Phlebotomist Salary - How Much Do They Earn? (2021 Figures)

If you are looking for an in-demand entry-level career in the healthcare industry, phlebotomy is an excellent choice. As a phlebotomist, you will draw blood from patients for testing and play an important role in their treatment and recovery. Though the average phlebotomist salary is low compared to other careers in healthcare, the education required to become a phlebotomist is short and affordable, and there are several schools in the nation offering phlebotomy training. Here, you will learn what to expect salary-wise as a phlebotomist as well as the factors that influence it.

What Starting Salary Can You Expect as a Phlebotomist?

The average salary per hour when you are just starting out is $12.95, or about $2,244 a month. This is equal to an annual phlebotomist starting salary of $26,925 a year.

Type	Salary
Hourly	$12.95
Monthly	$2,244
Annual	$26,925
(Source: In-House Research)

What is the Average Salary of a Phlebotomist?

The average phlebotomist salary regardless of experience is $17.10 an hour, which is equal to $2,963 a month or $35,560 a year.

Type	Salary
Hourly	$17.10
Monthly	$2,963
Annual	$35,560
(Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics)

Phlebotomist Salary Survey

To better understand the overall phlebotomist earnings, it helps to look at the median salary. Roughly 50% of all phlebotomists earn between $28,830 and $40,500 a year. About 10% earn less than $25,020 a year, and another 10% earn more than $49,060 annually.

Factors Influencing the Income of a Phlebotomist

Numerous factors can influence the average pay of a phlebotomist, so it is important to keep these in mind to help you maximize your earning potential. First, as with many occupations, the more experience you have with drawing blood, and the more settings you can confidently work in (such as an ER, doctors’ office, maternity ward, and others), the more valuable you become to your employer, and the more money you will ultimately earn.

Another incredibly important factor that can have a drastic impact on your earnings is the location where you work. Phlebotomists who choose to work in highly populated or affluent metro areas will earn significantly more than those who work in rural or less affluent locations.

If you opt to work in a hospital or long-term care facility where round-the-clock care is required, you may also be able to earn a shift differential of up to $2.00 an hour for working late or overnight shifts. In fact, it can add over $4,000 to your annual pay.

By How Much has the Phlebotomist Salary Grown in the Last 5 Years (2013-2018)?

Between 2013 and 2018, the average annual income of a phlebotomist has grown at an incredible rate. It has increased by 11.51% from $31,410 to $35,560.

What is the Projected Phlebotomist Salary Growth in the Next 5 Years (2018-2023)?

Over the course of the next five years, your salary as a phlebotomist will continue to grow at about the same rate. Between 2018 and 2023, your pay is expected to climb 11.07% from $35,560 to $40,150.

Salaries in 5 Industries Hiring the Highest Number of Phlebotomists

As a phlebotomist, you may choose to work in one of several industries, and in order to earn the most money, it is helpful to choose an industry known to pay well. In hospitals and medical laboratories, you can earn $34,660 or $36,800 respectively. You might also choose to work in other ambulatory healthcare services, which include home health or specialists’ offices, where you can earn $34,500 a year. Some phlebotomists choose to work for private-practice physicians, and they earn $34,290 a year. In all of these settings, you will draw patients’ blood per doctor’s orders to help diagnose and treat various illnesses.

A very small percentage of phlebotomists work in employment services, such as temp agencies. They draw blood from prospective job candidates for drug testing purposes, and they earn an average annual income of $35,260 a year.

Industry Wise Phlebotomist Salary - Highest to Lowest

Of all the various industries that you might work in, privately-owned specialty hospitals, nursing care facilities, and government-owned general medical and surgical hospitals will pay you the most.

Which are the 20 Best States to Work as a Phlebotomist?

1) California: In California, you can earn anywhere from $31,900 to $61,890 a year working as a phlebotomist. This is one of the highest-paying states in the nation for phlebotomists, and due to the booming population, employment will climb 28.68% by 2026, leading to excellent job security. Your overall pay depends on the area and the industry in which you work. You will earn more working in a private hospital in an affluent part of Los Angeles, for example, than you will earn working in a local government-owned hospital in a rural part of northern California.



2) Texas: Texas is another outstanding state for phlebotomists. Although the pay here is lower than that in other states with an average ranging from $23,400 to $44,500, job growth is expected to skyrocket, which means you will enjoy some of the best job security in the nation. Between 2016 and 2026, the employment of phlebotomists in Texas alone will increase by 30.99%. Bigger cities like Dallas, Houston, and Austin are the best locations for job prospecting as they offer the most opportunities and variety in terms of industries.



