Phlebotomy Training and Career Guide Phlebotomy Training Resources and Guides for becoming Certified as a Phlebotomist!
How Much Can I Expect To Make As a Phlebotomist?
Nationwide, the median annual salary for phlebotomists in the U.S. is $39,216 (source: Salary.com). This means at least half of the people that perform phlebotomy earn more, and the other half currently earn less. The average Medical Phlebotomist earned $12.78/hour in 2012 and that has increased to $19.51/hour in 2023. Although there are some part-time Phlebotomists, the vast majority are full-time employees. Most part-time jobs are occupied by people who work evenings, weekends and holidays, and are on-call for emergencies.
Entry level salaries tend to be the lowest. The bottom 10 percent of phlebotomists in America earn about $21,000 per year. Experience, training and credentials are valued in this industry and those phlebotomists are the highest earners. The top 10 percent of salaried phlebotomists make $43,000 or more annually.
There are a number of factors that influence how much you might earn. The two biggest considerations under your control are:
- a) Where you want to be employed (or by whom) and,
- b) The level of education you have or how much time you are willing to put toward earning future credentials.
Location is the Biggest Factor in Phlebotomist Salary Variance.
Location, location, location (as real-estate agents say) is the key to everything. If you live in a busy, highly populated area, there is always demand for health-care workers and you will find employment relatively easily.
Generally, businesses and hospitals look at your experience and education (certification) as important assets and you are regarded as a more desirable candidate. Only 4 states currently require certification as a pre-requisite for employment as a phlebotomist. California is the most stringent, followed by Louisiana, Nevada and Washington.
The remaining 46 states do not officially ask that you be certified, but do consider certified candidates to be of higher value and therefore they are usually compensated with higher salaries. Ultimately, this will also impact your future ability to be promoted or move up into a better paying position. You can find general ranges of salaries among all 50 States in the table below.
The level of competition in the area for your position will also affect hiring salaries. If there is a lack of skilled personnel with high demand, you can normally count on being offered a salary that is more attractive than the average wage. Remember too, if you choose to work in a specific state or city that has a high average salary, there is probably a good reason. Cost of living tends to be high in bigger metros, like Boston, San Francisco, Los Angeles, New York…you get the picture. You can afford a lesser salary if your cost of living isn’t the highest on the planet. There are a few exceptions, for example, under circumstances where it’s hard to attract people because there aren’t many reasons to live there, like Alaska. Chances are they’ll pay a higher average salary.
Projections For Future Growth in Phlebotomists’ Salaries:
The current projection for future demand of phlebotomists is an average increase of 27% over 10 years throughout the U.S. That represents about 46,000 new jobs. This estimate was made by the Department of Human Resources in 2012, projecting into 2022 based on the escalating need for both geriatric care and paediatrics demand.
This rate is much higher than most occupations of which many are either at a standstill or are decreasing. Another overriding influence on the demand for new phlebotomists are the increased numbers of hospitals, diagnostic laboratories, multi-tasking office personnel, and blood donor centers.
Demand varies from state to state which is a function of the number of new hospitals, Universities, and the growth of biotechnology in the area. One of the easiest ways to estimate whether there is increasing demand in a specific area is to look at how many accredited schools and credentialing agencies exist in that location. Schools are the first to include classroom capacity and availability to teach new students if demand for an occupation is on the rise.
Average and Salary Ranges by State for Phlebotomists in the U.S.
(Values taken from capital cities or largest available metro area.)
| State | Average Salary | Lower 10% | Upper 10% |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $29,303.00 | $23,440.00 | $35,186.00 |
| Alaska | $34,863.00 | $28,150.00 | $42,256.00 |
| Arizona | $30,443.00 | $24,581.00 | $36,898.00 |
| Arkansas | $27,859.00 | $22,495.00 | $33,767.00 |
| California | $38,101.00 | $30,691.00 | $46,090.00 |
| Colorado | $31,461.00 | $25,403.00 | $38,132.00 |
| Connecticut | $32,588.00 | $26,313.00 | $39,498.00 |
| Delaware | $33,752.00 | $27,253.00 | $40,909.00 |
| Florida | $29,705.00 | $23,986.00 | $36,004.00 |
| Georgia | $31,392.00 | $25,348.00 | $38,049.00 |
| Hawaii | $27,187.00 | $21,954.00 | $32,952.00 |
| Idaho | $30,060.00 | $24,272.00 | $36,434.00 |
| Illinois | $27,237.00 | $21,992.00 | $33,012.00 |
| Indiana | $29,599.00 | $23,900.00 | $35,876.00 |
| Iowa | $28,186.00 | $22,759.00 | $34,163.00 |
| Kansas | $30,636.00 | $24,737.00 | $34,163.00 |
| Kentucky | $27,981.00 | $22,593.00 | $33,914.00 |
| Louisiana | $31,346.00 | $25,310.00 | $37,993.00 |
| Maine | $32,077.00 | $25,901.00 | $38,879.00 |
| Maryland | $31,974.00 | $25,818.00 | $38,755.00 |
| Massachusetts | $33,437.00 | $26,999.00 | $40,528.00 |
| Michigan | $31,040.00 | $25,064.00 | $37,623.00 |
| Minnesota | $32,575.00 | $26,303.00 | $39,483.00 |
| Mississippi | $26,446.00 | $21,354.00 | $32,054.00 |
| Missouri | $28,146.00 | $22,726.00 | $34,116.00 |
| Montana | $24,924.00 | $20,125.00 | $30,209.00 |
| Nebraska | $27,019.00 | $21,816.00 | $32,748.00 |
| Nevada | $31,034.00 | $25,059.00 | $37,615.00 |
| New Hampshire | $31,812.00 | $25,687.00 | $38,558.00 |
| New Jersey | $33,506.00 | $27,054.00 | $40,611.00 |
| New Mexico | $28,675.00 | $23,154.00 | $34,755.00 |
| New York | $36,703.00 | $29,636.00 | $44,486.00 |
| North Carolina | $31,003.00 | $25,034.00 | $37,578.00 |
| North Dakota | $29,462.00 | $23,789.00 | $35,710.00 |
| Ohio | $30,567.00 | $24,682.00 | $37,049.00 |
| Oklahoma | $29,251.00 | $23,619.00 | $35,453.00 |
| Oregon | $28,217.00 | $22,784.00 | $34,201.00 |
| Pennsylvania | $32,768.00 | $26,459.00 | $39,717.00 |
| Rhode Island | $32,696.00 | $26,401.00 | $39,630.00 |
| South Carolina | $29,540.00 | $23,852.00 | $35,804.00 |
| South Dakota | $24,264.00 | $19,592.00 | $29,409.00 |
| Tennessee | $27,610.00 | $22,294.00 | $33,465.00 |
| Texas | $31,314.00 | $25,285.00 | $37,955.00 |
| Utah | $28,631.00 | $23,118.00 | $34,703.00 |
| Vermont | $31,128.00 | $25,123.00 | $37,728.00 |
| Virginia | $28,743.00 | $23,209.00 | $34,838.00 |
| Washington | $30,754.00 | $24,833.00 | $37,276.00 |
| West Virginia | $26,054.00 | $21,037.00 | $31,579.00 |
| Wisconsin | $29,465.00 | $23,792.00 | $35,714.00 |
| Wyoming | $28,121.00 | $22,706.00 | $34,084.00 |
Citations:
Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2014-15 Edition, Phlebotomists;
Phlebotomist Salary | Salary.com
