2027 Salary Guide · Healthcare
Most phlebotomists are paid by the hour, and the BLS median was $21.75 an hour in May 2025, or $45,230 a year. At current wage growth that is about $48,000 in 2027. The band is narrow: the bottom tenth earned under $17.20 an hour and the top tenth over $28.26, so the biggest raises usually come from changing metro, employer or job.
For job seekers
With such a narrow pay band, small choices add up. These are the moves documented to open better-paying phlebotomy jobs.
BLS says some employers prefer certified phlebotomists, and some states require a license or certification. Certification usually involves training, clinical experience, an exam and a practical blood draw.
Medical and diagnostic laboratories paid phlebotomists a median of $46,670 in May 2025 and outpatient care centers $48,030, against $39,930 in other ambulatory services, a group that includes blood banks.
Hospital and lab phlebotomists may work nights, weekends and holidays. Ask whether those shifts carry a differential.
BLS says phlebotomists may need Basic Life Support certification, and those who transport samples may need a driver's license.
Hourly rate
BLS publishes hourly and annual figures for every percentile. The annual figures assume full-time, year-round work.
| Percentile | Hourly, May 2025 | Annual, May 2025 |
|---|---|---|
| 10th (entry-level proxy) | $17.20 | $35,780 |
| 25th | $18.36 | $38,190 |
| Median | $21.75 | $45,230 |
| 75th | $23.53 | $48,930 |
| 90th | $28.26 | $58,780 |
Source: O*NET OnLine local wages for Phlebotomists (BLS OEWS, May 2025).
Pay distribution
The middle half of phlebotomists earned between $38,190 and $48,930 a year in May 2025. The gap from the 10th to the 90th percentile is about $23,000, a narrow spread for a healthcare job.
Typical for the Phlebotomist title: $38,190 to $48,930 (25th to 75th percentile of Phlebotomists)
| Percentile | BLS, May 2025 | 2027 planning estimate |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $35,780 | $38,000 |
| 25th percentile | $38,190 | $40,500 |
| Median | $45,230 | $48,000 |
| 75th percentile | $48,930 | $52,000 |
| 90th percentile | $58,780 | $62,500 |
Local pay
The San Francisco Bay Area ($58,900) and San Diego ($58,170) have the highest medians, followed by Los Angeles at $52,940. Tampa ($39,220) and Pittsburgh ($40,430) are lowest. Most big metros pay above the national median: 21 of the 29 on this list do. New York City is the largest market, with about 7,390 phlebotomists.
| Metro area | Median | 10th – 90th | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| San Francisco Bay Area | $58,900 +30% | $45,610 – $77,910 | 1,410 |
| San Diego | $58,170 +29% | $43,730 – $75,360 | 1,300 |
| Los Angeles | $52,940 +17% | $45,490 – $72,150 | 4,720 |
| Portland | $51,680 +14% | $40,920 – $63,300 | 950 |
| Boston | $50,420 +11% | $46,710 – $64,570 | 1,700 |
| New York City | $49,980 +11% | $43,270 – $63,110 | 7,390 |
| Seattle | $49,900 +10% | $40,840 – $69,720 | 1,610 |
| Atlanta | $49,370 +9% | $36,280 – $57,700 | 2,790 |
| Washington, DC | $49,030 +8% | $39,880 – $60,210 | 1,900 |
| Denver | $48,070 +6% | $39,670 – $60,590 | 1,310 |
| Metro area | Median | 10th – 90th | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Philadelphia | $47,370 +5% | $38,720 – $55,250 | 2,880 |
| Chicago | $47,190 +4% | $38,150 – $56,200 | 5,310 |
| Dallas-Fort Worth | $46,480 +3% | $37,490 – $56,220 | 3,840 |
| Minneapolis-St. Paul | $46,460 +3% | $39,540 – $58,920 | 1,140 |
| Providence | $46,430 +3% | $36,830 – $57,650 | 1,180 |
| Buffalo | $46,350 +2% | $32,240 – $55,480 | 420 |
| Raleigh | $46,280 +2% | $37,310 – $50,740 | 870 |
| Phoenix | $46,260 +2% | $38,760 – $57,160 | 2,940 |
