Occupational Outlook – Phlebotomist

Quick Facts: Phlebotomists
2021 Median Pay	$37,380 per year $17.97 per hour
Typical Entry-Level Education	Postsecondary nondegree award
Work Experience in a Related Occupation	None
On-the-job Training	None
Number of Jobs, 2020	129,600
Job Outlook, 2020-30	22% (Much faster than average)
Employment Change, 2020-30	28,800

What Phlebotomists Do

Phlebotomists draw blood for tests, transfusions, research, or blood donations.

Work Environment

Phlebotomists work mainly in hospitals, medical and diagnostic laboratories, blood donor centers, and doctors’ offices.

How to Become a Phlebotomist

Phlebotomists typically enter the occupation with a postsecondary nondegree award from a phlebotomy program. Almost all employers look for phlebotomists who have earned professional certification.

Pay

The median annual wage for phlebotomists was $37,380 in May 2021.

Job Outlook

Employment of phlebotomists is projected to grow 22 percent from 2020 to 2030, much faster than the average for all occupations.

About 19,500 openings for phlebotomists are projected each year, on average, over the decade. Many of those openings are expected to result from the need to replace workers who transfer to different occupations or exit the labor force, such as to retire.

State & Area Data

Explore resources for employment and wages by state and area for phlebotomists.

Similar Occupations

Compare the job duties, education, job growth, and pay of phlebotomists with similar occupations.

Content shared from the U.S. Bureau of Labor & Statistics