How much does a phlebotomist make? Phlebotomists earn an average to good salary for their chosen profession, depending on what type of office they work for. Phlebotomists are medical professionals whose primary job is to draw blood from patients for lab tests and procedures, or for blood transfusion, with clinical laboratory technologists performing these types of tests. Laboratory testing plays an important role in the diagnosis, detection, and treatment of diseases. Phlebotomists are often tasked with traveling to collect samples (known as a domiciliary service), visiting patients at home, outpatient clinics or nursing homes to collect blood samples.
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Phlebotomists collect blood using venipuncture, what we know as a puncture of a vein with a needle to withdraw blood. For the collection of small quantities of blood, fingersticks are used. Phlebotomists use a heel stick to collect blood from infants. Phlebotomists who are specially trained may collect brachial artery (bend in the arm) in the antecubital area or arterial blood samples from the radial artery of the wrist.
Phlebotomists must complete a certification class to work in this industry. Certified phlebotomists focus on blood collection, helping to reduce the amount of work doctors and nurses must perform. Phlebotomist jobs are generally easy to find and obtain. Phlebotomy typically involves a short training period and is an easy entryway for someone to try out the medical profession.
The Bureau of Labor Statistics shows phlebotomists have excellent job opportunities. The majority of phlebotomist jobs are centered at hospitals and labs, however employment will grow rapidly in other settings in the future.
How much does a phlebotomist make per hour?
The Bureau of Labor Statistics shows phlebotomists make a median hourly salary of $12.50 – $13.00. The Bureau of Labor Statistics states according to a 2007 report from the American Society for Clinical Pathology, median hourly wages for staff clinical laboratory technologists and technicians were:
Specialty/Hospital/Private Clinic/Physician Office/Laboratory
Cytotechnologist $27.55 $28.75 $26.24
Histotechnologist $22.93 $23.35 $25.00
Medical technologist $23.45 $23.00 $20.00
Histotechnician $20.00 $20.00 $21.00
Medical labratory technician $18.54 $17.00 $16.96
Phlebotomist $12.50 $12.50 $13.00
How much does a phlebotomist make per year?
According to Wikipedia.org, the median U.S. salary for phlebotomists was $26,297. The median yearly salary for medical and clinical laboratory technologists according to a May 2008 Bureau of Labor Statistics report was $53,500.
The median annual salary for industries employing the largest numbers of medical and clinical laboratory technologists was:
Federal Executive Branch $59,800
General medical and surgical hospitals $54,220
Medical and diagnostic laboratories $53,360
Offices of physicians $49,080
Colleges, universities, and
professional schools $47,890
General medical and surgical hospitals $36,840
Colleges, universities, and professional schools $36,290
Offices of physicians $33,980
Medical and diagnostic laboratories $32,630
Other ambulatory health care services $31,320