How Much Does A Phlebotomist Make?

Phlebotomists are specially trained health care professionals that are responsible for drawing blood from patients for blood donations, blood or drug testing, and other forms of medical analysis.

Phlebotomists also label the blood after it is withdrawn, safely transport the blood to its testing facility, and perform the diagnostic tests or help interpret the results.

Salary
How much do phlebotomists make? Professionals in the field of phlebotomy are among the lowest paid in the health care industry. According to the May 2012 records from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the mean annual phlebotomist salary is $30,910. In other words, the 100,380 phlebotomists in the United States earn an average of $14.68 per hour. The bottom ten percent make just $21,340, while the top ten percent earn a more satisfying average salary of $42,600. Typically, the phlebotomists that are included within the higher percentile are certified by the American Society of Clinical Pathology, or have extensive experience of 20 years and more.

Phlebotomist salaries tend to vary between workplace settings. For instance, those employed within general or surgical hospitals earn below the average at $29,840, but the phlebotomists that work in medical diagnostic laboratories make more than the average at $32, 310. The top paying industry for phlebotomists is with insurance carriers at an average annual salary of $41, 350; however, these positions are in very short supply with just 30 nationwide. In addition, phlebotomist salaries fluctuate from state to state, with the highest paying state Alaska offering phlebotomists an average annual salary of $38,750.

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Work Environment
Phlebotomists can be employed in hospitals, blood banks, private physician offices, medical diagnostic laboratories, and other health care services. The majority of phlebotomists work full-time eight-hour shifts during regular business hours, although there are some part-time phlebotomist positions available. Since blood drives are often held on weekends or evenings, some may need to work irregular hours or long days depending on the type of employment. The work environment for phlebotomists is expected to prosper between 2008 and 2018 at a faster than normal rate of 18 percent, creating more job opportunities in the profession.