Phlebotomists salary
| Measure | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $35,780 | $17.20 |
| Median (50th percentile) | $45,230 | $21.75 |
| Mean (average) | $45,520 | $21.88 |
| 90th percentile | $58,780 | $28.26 |
These wages describe everyone employed in the occupation, from new entrants to experienced workers. They are not starting salaries and not earnings of graduates from any particular program. Verified data
Phlebotomists pay by state and metro area
Table: median wage and employment for all 52 states and territories
| State | Median | 10th pct | 90th pct | Employment | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $37,220 | $30,440 | $45,710 | 2,350 | 1.21 |
| Alaska | $45,900 | $40,300 | $59,780 | 210 | 0.71 |
| Arizona | $46,260 | $38,090 | $60,820 | 3,430 | 1.15 |
| Arkansas | $37,450 | $30,870 | $44,280 | 1,100 | 0.91 |
| California | $56,040 | $45,490 | $74,340 | 13,520 | 0.8 |
| Colorado | $47,180 | $39,400 | $59,540 | 2,420 | 0.91 |
| Connecticut | $45,820 | $38,360 | $59,730 | 1,630 | 1.04 |
| Delaware | $48,110 | $38,720 | $58,520 | 430 | 0.95 |
| District of Columbia | $51,980 | $46,010 | $57,250 | 180 | 0.28 |
| Florida | $40,230 | $35,560 | $48,190 | 10,220 | 1.12 |
| Georgia | $45,840 | $34,600 | $55,850 | 5,280 | 1.17 |
| Hawaii | $47,750 | $41,600 | $59,760 | 110 | 0.19 |
| Idaho | $43,400 | $35,490 | $47,340 | 1,010 | 1.27 |
| Illinois | $46,010 | $37,370 | $54,920 | 7,910 | 1.4 |
| Indiana | $39,250 | $35,870 | $48,290 | 2,410 | 0.81 |
| Iowa | $38,240 | $35,970 | $46,570 | 1,100 | 0.76 |
| Kansas | $39,100 | $34,410 | $50,350 | 1,120 | 0.85 |
| Kentucky | $42,480 | $35,230 | $48,820 | 2,500 | 1.35 |
| Louisiana | $36,120 | $29,770 | $47,120 | 3,410 | 1.91 |
| Maine | $45,640 | $37,810 | $50,740 | 500 | 0.85 |
| Maryland | $43,480 | $35,320 | $58,180 | 2,040 | 0.8 |
| Massachusetts | $50,170 | $42,950 | $62,350 | 2,580 | 0.77 |
| Michigan | $39,860 | $36,850 | $48,890 | 3,540 | 0.87 |
| Minnesota | $46,000 | $38,740 | $58,920 | 2,090 | 0.77 |
| Mississippi | $36,290 | $27,730 | $47,980 | 1,200 | 1.12 |
| Missouri | $43,120 | $34,070 | $51,390 | 1,890 | 0.7 |
| Montana | $45,470 | $36,950 | $52,590 | 370 | 0.78 |
| Nebraska | $39,540 | $35,660 | $48,900 | 920 | 0.98 |
| Nevada | $45,760 | $37,280 | $59,480 | 1,300 | 0.91 |
| New Hampshire | $48,660 | $40,640 | $58,780 | 630 | 1 |
| New Jersey | $48,650 | $39,730 | $58,520 | 5,230 | 1.32 |
| New Mexico | $42,910 | $32,400 | $48,350 | 760 | 0.95 |
| New York | $50,530 | $37,930 | $63,070 | 6,400 | 0.72 |
| North Carolina | $43,330 | $35,210 | $49,450 | 5,410 | 1.19 |
| North Dakota | $47,430 | $33,840 | $58,290 | 220 | 0.54 |
| Ohio | $39,770 | $36,190 | $48,680 | 5,120 | 1 |
| Oklahoma | $39,030 | $33,570 | $49,200 | 1,670 | 1.06 |
| Oregon | $49,160 | $40,060 | $62,280 | 1,800 | 0.99 |
| Pennsylvania | $43,910 | $37,010 | $50,060 | 5,510 | 0.98 |
| Puerto Rico | $29,880 | $23,780 | $36,340 | 770 | 0.89 |
| Rhode Island | $46,380 | $36,830 | $58,290 | 970 | 2.1 |
| South Carolina | $39,010 | $35,760 | $47,060 | 2,760 | 1.3 |
| South Dakota | $39,560 | $31,360 | $45,240 | 320 | 0.77 |
| Tennessee | $38,550 | $35,010 | $47,630 | 3,520 | 1.16 |
| Texas | $40,450 | $32,570 | $53,560 | 12,820 | 0.99 |
| Utah | $40,630 | $35,800 | $47,420 | 1,680 | 1.05 |
| Vermont | $46,000 | $38,630 | $58,960 | 200 | 0.7 |
| Virginia | $46,340 | $37,370 | $58,470 | 3,600 | 0.95 |
| Washington | $48,880 | $39,410 | $64,080 | 2,820 | 0.86 |
| West Virginia | $39,250 | $30,570 | $46,130 | 1,530 | 2.36 |
| Wisconsin | $46,470 | $37,680 | $51,950 | 3,610 | 1.33 |
| Wyoming | $38,180 | $31,500 | $60,590 | 190 | 0.72 |
A location quotient above 1 means the occupation is more concentrated in that state than in the nation overall.
