State medians come from the same OEWS release as the national figures. The cost-of-living column divides each state median by that state's BEA Regional Price Parity, restating pay in national-average dollars so a high-cost state and a low-cost one can be compared directly.
Phlebotomist Salary (2026): Data, Outlook & How to Become One
Phlebotomists earn a median of $45,230 per year ($21.75/hr) (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Employment is projected to grow 5.6% through 2034, with about 18,400 openings a year (BLS EP, 2024–2034). Typical entry-level education: Postsecondary nondegree award.
SOC 31-9097Healthcare SupportLast updated August 23, 2026
- Median pay
- $45,230
- Projected growth
- +5.6%
- Openings a year
- 18,400
- Typical education
- Certificate
BLS OEWS, May 2025
BLS EP, 2024–2034
BLS EP, 2024–2034
BLS EP, 2024–2034
Also advertised as: Lab Liaison Technician, Mobile Examiner, Patient Service Technician (PST), Phlebotomist, Phlebotomy Technician, Registered Phlebotomist.
How much do Phlebotomists make?
10th percentile$35,780
Entry / lowest-paid tenth
25th percentile$38,190
Lower quartile
Median (50th)$45,230
Half earn more, half earn less
75th percentile$48,930
Upper quartile
90th percentile$58,780
Top-paid tenth
| Median annual wage | $45,230 |
|---|---|
| Median hourly wage | $21.75/hr |
| Mean annual wage | $45,520 |
| People employed | 143,540 |
Versus all US occupations
At $45,230, Phlebotomists earn 11% below the $50,980 median across all US occupations, a difference of $5,750 a year.
Versus healthcare support occupations
The median is typical for the Healthcare Support group, where the middle occupation pays $44,910.
Pay range
The top 10% earn $58,780 or more while the bottom 10% earn $35,780, a gap of 1.6×. That is a narrow spread, so experience and employer move pay less than in most occupations.
Rank in the bank
This median pays more than 17% of the 923 occupations in the NueCareer career bank.
Cost of living
California posts the highest raw median ($56,040), but once local prices are taken into account North Dakota leads at $53,317 in national-average dollars.
Which states pay Phlebotomists the most?
| State | Median | COL-adjusted | Employed |
|---|---|---|---|
| California | $56,040 | $50,614 | 13,520 |
| District of Columbia | $51,980 | $47,297 | 180 |
| New York | $50,530 | $46,821 | 6,400 |
| Massachusetts | $50,170 | $47,439 | 2,580 |
| Oregon | $49,160 | $47,561 | 1,800 |
| Washington | $48,880 | $45,677 | 2,820 |
| New Hampshire | $48,660 | $46,714 | 630 |
| New Jersey | $48,650 | $44,713 | 5,230 |
| Delaware | $48,110 | $48,203 | 430 |
| Hawaii | $47,750 | $43,428 | 110 |
Is Phlebotomist a growing career?
Phlebotomists5.6%
All US occupations3.1%
+5.6% projected growth vs 3.1% for all occupations.
Faster than average
BLS projects employment of Phlebotomists to change 5.6% over 2024–2034, against 3.1% projected for all occupations. That is 7,900 more jobs.
Annual openings
About 18,400 openings are projected each year, 13.2% of the 139,700 jobs that existed in 2024. Most come from workers leaving the occupation, not from growth alone.
Many of those openings are expected to result from the need to replace workers who transfer to different occupations or exit the labor force, such as to retire.
The growing population, with its rising share of older people, will continue to increase demand for medical services, including blood testing.
Blood analysis remains an essential part of medical care, as it is used to check for a wide range of issues. Therefore, demand for phlebotomists will remain high as doctors and other healthcare professionals require bloodwork for analysis and diagnosis.
How to become a Phlebotomist
In most states there is no phlebotomy license and national certification is voluntary, though employers commonly prefer or require it. A small number of states regulate the role directly: California requires a phlebotomy certificate issued by the state Department of Public Health, and Washington requires a medical assistant-phlebotomist credential from its Department of Health. The main national certifications are Phlebotomy Technician, PBT(ASCP), from the ASCP Board of Certification and Certified Phlebotomy Technician (CPT) from the National Healthcareer Association.