| Albany | $46,040 +2% | $35,070 – $52,940 | 250 |
| Austin | $45,570 +1% | $37,350 – $55,580 | 920 |
| Houston | $45,540 +1% | $35,880 – $55,650 | 2,620 |
| Miami | $45,210 +-0% | $35,940 – $47,720 | 3,360 |
| Charlotte | $44,980 -1% | $36,930 – $49,910 | 1,260 |
| Hartford | $44,800 -1% | $38,240 – $57,930 | 610 |
| Baltimore | $44,450 -2% | $36,540 – $56,620 | 1,040 |
| Nashville | $44,240 -2% | $37,350 – $51,110 | 1,020 |
| Detroit | $43,180 -5% | $37,510 – $49,070 | 1,230 |
| Pittsburgh | $40,430 -11% | $37,070 – $48,210 | 760 |
| Tampa | $39,220 -13% | $36,790 – $48,190 | 1,590 |
BLS metro estimates, May 2025. Percent compares the metro median with the national median. "Jobs" is BLS estimated employment in the metro; blank where BLS does not publish it.
Outlook
BLS projects much faster than average growth from 2025 to 2035. With about 143,900 jobs and the need to replace workers who move on, that adds up to roughly 18,000 openings a year, so entry-level jobs are widely available.
BLS Employment Projections via O*NET OnLine. Projections cover Phlebotomists as a whole.
Next steps
O*NET lists lab technicians, medical assistants and surgical technologists among the occupations most related to phlebotomy. Several pay noticeably more at the median.
About the same pay, with a broader clinical and front-office role. A common sideways move in physician offices.
About $17,700 more than the phlebotomy median. Phlebotomy experience inside a lab is a natural lead-in, though lab roles need further training.
About $19,170 more. LPN work requires a state license, and the role adds medication and patient-care duties.
About $19,420 more. Requires a certificate or associate's program, and hospital experience helps.
Compare
Phlebotomists and medical assistants earn about the same at the median. Lab technicians, LPNs and surgical technologists all earn about $17,700 to $19,400 more, which is why phlebotomy is often a first step.
| Role | BLS median | 2027 estimate | Outlook |
|---|---|---|---|
| Phlebotomist | $45,230 | $48,000 | Much faster than average |
| Medical Assistant | $45,690 | $48,500 | Much faster than average |
| Lab Technician | $62,930 | $67,000 | Average |
| Licensed Practical Nurse | $64,400 | $68,500 | Average |
| Surgical Technologist | $64,650 | $68,500 | Faster than average |
FAQ
BLS reports a median annual wage of $45,230 for phlebotomists in May 2025, or $21.75 an hour. The middle half earned between $38,190 and $48,930, and the top tenth more than $58,780. With two years of wage growth at 3.1% a year, the 2027 planning median is about $48,000.
Phlebotomists earned a median of $21.75 an hour in May 2025, according to BLS data reported by O*NET. The 10th percentile was $17.20, the 75th percentile $23.53 and the 90th percentile $28.26 an hour. Night and weekend differentials, where offered, are added on top.
It depends on the state and employer. BLS says states may require phlebotomists to complete an accredited program or hold a license or certification, and some employers prefer certified candidates. Training programs usually take less than a year at community colleges or vocational schools.
In May 2025, BLS reported medians of $48,030 in outpatient care centers and $46,670 in medical and diagnostic laboratories, above hospitals ($44,220) and physician offices ($44,500). Other ambulatory services, a group that includes blood banks, paid the least at $39,930.
First-job phlebotomy pay is not broken out by BLS. The 10th percentile, $17.20 an hour or $35,780 a year, and the 25th percentile, $18.36 an hour, are a reasonable range for first jobs nationally. Starting rates in California metros are higher.
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