Phlebotomists Career, Salary and Skills
Phlebotomists have a BLS-reported national median annual wage of $45,230 based on the 2025 OEWS dataset, with reported national employment of 143,540. Wage data is published for 379 locations.
Occupation description
Draw blood for tests, transfusions, donations, or research. May explain the procedure to patients and assist in the recovery of patients with adverse reactions.
O*NET code
31-9097.00
Job zone
3
Typical education
Not recorded
Experience
None
National salary and employment
Median annual
$45,230
Hourly median
$21.75
Employment
143,540
Data year
2025
National salary distribution
Top skills
| Skill | Importance | Level |
|---|---|---|
| Service Orientation | 3.62 | 3.00 |
| Social Perceptiveness | 3.50 | 3.12 |
| Speaking | 3.50 | 3.62 |
| Critical Thinking | 3.25 | 3.25 |
| Active Listening | 3.25 | 3.50 |
| Reading Comprehension | 3.12 | 3.50 |
| Monitoring | 3.12 | 3.00 |
| Coordination | 3.12 | 3.00 |
| Instructing | 3.12 | 3.12 |
| Learning Strategies | 3.00 | 3.12 |
Typical tasks
- 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.
- Draw blood from veins by vacuum tube, syringe, or butterfly venipuncture methods.
- Organize or clean blood-drawing trays, ensuring that all instruments are sterile and all needles, syringes, or related items are of first-time use.
- Enter patient, specimen, insurance, or billing information into computer.
- Confirm the identities of patients by verifying their personal information.
Technology
- Donor management system software
- Electronic medical record EMR software
- Iatric Systems MobiLab
- JavaScript
- Laboratory information system LIS
- Medical procedure coding software
- MEDITECH Blood Bank
- MEDITECH Laboratory and Microbiology
- MEDITECH software
- Microsoft Excel
- Microsoft Office software
- Microsoft Outlook
- Microsoft Word
- Scheduling software
Phlebotomists salary by location
Areas with the highest reported employment for this occupation.
- Phlebotomists Salary in CAMedian $56,040 · Employment 13,520
- Phlebotomists Salary in TXMedian $40,450 · Employment 12,820
- Phlebotomists Salary in FLMedian $40,230 · Employment 10,220
- Phlebotomists Salary in ILMedian $46,010 · Employment 7,910
- Phlebotomists Salary in New York, NYMedian $49,980 · Employment 7,390
- Phlebotomists Salary in NYMedian $50,530 · Employment 6,400
- Phlebotomists Salary in PAMedian $43,910 · Employment 5,510
- Phlebotomists Salary in NCMedian $43,330 · Employment 5,410
- Phlebotomists Salary in Chicago, ILMedian $47,190 · Employment 5,310
- Phlebotomists Salary in GAMedian $45,840 · Employment 5,280
- Phlebotomists Salary in NJMedian $48,650 · Employment 5,230
- Phlebotomists Salary in OHMedian $39,770 · Employment 5,120
Related careers
- Veterinary Technologists and TechniciansNational median $47,380
- Endoscopy TechniciansNational median $48,430
- Medical Records SpecialistsNational median $51,140
- CytotechnologistsNational median not published
- Nurse AnesthetistsNational median $236,590
- Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational NursesNational median $64,400
- Radiologic Technologists and TechniciansNational median $80,110
- Nursing AssistantsNational median $42,260
Career and skills data: O*NET 31.0 (onetcenter.org). Salary and employment data: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS, 2025 (bls.gov/oes). Figures are published survey estimates, not real-time market data.