The credential path, step by step
- Check whether your state regulates phlebotomy
This determines whether certification is a legal requirement or an employer preference. California and Washington issue state credentials; in most other states no phlebotomy license exists. Contact your state licensing agency.
- Earn a high school diploma or equivalent
High school graduation or its equivalent is the baseline for entry and is a stated prerequisite for every ASCP BOC and NHA eligibility route.
- Complete a phlebotomy training programLess than 1 year
Programs at community, vocational and technical schools cover anatomy, physiology, medical terminology and laboratory work. Choosing a NAACLS-accredited program keeps the most direct ASCP BOC eligibility route open. Some employers instead train new hires on the job.
- Document your supervised draws
Certification bodies require evidence of hands-on practice. NHA requires at least 30 venipunctures and 10 capillary or finger sticks on live individuals; the ASCP BOC structured-program route requires 40 classroom hours plus a minimum of 100 successful unaided venipunctures, documented on the body's own form.
- Pass a national certification exam
PBT(ASCP) from the ASCP Board of Certification and CPT from NHA are the main options. Employers often prefer or require one, and California accepts verification of a national certification examination as part of its state certificate application.
- Apply for the state credential if your state has one
California applicants apply to CDPH Laboratory Field Services with training or experience documentation and a letter of phlebotomy experience signed by the CLIA laboratory director. Washington applicants apply to the Department of Health for the medical assistant-phlebotomist credential.
Exams you have to pass
Phlebotomy Technician, PBT(ASCP) (PBT(ASCP))
Certification examination with several eligibility routes, all requiring high school graduation or equivalent: completion of a NAACLS-accredited phlebotomy program within the last 5 years; or a two-part structured phlebotomy program within the last 5 years consisting of 40 clock hours of classroom training plus documented clinical training including a minimum of 100 successful unaided venipunctures; or 1 year of full-time clinical experience as a phlebotomy technician in an acceptable laboratory within the last 5 years; or completion of an RN, LPN or other accepted accredited allied health program.
Administered by ASCP Board of Certification.
Certified Phlebotomy Technician (CPT)
Certification examination. Eligibility requires a high school diploma or equivalent plus either completion of a phlebotomy training or education program within the last 5 years, or 1 year of supervised phlebotomy work experience within the last 3 years (or 2 years within the last 5). Either route also requires evidence of at least 30 venipunctures and 10 capillary or finger sticks performed on live individuals.
Administered by National Healthcareer Association.
- Program accreditation
NAACLS · National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Sciences
Accreditation is not a universal legal requirement, but it is the fastest route to certification: completing a NAACLS-accredited phlebotomy program within the previous 5 years, on top of high school graduation, is Route 1 to the PBT(ASCP) examination.
- How long the training takes
Less than 1 year
Postsecondary phlebotomy programs at community, vocational and technical schools usually take less than 1 year and lead to a certificate. Some employers instead hire candidates with a high school diploma and train them on the job.
- Continuing education
Not required
There is no national continuing education requirement, because in most states there is nothing to renew. Requirements attach to specific credentials instead: the ASCP Board of Certification's Credential Maintenance Program requires 9 continuing education points for PBT within each three-year credential cycle, distributed as 2 in phlebotomy, 1 in laboratory or patient safety, 1 in medical ethics and 5 in related laboratory areas. California's state phlebotomy certificate must be renewed annually with documentation of continuing education.
Licensing and state variation
Not a state license
Most states do not license phlebotomists, and in those states national certification is voluntary rather than a legal requirement, even though employers often prefer or require it. A few states do regulate the role: California requires a phlebotomy certificate from CDPH Laboratory Field Services, which involves documented academic and clinical training or on-the-job experience, verification of a national certification examination, and annual renewal with a fee and continuing education; Washington requires a medical assistant-phlebotomist credential from the Department of Health, based on a completed phlebotomy training program and high school education, renewed every two years. Other states may require an accredited training program, a license or a certification, so check your state licensing agency. Phlebotomists may also need Basic Life Support certification, and a driver's license if they transport specimens.
Who governs the credential
- ASCP Board of Certification (ASCP BOC) — Awards the Phlebotomy Technician credential, PBT(ASCP) and PBT(ASCPi), and runs the Credential Maintenance Program that keeps it current.
- National Healthcareer Association (NHA) — Awards the Certified Phlebotomy Technician (CPT) credential.