3) Florida: Florida is one of the most popular spots in the nation for retirees, which means the population here continues to rise. Though most job opportunities exist in cities with larger populations like Orlando and Miami, the pay is higher in more affluent cities and neighborhoods, which provides plenty of options. You will earn anywhere from $23,950 to $41,220 a year working as a phlebotomist in Florida, and you can also enjoy ample job security with an employment growth rate of 29.37% by 2026.



4) North Carolina: If you prefer to work along the east coast, there are about 850 new job openings for phlebotomists in North Carolina each year. Here, you will earn anywhere from $23,900 to $40,500 depending on your experience, your employer, and your precise location, and you will enjoy great job security with the growth of 30.52% expected by 2026. The population is expected to continue climbing due to economical growth in both the technology and industrial sectors.



5) New York: New York State is known for the Big Apple, which is the most populated city in the country. There is a tremendous demand for phlebotomists in the inner city areas, and while pay may not be as high as in more affluent parts of the state, job security is high. In fact, the average annual income for phlebotomists across New York is anywhere from $27,310 to $55,470, and employment growth will climb by 29.13% by 2026, making this a very popular entry-level healthcare job.



6) Ohio: There are currently 5,660 phlebotomists working across the state of Ohio, and of these, the vast majority work in the state’s most populated areas, which include Cleveland, Akron, and Cincinnati, among others. One of the most prestigious places to work is Ohio State University Hospital in Columbus. It is a national leader in neuroscience, cancer research, and cardiac care. You can earn anywhere from $25,690 to $45,140 a year in Ohio, and you can also expect outstanding job security with expected job growth of 20.40% between the years of 2016 and 2026.



7) Illinois: Whether you live in the northern part of Illinois in or around Chicago or the central part of the state near Champaign, there are plenty of opportunities for phlebotomists here. Some 4,910 of them work in hospitals, doctors’ offices, and labs across the state, and phlebotomist employment in Illinois is expected to grow by 14.95% between 2015 and 2026. The average annual salary ranges from $23,670 to $49,350.



8) New Jersey: There are 4,890 phlebotomists working in New Jersey, and they earn an average annual salary of anywhere from $28,110 to $49,700. Most of the phlebotomists across the state work in bigger cities like Newark, Jersey City, and Paterson. Job growth is predicted to climb by 19.57% in the years between 2016 and 2026 due in part to the ever-rising population of the state. In fact, New Jersey is home to four nationally-ranked hospitals. One of the best and most prestigious places to work is Hackensack University Medical Center, which is nationally ranked in specialties such as neurology and neurosurgery, and Princeton University Medical Center.



9) Pennsylvania: If you choose to work in Pennsylvania, you can expect to earn a salary ranging from $26,420 to $44,690 a year, and you can enjoy above-average job security thanks to the predicted growth of 15.7% by 2026. There are currently 4,760 phlebotomists working in Pennsylvania, and most of them work in the state’s biggest and most prestigious hospitals, including the numerous University of Pennsylvania-Penn Presbyterian hospitals, Kindred Hospital in Pittsburgh, And Shriner’s Children’s Hospital in Erie.



10) Georgia: Georgia employs roughly 4,390 phlebotomists across the state, and they earn an average annual salary ranging from $22,450 to $42,210. Though salaries here are lower than in other states, employment growth is strong. It is estimated that the employment of phlebotomists will grow by 23.41% by 2026, which means excellent job security. When it comes to employment, the most prestigious and popular places to work include Emory University Hospital located in Atlanta and Memorial Health University Medical Center in Savannah.



11) Virginia: Phlebotomists in Virginia earn an average annual salary ranging from $25,350 to $49,100, and there are about 3,550 of them spread across the state. The demand for phlebotomists is especially high in GA, with employment expected to grow by 31.45% between the years 2016 and 2026. One of the best places to work is the University of Virginia Medical Center in Charlottesville, and this is closely followed by the Sentara Norfolk General Hospital in Norfolk.



12) Massachusetts: If you are starting your career in Massachusetts, you can earn one of the highest starting salaries in the nation. The average annual salary starts at $30,740 and climbs all the way to $51,130, which is a much higher range than many other parts of the nation. Employment is expected to climb by 16.27% over the course of the next several years, as well, due in part to tremendous population growth across the Northeastern part of the country. The University of Massachusetts Medical Center is by far the best place to seek employment.



13) Michigan: There are about 3,090 phlebotomists across Michigan, and they earn an average annual salary ranging from $24,700 to $40,310, making this one of the lower-paying states on the list. Nevertheless, employment growth is expected to reach 20.74% between the years 2016 and 2026. Many of the state’s phlebotomists work in the hospitals in the Detroit area, which include Henry Ford Hospital and DMC Harper University Hospital. The University of Michigan Medical Center is ranked nationally in 21 specialties, making it another solid choice.



