How pay is spread out
The middle of the field is fairly compressed: half of phlebotomists earn between $38,190 and $48,930.
Phlebotomist salary by state
State medians run from $36,120 in Louisiana to $56,040 in California. A few states have their own phlebotomy requirements, California being the best-known example. Once prices are taken into account, North Dakota comes out on top at about $53,300.
| Compared with the top state | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| California | $56,040 | 13,520 | $50,610 | |
| District of Columbia | $51,980 | 180 | $47,300 | |
| New York | $50,530 | 6,400 | $46,820 | |
| Massachusetts | $50,170 | 2,580 | $47,440 | |
| Oregon | $49,160 | 1,800 | $47,560 | |
| Washington | $48,880 | 2,820 | $45,680 | |
| New Hampshire | $48,660 | 630 | $46,710 | |
| New Jersey | $48,650 | 5,230 | $44,710 | |
| Delaware | $48,110 | 430 | $48,200 | |
| Hawaii | $47,750 | 110 | $43,430 | |
| North Dakota | $47,430 | 220 | $53,320 | |
| Colorado | $47,180 | 2,420 | $45,780 | |
| Wisconsin | $46,470 | 3,610 | $49,390 | |
| Rhode Island | $46,380 | 970 | $45,350 | |
| Virginia | $46,340 | 3,600 | $45,830 | |
| Arizona | $46,260 | 3,430 | $45,950 | |
| Illinois | $46,010 | 7,910 | $46,030 | |
| Minnesota | $46,000 | 2,090 | $46,640 | |
| Vermont | $46,000 | 200 | $46,960 | |
| Alaska | $45,900 | 210 | $44,840 | |
| Georgia | $45,840 | 5,280 | $47,600 | |
| Connecticut | $45,820 | 1,630 | $44,220 | |
| Nevada | $45,760 | 1,300 | $45,770 | |
| Maine | $45,640 | 500 | $47,030 | |
| Montana | $45,470 | 370 | $48,040 | |
| Pennsylvania | $43,910 | 5,510 | $45,000 | |
| Maryland | $43,480 | 2,040 | $41,430 | |
| Idaho | $43,400 | 1,010 | $45,450 | |
| North Carolina | $43,330 | 5,410 | $45,940 | |
| Missouri | $43,120 | 1,890 | $47,480 | |
| New Mexico | $42,910 | 760 | $46,530 | |
| Kentucky | $42,480 | 2,500 | $47,120 | |
| Utah | $40,630 | 1,680 | $41,100 | |
| Texas | $40,450 | 12,820 | $41,680 | |
| Florida | $40,230 | 10,220 | $38,900 | |
| Michigan | $39,860 | 3,540 | $41,430 | |
| Ohio | $39,770 | 5,120 | $42,870 | |
| South Dakota | $39,560 | 320 | $44,660 | |
| Nebraska | $39,540 | 920 | $43,880 | |
| Indiana | $39,250 | 2,410 | $42,060 | |
| West Virginia | $39,250 | 1,530 | $43,860 | |
| Kansas | $39,100 | 1,120 | $43,410 | |
| Oklahoma | $39,030 | 1,670 | $44,430 | |
| South Carolina | $39,010 | 2,760 | $41,610 | |
| Tennessee | $38,550 | 3,520 | $41,960 | |
| Iowa | $38,240 | 1,100 | $43,570 | |
| Wyoming | $38,180 | 190 | $41,190 | |
| Arkansas | $37,450 | 1,100 | $43,080 | |
| Alabama | $37,220 | 2,350 | $41,900 | |
| Mississippi | $36,290 | 1,200 | $41,740 | |
| Louisiana | $36,120 | 3,410 | $40,950 |
Best-paying cities
Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA has the top median, $62,350, compared with $45,230 nationally.
| Metro area | Median | Employed | Cost-adjusted |
|---|---|---|---|
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA | $62,350 | 100 | $57,850 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $60,600 | 350 | $54,880 |
| Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA | $60,290 | 190 | $55,410 |
| Vallejo, CA | $59,920 | 140 | $55,240 |
| Napa, CA | $59,840 | 30 | $53,170 |
| Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA | $59,800 | 50 | $54,420 |
| Redding, CA | $59,320 | 90 | $58,920 |
| Chico, CA | $59,100 | 100 | $58,400 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $58,900 | 1,410 | $50,950 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | $58,170 | 1,300 | $51,990 |
Where the most jobs are
| Metro area | Median | Employed | Cost-adjusted |
|---|---|---|---|
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | $49,980 | 7,390 | $44,400 |
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | $47,190 | 5,310 | $45,550 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $52,940 | 4,720 | $46,620 |
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | $46,480 | 3,840 | $45,090 |
| Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL | $45,210 | 3,360 | $39,600 |
| Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ | $46,260 | 2,940 | $44,780 |
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | $47,370 | 2,880 | $46,190 |
| Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA | $49,370 | 2,790 | $49,340 |
| Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX | $45,540 | 2,620 | $46,170 |
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | $49,030 | 1,900 | $45,030 |
Pay by type of employer
Hospitals (35%) and diagnostic laboratories (33%) employ similar shares of phlebotomists. Labs pay slightly more, $46,670 against $44,100.
| Industry | Median | Employed | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| General Medical and Surgical Hospitals | $44,100 | 49,550 | 35% |
| Medical and Diagnostic Laboratories | $46,670 | 47,610 | 33% |
| Other Ambulatory Health Care Services | $39,930 | 23,920 | 17% |
| Offices of Physicians | $44,500 | 12,270 | 9% |
| Outpatient Care Centers | $48,030 | 2,520 | 2% |
| Employment Services | $47,490 | 2,110 | 1% |
What phlebotomists do
- 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.
Hourly to annual
Phlebotomy jobs are usually hourly and can start very early in the morning. This conversion assumes full-time hours all year.
How you get there
Most phlebotomists complete a certificate program that takes less than a year, though some employers hire people with a high school diploma and train them on the job.
Typical entry-level education: postsecondary nondegree award. Projected job growth, 2025–35: 6.8%, about 18,000 openings a year (BLS Employment Projections).
Compare with similar jobs
Questions people ask
How much do phlebotomists make an hour?
The national median was $21.75 an hour in May 2025.
Do phlebotomists earn more in hospitals or labs?
Slightly more in diagnostic laboratories: $46,670 at the median, against $44,100 in general hospitals.
Which state pays phlebotomists the most?
California had the highest median at $56,040, followed by District of Columbia at $51,980.
General information, not career or financial advice. Pay depends on hours, location and employer. Confirm licensing rules with your state's board.