- National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Sciences (NAACLS) — Independent accrediting body for clinical laboratory science education, including phlebotomy programs.
- California Department of Public Health, Laboratory Field Services (CDPH LFS) — Issues and renews California's state phlebotomy certificates.
- Washington State Department of Health — Issues Washington's medical assistant-phlebotomist credential.
Credential detail for phlebotomists is researched by hand from the bodies that issue it, not derived from BLS or O*NET. Sources last checked August 23, 2026. Requirements change: confirm with your own state board before enrolling in anything.
- BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook: Phlebotomists · checked August 23, 2026
- ASCP Board of Certification: Phlebotomy Technician - PBT (eligibility routes) · checked August 23, 2026
- ASCP Board of Certification: PBT Credential Maintenance Program requirements · checked August 23, 2026
- NHA: Certified Phlebotomy Technician (CPT) · checked August 23, 2026
- NAACLS · checked August 23, 2026
- California Department of Public Health, Laboratory Field Services: Phlebotomist · checked August 23, 2026
- Washington State Department of Health: Medical Assistant-Phlebotomist license requirements · checked August 23, 2026
What the federal data says
Phlebotomists typically enter the occupation with a certificate from a postsecondary phlebotomy program, but some qualify with a high school diploma and on-the-job training. Employers may prefer to hire candidates who have earned professional certification.
| Typical entry-level education | Postsecondary nondegree award |
|---|---|
| Preparation needed (O*NET job zone) | Some preparation |
| Work experience in a related occupation | None |
| Typical on-the-job training | None |
What education people in the job have
O*NET incumbent survey: the highest level of education reported by people already working as phlebotomists.
- Post-Secondary Certificate45.5%
- High School Diploma31.8%
- Some College Courses13.6%
- Associate's Degree (or other 2-year degree)4.6%
- Post-Baccalaureate Certificate4.6%
What does a Phlebotomist do?
Draw blood for tests, transfusions, donations, or research. May explain the procedure to patients and assist in the recovery of patients with adverse reactions.
Phlebotomists draw blood for purposes such as tests, research, or donations. They help patients or donors who are anxious before or have an adverse reaction after the blood draw.
Day-to-day tasks
- Dispose of contaminated sharps, in accordance with applicable laws, standards, and policies.
- Organize or clean blood-drawing trays, ensuring that all instruments are sterile and all needles, syringes, or related items are of first-time use.
- Draw blood from veins by vacuum tube, syringe, or butterfly venipuncture methods.
- Match laboratory requisition forms to specimen tubes.
- 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.
- Train other medical personnel in phlebotomy or laboratory techniques.
- Conduct standards tests, such as blood alcohol, blood culture, oral glucose tolerance, glucose screening, blood smears, or peak and trough drug levels tests.
O*NET core tasks, ordered by reported importance.
Working conditions and hours
Most phlebotomists work full time. Phlebotomists who work in hospitals and labs may need to work nights, weekends, and holidays.
Where the work happens
- Almost never works outdoors
Physical demands
- On their feet more than half the working day
Working with people
- Constant contact with other people
- Face-to-face discussions every day
- Dealing with customers or the public is very important
Pressure and stakes
- Meeting strict deadlines at least weekly
- Handling conflict situations at least monthly
- Mistakes carry very serious consequences
Schedules: BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2024–2034 edition. Conditions: O*NET Work Context survey, showing only the signals people in the job report decisively one way or the other.
Where phlebotomists work
| Hospitals; state, local, and private | 36% |
|---|---|
| Medical and diagnostic laboratories | 32% |
| All other ambulatory healthcare services | 17% |
| Offices of physicians | 8% |
| Outpatient care centers | 2% |
BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2024–2034 edition.
Core skills
- Active Listening3.4/5
- Speaking3.4/5
- Critical Thinking3.3/5
- Reading Comprehension3.1/5
- Writing3.1/5
- Monitoring3.1/5
- Active Learning3.0/5
- Learning Strategies2.9/5
Transferable skills
- Service Orientation3.6/5
- Social Perceptiveness3.5/5
- Coordination3.1/5
- Instructing3.0/5
- Time Management3.0/5
- Quality Control Analysis2.9/5
- Judgment and Decision Making2.9/5
- Complex Problem Solving2.6/5
Tools and software
- Electronic mail software · in demand
- Medical software · in demand
- Office suite software · in demand
- Spreadsheet software · in demand
- Web platform development software · in demand
- Word processing software · in demand
- Calendar and scheduling software
“In demand” marks an O*NET Employer-Based Hot Technology, software named in real job postings for this occupation.
