Phlebotomist Salary Guide

No matter how rewarding a new career may be, most people want to be sure that the time, effort, and money they put into training for it will be worth the salary they’ll receive. After all, it makes little sense to invest several thousand dollars in training if the average salary is the same or only slightly higher than the average salary of non-specialized careers. Phlebotomy technician training offers better than average entry level salaries, with experience and highly trained phlebotomists earning very respectable yearly salaries.

Phlebotomist Salary Figures

Phlebotomists with minimal training and zero job experience average earning between $20,000 and $25,000 per year. To give a better idea of how this compares with non-specialized job salaries; retail sales associates start out earning as little as $12,000 per year. Waitress/waiter salaries average about the same, depending on tips. By these comparisons, it is safe to say that obtaining phlebotomy certification training is well worth the $1,500 to $3,500 tuition fee in terms of rapid return on investment, even at entry level salaries.

Phlebotomists who have undertaken more specialized training or have several years of experience under their belts average earning between $30,000 and $35,000 annually. Top earners in the field who have furthered their education and have spent many years working have the potential to earn $40,000 or more, depending on their location and position.

Phlebotomist Jobs and Job Availability

According to statics from several career reporting agencies, including the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the growth of the phlebotomist field is expected to increase anywhere from 10 and 20 percent between the years 2014 and 2018. With those figures in mind, in addition to the average salaries available, enrolling in phlebotomist certification training sooner rather than later certainly makes sense. While there isn’t likely to be any shortage of job opportunities any time soon, competition for higher paying positions is likely to grow as more people become aware of the bright outlook of a career in the field.

As far as the environments and settings for which there is a need for well trained and certified phlebotomists, there are several. Competition and salaries vary from one to another, as does availability, but phlebotomy certification training gives applicants the expertise they need to land whichever position they are interested in. Positions for phlebotomy jobs may be found:

• In hospitals: higher salaries, more open positions, stiffer competition
• In doctors’ offices: median salaries, fewer open positions, less competition
• In clinics: average salaries, flexible hours, good for entry level applicants
• At blood donation centers: lowest salaries, opportunity for experience, may require travel

The facility in which a phlebotomist chooses to practice will depend on their own personal preference as well as job availability at the time of application. Whatever the preferred facility, however, most certified phlebotomists appreciate the flexibility to choose, as well as the ability to find well paying employment with relative ease despite whether it is the preferred location or not. Obtaining certification is the first step toward a future as a phlebotomist, so those interested should look into training requirements and programs in their area.