14) Maryland: If you are seeking employment in Maryland, places like the University of Maryland Baltimore Washington Medical Center are great places to start. They offer excellent pay, including one of the highest starting salaries in the nation. You will earn an average of $32,430 to $50,010 here, and you can choose from 280 job openings each year, too. Phlebotomist employment cross Maryland will grow by 24.51% by 2026, which means you can also enjoy excellent job security.



15) Missouri: St. Louis, Missouri is home to Barnes Jewish Hospital, which is one of the most prestigious places to work in the US Midwest. The hospital is a known innovator and has developed countless new technology for the global medical industry. In Missouri, you can earn anywhere from $21,460 to $41,510 a year, and you can choose from one of 240 job openings, most of which are in places like St. Louis, Jefferson City, and Kansas City. Employment will grow 14.36% by 2026, which ensures good job security.



16) Washington: Washington State is known for both its beautiful mountainous view and its outstanding hospitals and medical centers. There are 390 phlebotomy openings in centers across the state each year, and you can earn anywhere from $29,650 to $51,020 a year. Between 2016 and 2026, employment is expected to climb by 25.18%. When looking for a job, places like the University of Washington Medical Center in Seattle and Providence St. Peter Hospital in Olympia are great places to start.



17) Louisiana: If you want to work in Louisiana, there are numerous facilities from which to choose, including the prestigious Ochsner Medical Center in New Orleans, which is nationally ranked in three adult specialties, and Our Lady of The Lake Regional Medical Center, located in Baton Rouge. You will earn a salary ranging from $21,690 to $39,460 on average, which is slightly lower than many other states, but still right at the national average. Employment growth will climb by 14.93% between 2016 and 2026.



18) Indiana: There are roughly 350 job openings for phlebotomists in Indiana every year, and those who work in this state earn anywhere from $23,940 to $48,920, with those on the high end having more experience and working in more affluent areas. Employment will grow across the state by 27.82% in the coming years, especially in facilities like the Indiana University Academic Health Center in Indianapolis, St. Mary’s Medical Center in Evansville, and Parkview Hospital in Fort Wayne.



19) Tennessee: Tennessee is an exceptional choice for phlebotomists in the Midwest. Each year, there are 360 job openings across the state, and between 2016 and 2026, employment will grow by 29.55%. You will earn an average annual salary ranging from $21,870 to $39,480 depending on your experience and location. Some of the best places to work – including those that pay the most – include Vanderbilt University Medical Center in Nashville, which is one of the best hospitals in the country.



20) Kentucky: If you work in Kentucky, you will earn anywhere from $22,860 to $40,390 a year, and you will have access to some 270 job openings each year, too. Between 2016 and 2026, employment in your chosen occupation will climb by 18.40%, which means you can enjoy excellent job security. The biggest employers of phlebotomists in the state are hospitals, and some of the best include the University of Kentucky Albert B. Chandler Hospital in Lexington along with Baptist Health and Norton Health, both of which are in Louisville.

Phlebotomist Salary by State

As you likely gathered from the information above, the state where you work will have a huge impact on your salary. As an example, you can earn an average salary of $40,060 in New York, but in South Dakota, that salary falls to just $27,670 on average.

25 Metros Where Phlebotomists Earn the Highest

Even within each state, the metro area where you choose to work could influence your salary. As per the latest BLS figures, San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward metro recorded the highest average phlebotomist salary per hour at $25.89. It is important to note that most of the highest-paying metros in the country are located in California.

How Many Job Openings are there for Phlebotomists?

Though the number varies from state to state, there is a demand for 3,010 new and 13,890 replacement phlebotomists each year across the country, which is a grand total of 16,900 positions every year.

What are the Factors Behind 24.53% Growth in New Phlebotomist Jobs From 2016-2026?

The phlebotomy occupation will grow 24.53% by 2026, which is much faster than the average for all occupations, but about average when compared to the rest of the healthcare industry. In 2016, there were 122,700 phlebotomists, but by 2026, there will be 152,800. There are several important reasons for this growth. Of these, the most important is expanded access to healthcare and the need for support staff to provide important services like blood draws. More people than ever before have access to affordable health insurance and quality healthcare, which drives the demand. Another factor is the national population growth; more people require more doctors, and this means more staff to support them.

Phlebotomist Salary Compared to Similar Healthcare Professions

Phlebotomists earn about the same as most other support-related healthcare professions. They earn significantly less than clinical lab techs, but they earn much more than veterinary assistants and lab animal caretakers.