Phlebotomist Salary: Your 2026 Guide

Phlebotomy is a growing career in the health care field with competitive salaries and opportunities for advancement. Phlebotomists can find both full-time and part-time employment in a diverse range of medical settings or as traveling professionals. 

Key takeaways:

Discover the foundations of a phlebotomy career, including daily responsibilities, earning potential, and the predicted job outlook in health care.

• The average phlebotomist earns $43,660 per year, though many factors influence pay. [1] 

• Your level of education, experience, and location can all impact your earnings.

• Phlebotomy jobs are expected to grow by 6% through 2034, which is faster than average. [1] 

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What is a phlebotomist?

A phlebotomist, or phlebotomy technician, is a health care professional who draws blood from patients for laboratory testing, transfusions, and research. As a phlebotomist, you’ll have opportunities to work one-on-one with patients of all ages or as a specialist with pediatric or geriatric patients.

How much do phlebotomists make?

The US Bureau of Labor Statistics lists the mean annual salary for phlebotomists at $43,660 [2]. Here are the salaries you can expect to make depending on where you work:

• Outpatient care centers: $48,450

• Medical and diagnostic labs: $45,700

• Hospitals; state, local, and private: $41,490

• Offices of physicians: $40,480

• All other ambulatory health care services: $39,180

As a phlebotomist, you may also find work at a research institute, private home,  substance abuse facility, public health center, prison, or blood donor organization. Generally, hospitals, skilled nursing facilities, state government-owned medical facilities, and colleges and universities offer the highest-paid positions.

There are several factors impacting the salary you can expect to earn as a phlebotomist, such as your geographical location, education, and experience level.

Location and pay

Location is a particularly critical factor in determining the salary of a phlebotomist. Generally, you'll find higher pay in cities that are considered to have a high cost of living. Beyond geographical locations, your level of education and experience also affect your salary.

Traveling phlebotomists are in high demand as the population ages. Salaries range from $29,500 to $90,000, with an average of $51,500 [3], depending on experience, but you get to experience different clinics and environments.

Many employers offer additional compensation for gas and time spent traveling.

Experience level and salary

According to Indeed, the average salary for phlebotomists is $21.22 per hour [3]. Entry-level phlebotomists might make $19.28 per hour, while senior phlebotomists can make $21.91 per hour or more.

Education level and salary

To become a phlebotomist, you do not need a bachelor's degree. A high school diploma or GED is enough to enter a phlebology certification program and go on to take the certification exam. Typically, salaries do not change much with a bachelor's degree, though some employers might regard it favorably.

8 tips for increasing a phlebotomist salary

1. Gain experience. The more experience you have, the more you can generally increase your earning potential. Phlebotomy opportunities can include internships or in-house training at hospitals and other health care facilities.

2. Consider specializing. You may want to work with a specific age demographic, such pediatric or geriatric phlebotomy. Because these populations require more challenging blood draws, they typically require specialized training and exams.

3. Choose a location. Highly populated and high cost of living areas generally offer more earning opportunities. You can also look beyond geographical locations and consider around-the-clock care facilities where you can earn shift-differential pay.

4. Consider getting a degree. Although a degree isn’t necessary to work as a phlebotomist, accredited degree programs provide classroom training and job experience. An associate or bachelor’s degree can result in a more competitive salary, and can be beneficial if your goal is to seek a higher position in the future, such as a medical technologist.

5. Get certified. Even if your state doesn’t require certification, it can be advantageous. Certified phlebotomists can often earn a higher salary than non-certified phlebotomists. Some certification programs provide online learning, though clinical experience is needed for course completion.

What is a phlebotomist’s job outlook?

The US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) predicts the number of job opportunities for phlebotomists will grow by 6%, which is faster than average for all occupations between 2024 and 2034 [1]. This increase in jobs might lead to an average of 19,600 openings for phlebotomists every year for the next decade.

A career as a phlebotomist typically offers job security, competitive pay, and flexible work hours. Job opportunities exist in many health care environments and provide the opportunity to work with and help many people from various walks of life. 

How to become a phlebotomist

You typically do not need a formal degree to become a phlebotomist. However, if you want to stand out to future employers and gain the skills you need to be a phlebotomist, you may consider a one-year degree program focused on phlebotomy from a college or university.

What are the different types of phlebotomy certifications?

There are many types of certifications for phlebotomists, each with different requirements. While one isn’t necessarily better than the others, the prerequisites are less challenging for some certifications [4]. Here are some examples:

• Phlebotomy Technician Certification (PBT-ASCP) offered by the American Society of Clinical Pathology: This certification requires a high school diploma, 40 hours of class training, and 100 hours of practice. 

• Certified Phlebotomy Technician (CPT-NHA) offered by the National Healthcareer Association: This certification requires completing classes through the National Healthcareer Association.

• Registered Phlebotomy Technician (RPT-AMT) offered by the American Medical Technologists: For the RTT-AMT certification, you’ll need to pass an accredited phlebotomy course within the past four years and 1,040 cumulative hours working as a phlebotomist within the past three years.

• Certified Phlebotomist Technologist (CPT-NPA) offered by the National Phlebotomy Association: Along with venipuncture training, requirements include 160 hours of classroom lessons and 200 hours of practical application.

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