According to Salary.com, a phlebotomist in the United States earns approximately $37,046 annually.
Nevertheless, their salary varies significantly between the bottom and top 10% of earners.
The bottom 10% of phlebotomists earn roughly $30,026 yearly, and the top 10% earn about $45,317 annually.
That said, some phlebotomy technicians earn much more money.
It requires obtaining adequate experience, working with the right employer, and operating in a high-paying state.
In rare cases, phlebotomy technicians earn six figures operating as independent phlebotomists.
Numerous factors affect a phlebotomy technician’s annual salary.
It includes their employer, work location, and career experience.
Phlebotomist Salary Factors:
- Employer
- Work location | state and city
- Career experience
Those who want to earn the most money will want to take advantage of each factor to improve their income.
The following section covers how much phlebotomists make, factors that affect their salary, and their career outlook.
Employer
Phlebotomists work at various healthcare institutions to draw blood, collect specimens, and assist patients.
It includes hospitals, ambulatory healthcare services, blood donation centers, community clinics, physician offices, and other facilities.
As a result, their pay varies greatly depending on their employer.
Phlebotomy technicians who work at government institutions, hospitals, and travel companies often earn good salaries.
These employers have lots of funding and look for highly trained and experienced phlebotomists to provide excellent care.
Other institutions offer lower wages by hiring newer phlebotomists or providing more flexible schedules.
They may also not have the funds to pay phlebotomy technicians higher salaries than their previous employers.
Places Phlebotomists Work:
- Ambulatory healthcare services
- Blood donation centers
- Employment services
- General medical and surgical hospitals
- Government facilities
Medical and diagnostic laboratories - Physicians offices
It’s essential to look for hospitals or government jobs hiring trained phlebotomy technicians to maximize their income.
Phlebotomists may also work for private companies or travel agencies offering hiring wages for their services.
As previously mentioned, phlebotomy technician jobs offer varying pay based on the employer.
Pay can vary anywhere from minimum wage to $30+ per hour.
Therefore, looking around every few months for higher-paying employment is beneficial.
Location | State and City
One of the most significant factors impacting a phlebotomy technician’s salary is their state of employment and location.
Phlebotomists who operate in high-paying states earn more than those in low-paying ones.
For instance, phlebotomists in California earn $41,517, with the top 10% making $52,000 based on Zippia.com estimates.
Conversely, phlebotomy technicians in Oklahoma make about $25,314 yearly, with the top 10% earning roughly $31,000.
Operating in a high-paying state provides the best opportunity to earn an excellent salary.
Phlebotomists in high-paying states don’t always take home a higher salary.
Factors like state taxes, cost of living, gas, and other expenses significantly affect earnings.
Therefore, it’s essential to determine whether living costs outweigh the additional hourly wages.
As previously mentioned, phlebotomists may earn higher wages by working with a generous employer in their state.
Even in low-paying locations/states, a hospital or government facility may offer good wages.
Career Experience
Career experience is crucial when looking for job opportunities and negotiating a salary.
Skilled phlebotomists have a better chance of getting hired by a hospital, government facility, or high-paying employer.
They can also negotiate a higher salary, especially in locations where phlebotomy technicians are in high demand.
Demand, supply, and skill level/career experience determine whether these professionals earn higher wages.
Developing additional skills is also beneficial for earning more money.
For instance, some locations, like hospitals, may ask phlebotomists to manage different tasks outside their regular job.
Phlebomists Responsbilites:
- Perform blood draws
- Conduct venipunctures, heel sticks, and finger sticks
- Perform additional tests (i.e., stress tests)
- Prepare samples for testing
- Assist with EKGs
- Collect specimens
- Update medical documentation
- Sanitize and maintain equipment
- Train new phlebotomy technicians
The more skills a phlebotomy technician acquires, the more opportunities they have to increase their salaries.
How to Make More Money as a Phlebotomist
Phlebotomy technicians help people, healthcare facilities, and companies conduct blood testing and specimen collection.
As a result, they play a vital role in the effectiveness and speed of patient care and our healthcare system.
Sadly, there aren’t many opportunities for phlebotomists to specialize in different domains and earn excellent salaries.
This section explores the different strategies phlebotomy technicians use to earn more money
1. Work for a High-Paying Institution
Pay for phlebotomy technicians varies greatly depending on location, career experience, and employer.
Entry-level phlebotomy jobs at labs or private service companies may offer several dollars above minimum wage.
These employers provide phlebotomy technicians with a decent income, especially when starting.
However, their salary isn’t nearly as significant as other healthcare professionals like registered nurses.
