 | North Dakota | 0.998 | $14.13 | $29,390 |
 | Ohio | 0.917 | $14.31 | $29,760 |
 | Oklahoma | 0.748 | $14.34 | $29,840 |
 | Oregon | 0.953 | $16.91 | $35,170 |
 | Pennsylvania | 0.937 | $15.00 | $31,190 |
 | Rhode Island | 1.769 | $17.61 | $36,630 |
 | South Carolina | 0.702 | $12.69 | $26,390 |
 | South Dakota | 0.518 | $12.74 | $26,500 |
 | Tennessee | 0.938 | $12.69 | $26,390 |
 | Texas | 0.778 | $14.53 | $30,230 |
 | Utah | 0.952 | $12.66 | $26,340 |
 | Vermont | 0.99 | $15.01 | $31,230 |
 | Virginia | 0.961 | $15.28 | $31,790 |
 | Washington | 0.628 | $16.87 | $35,090 |
 | West Virginia | 1.142 | $12.69 | $26,400 |
 | Wisconsin | 0.836 | $15.72 | $32,690 |
 | Wyoming | 1.022 | $14.62 | $30,410 |
Top paying metropolitan areas
| Area | Employment per 1000 jobs | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Redding, – CA | 1.90 | $22.36 | $46,520 |
| Oakland / Fremont / Hayward, – CA – Metropolitan Division | 0.53 | $21.92 | $45,600 |
| Vallejo / Fairfield, – CA | 0.94 | $21.24 | $44,190 |
| Santa Barbara / Santa Maria / Goleta, – CA | 1.23 | $21.01 | $43,700 |
| San Jose / Sunnyvale / Santa Clara, – CA | 0.39 | $20.59 | $42,830 |
Top paying non-metropolitan areas
| Area | Employment per 1000 jobs | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage |
|---|---|---|---|
| North Mountains, Region of California – nonmetropolitan area | 0.75 | $19.35 | $40,250 |
| Mother Lode, Region of California – nonmetropolitan area | 0.80 | $18.45 | $38,380 |
| Southwestern Washington – nonmetropolitan area | 0.92 | $17.79 | $37,010 |
| North Coast, Region of California – nonmetropolitan area | 0.79 | $17.36 | $36,110 |
| Central Washington – nonmetropolitan area | 0.51 | $17.00 | $35,360 |
Phlebotomist Job Outlook
The phlebotomist’s job profession is expected to grow around 25% between 2016 and 2026. This is considerably faster than the average for all professions. There are a lot of locations that need the expertise of phlebotomists, such as labs, hospitals, clinics, and blood donor centres.
Blood analysis has been, and continues to be an important part of medicine. Therefor demand for phlebotomists remains high, and is expected to rise.
With the number of people entitled to health insurance and medical assistance always growing, the demand has to increase to keep up. There is an ever aging population too, thus resulting in the need for more phlebotomists.
Overall the job outlook is very positive, especially for those who pursue certifications and qualifications.