What personality type suits a Phlebotomist?
Interest profile: O*NET Occupational Interests, scored 1–7
Realisticprimary5.4
Investigativeprimary4.7
Artistic1.0
Social3.6
Enterprising1.4
Conventionalprimary5.4
Day to day this is work built around hands-on, practical work with tools, machines or the outdoors, combined with organising, following procedures and working precisely with data.
Closest MBTI types
NueCareer fit scores: cosine similarity between each MBTI type's interest vector and this occupation's O*NET interest profile. Not a BLS or O*NET figure; the method is documented on our methodology page.
Phlebotomist: frequently asked questions
How much do Phlebotomists make?
Phlebotomists earn a median of $45,230 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025), 11% below the $50,980 median for all US occupations. That works out at $21.75/hr. The middle half earn between $38,190 and $48,930. The top 10% earn $58,780 or more.
Do you need a degree to become a Phlebotomist?
Not a degree, but you do need credentialed training: BLS lists a postsecondary non-degree award (a certificate or license program) as the typical entry route for Phlebotomists. In O*NET's survey of people already doing the job, 45.5% hold post-secondary certificate.
Is Phlebotomist a growing career?
Yes. Employment is projected to grow 5.6% over 2024–2034, faster than the 3.1% average for all occupations (BLS EP, 2024–2034). BLS still projects about 18,400 openings a year, mostly from workers retiring or moving to other work.
What does a Phlebotomist do?
Phlebotomists draw blood for purposes such as tests, research, or donations. A core O*NET task: dispose of contaminated sharps, in accordance with applicable laws, standards, and policies. Employers most often ask for Electronic mail software, Medical software, Office suite software.
Which states pay Phlebotomists the most?
The highest state medians for Phlebotomists are California ($56,040), District of Columbia ($51,980), New York ($50,530) (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Adjusted for local prices using BEA Regional Price Parities, North Dakota moves to the top at $53,317.
What personality type suits a Phlebotomist?
O*NET scores Phlebotomists highest on the Realistic, Conventional and Investigative interest areas, so the work mixes hands-on, practical work with tools, machines or the outdoors with organising, following procedures and working precisely with data. On NueCareer's MBTI-to-interest mapping that lines up most closely with ISTJ personalities. Personality is a fit signal, not a gate. The free NueCareer quiz scores your own profile against all 923 occupations in the bank.
How long does it take to become a Phlebotomist?
Less than 1 year. Postsecondary phlebotomy programs at community, vocational and technical schools usually take less than 1 year and lead to a certificate. Some employers instead hire candidates with a high school diploma and train them on the job.
Do you need a license to work as a Phlebotomist?
Not a state license. Most states do not license phlebotomists, and in those states national certification is voluntary rather than a legal requirement, even though employers often prefer or require it. A few states do regulate the role: California requires a phlebotomy certificate from CDPH Laboratory Field Services, which involves documented academic and clinical training or on-the-job experience, verification of a national certification examination, and annual renewal with a fee and continuing education; Washington requires a medical assistant-phlebotomist credential from the Department of Health, based on a completed phlebotomy training program and high school education, renewed every two years. Other states may require an accredited training program, a license or a certification, so check your state licensing agency. Phlebotomists may also need Basic Life Support certification, and a driver's license if they transport specimens.
What exams and certifications apply to a Phlebotomist?
The PBT(ASCP) (Phlebotomy Technician, PBT(ASCP)) and the CPT (Certified Phlebotomy Technician). Certification examination with several eligibility routes, all requiring high school graduation or equivalent: completion of a NAACLS-accredited phlebotomy program within the last 5 years; or a two-part structured phlebotomy program within the last 5 years consisting of 40 clock hours of classroom training plus documented clinical training including a minimum of 100 successful unaided venipunctures; or 1 year of full-time clinical experience as a phlebotomy technician in an acceptable laboratory within the last 5 years; or completion of an RN, LPN or other accepted accredited allied health program.