Experienced phlebotomists can earn up to 50% more in well-funded government facilities and hospitals.
Some specialists make an additional $10 an hour in these organizations.
As a result, obtaining career experience and seeking opportunities at well-paying establishments is worthwhile.
2. Seek Related Career Opportunities
Experienced phlebotomy technicians may find different career opportunities at hospitals or government facilities.
For instance, some government facilities offer internal positions for qualified employees.
As a result, developing a good reputation and demonstrating a solid work ethic can open new careers for phlebotomists.
It includes secretary positions, administration, entry-level assistants, technician assistants, and other careers.
Get a foot in the door through a phlebotomy technician job and use it to pursue internal careers that suit your interests.
3. Move to a Different Healthcare Field
Every year numerous phlebotomy technicians return to school to become registered nurses.
Becoming a registered nurse opens up countless career opportunities and the possibility of earning exceptional salaries.
Unlike the limited career opportunities for phlebotomists, registered nurses can pursue over 100 disciplines.
Many registered nurses earn six figures annually in high-paying states and by operating in lucrative specializations.
The broad diversity of careers is also excellent for those who enjoy learning new skills.
Registered nurses work in direct care, research, academia, legal consulting, forensics, and entrepreneurship.
They also work in leadership, administration, pharmaceutical sales, and other fascinating disciplines.
4. Consider Travel Phlebotomy
Travel phlebotomists commute to various locations to perform blood draws, specimen collection, and testing.
It includes homes, healthcare facilities, organizations, and government institutions.
These professionals help individuals, healthcare establishments, and companies obtain vital testing easily.
As a result, they earn higher incomes to provide convenience and phlebotomy services to different locations on demand.
A travel phlebotomist may earn anywhere from 25% to 2x the salary of a standard phlebotomy technician.
5. Become a Supervisor | Head of Hospital Phlebotomist
Depending on the company, some phlebotomy technicians become lead phlebotomists or supervisors.
Lead phlebotomists oversee other staff and phlebotomy technicians.
These healthcare professionals set schedules, provide employee support, educate new staff, and organize blood donations.
They also manage administrative and patient-facing duties related to phlebotomy.
- Lead phlebotomist
- Head of hospital phlebotomist
- Director of phlebotomy
- Supervisor
A head of hospital phlebotomist manages all of a healthcare facility’s staff.
As a result, these experts earn excellent incomes, with some head of hospital phlebotomists earning over $80,000 yearly.
Career Outlook
According to BLS.gov, phlebotomy technicians have a good career outlook over the next ten years!
Job opportunities will grow by approximately 10% to 25% over the next decade.
As a result, skilled phlebotomists may experience noticeable salary increases, career options, and benefits.
A robust career outlook also means excellent job stability for those in this sector.
Healthcare is a relatively recession-resistant industry as people require medical care regardless of the economy.
No industry is recession-proof, but healthcare careers provide more stability than other industries.
Occupation Limitations
There are numerous pros and cons of being a phlebotomist.
As previously mentioned, phlebotomy technicians can earn decent incomes.
They also enjoy an excellent work-life balance, benefits, and job stability.
However, career limitations make it difficult for phlebotomists to advance into higher roles.
Phlebotomy training teaches these technicians to draw blood, collect samples and perform other routine tasks.
However, it’s relatively limited in terms of teaching additional skills when it comes to other aspects of healthcare.
There are also few specializations for phlebotomists besides becoming an instructor or a managerial position.
As a result, those pursuing advancement opportunities return to school to become registered nurses.
It enables phlebotomy technicians to earn excellent incomes and pursue over 100 speculations within the nursing sector.
It includes careers in general nursing, legal consulting, research, and education.
Some phlebotomists also double or triple their income by becoming registered nurses.
Other careers include becoming an LPN, EKG technician, ultrasound technician, or physician assistant.
Summary
Being a phlebotomist is a rewarding career for those who enjoy impacting people’s lives through healthcare.
Phlebotomists provide vital services, including blood collection and testing, specimen preparation, and other assistance.
These specialists help people lead better lives through essential check-ups, testing, and collections for blood transfusions.
As a result, they play a vital role in the healthcare system.
That said, a phlebotomy technician’s salary varies greatly depending on their employer, location, experience, and skillset.
Some professionals earn slightly above minimum wage, while others earn excellent salaries through well-paying employers.
Phlebotomists who develop their skills, seek the right job, and work in high-paying locations earn the most money.
As a result, it’s beneficial to take advantage of these factors and routinely look for more profitable job opportunities.