Phlebotomist salary
Typical pay is $24.48/hr. Based on Bureau of Labor Statistics data for U.S..
What the range looks like
- 10th percentile Entry level / starting out
- $15.46/hr
- 25th percentile Below typical
- $17.99/hr
- Median Half earn more, half earn less
- $24.48/hr
- 75th percentile Above typical
- $26.90/hr
- 90th percentile Experienced / specialised
- $27.09/hr
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (2025) — U.S..
See what's hiring now
1 open phlebotomists on LocalWork right now.
What a phlebotomist does
Phlebotomists draw blood for testing, donation and research. Training is short — often a few months — making it one of the quicker clinical roles to enter.
Day-to-day duties
- Draw blood from patients of all ages
- Label and process specimens correctly
- Reassure nervous or needle-phobic patients
- Maintain equipment and stock
- Follow strict infection control procedures
Skills employers look for
- Steady hand and confident technique
- Calming anxious patients quickly
- Meticulous labelling — mix-ups have serious consequences
- Working through a high patient volume
Requirements Licence required
- Phlebotomy training programme (a few months)
- Certification required in some states, preferred in others
- CPR certification
- Hepatitis B vaccination usually required
How to get started
- 1 Complete a phlebotomy programme
- 2 Certify through NHA, ASCP or AMT
- 3 Start in a lab, hospital or donation centre
- 4 Progress into laboratory or medical assisting roles
Job outlook: Consistent demand from diagnostic labs, hospitals and blood donation services.
Common questions about phlebotomists
How much does a phlebotomist make?
The median pay for a phlebotomist nationally is $24.48 an hour — about $50,920 a year full time. That figure comes from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics for U.S. (2025). Half of the roles pay more than this and half pay less, so treat it as the middle of the market rather than a target.
What is the pay range for phlebotomists?
Most phlebotomists nationally earn between $15.46 an hour and $27.09 an hour — that is the 10th to the 90th percentile. The spread usually reflects experience, shift, certifications and employer size more than anything else.
How much do entry-level phlebotomists make?
Pay at the bottom of the range — roughly what someone starting out can expect — is around $15.46 an hour. A quarter of phlebotomists earn below $17.99 an hour, so the first year or two typically sits in that band. This is a role employers routinely fill with people who have no prior experience.
What do the highest-paid phlebotomists earn?
The top 10% of phlebotomists nationally earn about $27.09 an hour or more. Getting there usually means experience plus something specific — advanced certification, supervisory responsibility, or specialising in higher-paying work.
What does a phlebotomist do?
Phlebotomists draw blood for testing, donation and research. Training is short — often a few months — making it one of the quicker clinical roles to enter. Day to day, that means draw blood from patients of all ages, label and process specimens correctly, reassure nervous or needle-phobic patients and maintain equipment and stock.
How do you become a phlebotomist?
The usual route is: (1) complete a phlebotomy programme, (2) certify through NHA, ASCP or AMT, (3) start in a lab, hospital or donation centre, (4) progress into laboratory or medical assisting roles. Employers typically look for phlebotomy training programme (a few months), certification required in some states, preferred in others and CPR certification.
Do you need a certification to work as a phlebotomist?
Yes. Working as a phlebotomist requires formal certification or licensing — specifically certification required in some states, preferred in others and CPR certification. Requirements are set at state level in most cases, so check your own state's rules before committing to a programme.
Are phlebotomists in demand?
There are currently 1 open phlebotomists listed on LocalWork. Consistent demand from diagnostic labs, hospitals and blood donation services.
Where are phlebotomists most in demand?
See the metro and rural areas with the highest concentration of this work, ranked from Bureau of Labor Statistics employment data.
Similar roles
Pay figures are estimates for guidance only, not an offer or guarantee. Advertised ranges come from job postings on LocalWork; government figures come from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Actual pay depends on experience, certifications, shift and employer.