Metro areas with the most jobs
Highest paying metro areas
Job outlook for phlebotomists
- Average annual openings, 2025 to 2035: 18,000. Openings include new jobs plus replacement needs when workers retire or leave the occupation. Official projection
- Read the official BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook profile.
These are official BLS projections. ConnectPrep does not alter them or present its own forecasts as official statistics.
Education and training for phlebotomists
- Typical entry education
- Postsecondary nondegree award
- Related work experience
- None
- On-the-job training
- None
- O*NET Job Zone
- Job Zone Three: Medium Preparation Needed
Highest education of people working in this occupation
O*NET describes this preparation level as: Most occupations in this zone require training in vocational schools, related on-the-job experience, or an associate's degree.
Degrees and programs that lead to this career
Programs officially mapped to this occupation in the NCES and BLS CIP to SOC crosswalk. A mapping means the program commonly prepares students for the occupation, not that every graduate works in it. Official crosswalk
- Phlebotomy Technician/Phlebotomist CIP 51.1009
Skills, knowledge, and daily work
Most important skills
Most important knowledge areas
Typical tasks
- Confirm the identities of patients by verifying their personal information.
- Match laboratory requisition forms to specimen tubes.
- Dispose of contaminated sharps, in accordance with applicable laws, standards, and policies.
- Dispose of blood or other biohazard fluids or tissue, in accordance with applicable laws, standards, or policies.
- Collect specimens at specific time intervals for tests, such as those assessing therapeutic drug levels.
- Draw blood from veins by vacuum tube, syringe, or butterfly venipuncture methods.
- Organize or clean blood-drawing trays, ensuring that all instruments are sterile and all needles, syringes, or related items are of first-time use.
- Enter patient, specimen, insurance, or billing information into computer.
Technology skills
- Microsoft Office software (in demand)
- JavaScript (hot technology)
- MEDITECH software (hot technology)
- Microsoft Excel (hot technology)
- Microsoft Outlook (hot technology)
- Microsoft Word (hot technology)
- Donor management system software
- Electronic medical record EMR software
- Iatric Systems MobiLab
- Laboratory information system LIS
- MEDITECH Blood Bank
- MEDITECH Laboratory and Microbiology
- Medical procedure coding software
- Scheduling software
Transferable skills for career changers: Service Orientation, Social Perceptiveness, Coordination, Instructing, Complex Problem Solving, Judgment and Decision Making.
Common job titles: Lab Liaison Technician, Mobile Examiner, Patient Service Technician (PST), Phlebotomist Lab Assistant (Phlebotomist Laboratory Assistant), Phlebotomy Technician (Phlebotomy Tech), Registered Phlebotomist, Registered Phlebotomy Technician (RPT).
Is it worth it? Model the cost of getting there
Use the ROI calculator to compare the cost of the education this career usually requires against staying on your current path. It starts from the official wage distribution above, and you can change every assumption.
Frequently asked questions
How much do phlebotomists make?
The national median annual wage for phlebotomists was $45,230 in May 2025, according to the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics program. The lowest paid 10 percent earned less than $35,780 and the highest paid 10 percent earned more than $58,780. These figures cover all workers in the occupation, not only new entrants.
What education do phlebotomists need?
BLS lists postsecondary nondegree award as the typical education needed to enter this occupation, with none of related work experience and none on-the-job training typically needed to become competent.
Is phlebotomists a growing career?
BLS projects employment of phlebotomists to change +6.8% from 2025 to 2035, compared with +3.5% for all occupations. About 18,000 openings are projected each year on average, including openings from workers who retire or change occupations.
Which states pay phlebotomists the most?
By median annual wage in May 2025, the highest paying states were California ($56,040), District of Columbia ($51,980), New York ($50,530). Pay differences partly reflect differences in living costs.