A phlebotomy technician is one important member of a medical team. Phlebotomists are in charge of drawing blood for tests, donations, research, and transfusions. They are also trained to help patients recover if they suffer from adverse reactions to the process. To learn how much does a phlebotomist make, read on.

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Phlebotomy Salary per Hour

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the average hourly wage was $15.10 in 2013. That mean annual wage was $31,410 for the same year. If you’re starting your career, you can expect between $10.46 and $12.27 hourly and $21,760 and $25,510 annually. However, with the right certification in hand and ample experience, you can be paid according to the 90% percentile, which is $20.77 hourly and $43,190 yearly.

Phlebotomy Technician Benefits

In addition to their salaries, phlebotomists are entitled to a number of benefits that are typically worth $20,000. While they may benefit according to the size of the facility and your salary, they may include:

Health Insurance – Most healthcare institutions offer health insurance that includes medical, dental and vision insurance. This costs around $6,592 on average and comprises 14% of your overall package. However, you can get even more comprehensive insurance that also extends to insuring your life and covering long-term disability.

– Most healthcare institutions offer health insurance that includes medical, dental and vision insurance. This costs around $6,592 on average and comprises 14% of your overall package. However, you can get even more comprehensive insurance that also extends to insuring your life and covering long-term disability. Retirement Pension – With traditional pensions going out of the window, retirement plans 401K and 403B are taking their place. These cost around $1,103 on average and comprise 2.4% of your compensation package.

– With traditional pensions going out of the window, retirement plans 401K and 403B are taking their place. These cost around $1,103 on average and comprise 2.4% of your compensation package. Social Security – Some employers will provide social security instead of retirement plans. Through this, you can receive benefits when you retire, if you become disabled, and when you pass away. Your employer will provide you with the credits you need to become eligible.

– Some employers will provide social security instead of retirement plans. Through this, you can receive benefits when you retire, if you become disabled, and when you pass away. Your employer will provide you with the credits you need to become eligible. Paid Sick and Holiday and Vacation Leaves – Comprising 8.1% of your salary package at the average of $3,772, leaves due to illness or for vacations are great benefits that complement your salary package.

– Comprising 8.1% of your salary package at the average of $3,772, leaves due to illness or for vacations are great benefits that complement your salary package. Tuition Assistance – If you become a certified phlebotomy technician, you’ll need to get continuing education units (CEUs) in order to be recertified. In addition to providing you with leaves to study, your employer may fund your tuition.

Factors that Affect Your Salary

There are a number of factors that can affect the salary you receive for your services as a phlebotomy technician. The following lines go over the top four.

The State You’re Working in

The state you work in determines how much you’re paid. Some of the highest phlebotomist salaries are paid in California, Idaho, Nevada, Washington, Colorado, and New Mexico. Salaries in these states can reach $26 per hour. Meanwhile, states like New Hampshire, Rhode Island, New York, and Vermont offer average wages at $18 per hour. If you’d rather not be paid less, you may want to avoid states like Texas, Arkansas, and Louisiana where phlebotomist salaries are only $8 per hour.

One of the main reasons behind this varying payscale is the standard of living in each state. Take for instance California and Texas. In California, a single person will need about $1,700 for food, medical expenses, housing, transportation, and other costs. To cover these expenses, one adult needs to earn an average of $23, 295. On the other hand, in Texas, the required annual income for one adult needs to be $18,218 before taxes since housing and other expenses are lesser in comparison.

Phlebotomy Pay Per Hour Can Vary

Phlebotomists across the U.S. may not necessarily share the same set of duties, which is why their salaries will vary. Here the average hourly rates and annual salaries of some types of phlebotomist technicians according to PayScale.com:

Blood Donor Phlebotomist – $13.13 per hour and $23,000 annually

– $13.13 per hour and $23,000 annually Psc Site Coordinator – $15.31 per hour and $68,000 annually

– $15.31 per hour and $68,000 annually Phlebotomy Lab Assistant – $12.97 per hour and $24,000 annually

– $12.97 per hour and $24,000 annually Phlebotomy Technician – $12.97 per hour and $30,000 annually

– $12.97 per hour and $30,000 annually Mobile Phlebotomist – $12.97 per hour and $25,000 annually

Certified Phlebotomy Technician Salary

Certification is mandatory in four states: California, Washington, Nevada, and Louisiana. Even if that’s not the case where you’re living or working, having a certificate in hand will boost your earning potential, ensuring that you get the upper level on the pay scale. For instance, a certified phlebotomy technician will get $15.93, which is more than the median $13.8 a non-certified individual earns. Meanwhile, a certified donor phlebotomist can expect up to $16.51 per hour. As for a certified phlebotomy instructor, they can get $36,000 annually.

What Type of Company Pays the Best Salary for Phlebotomists

Where you work determines how lucrative your salary will be. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment opportunities may be highest at general medical and surgical hospitals (41,590), but the highest paying are insurance carriers at $20.51 per hour and $42,650 per annum. Following insurance carriers are:

Management of companies and enterprises – 17.54 per hour and $36,689 annually

– 17.54 per hour and $36,689 annually Individual and family services – $17.61 per hour and $36,620 per year

– $17.61 per hour and $36,620 per year Specialty hospitals – $16.96 per hour and $35,280 annually

– $16.96 per hour and $35,280 annually Health and personal care stores – $16.90 per hour and $35,150 per year

While these are the highest paying organizations in the industry, they offer very limited employment opportunities to phlebotomists. So you need to beat the rest of the crowd to show that you’re worth working there.

How Can You Increase Your Salary

Whether you’re currently working as a phlebotomist or are yet to graduate, you need to know a trick or two to ensure that your salary covers your necessities and then some.

For Working Phlebotomists

If you’re currently working in a healthcare facility and would like to get a wage rise, you can go about this in one of the five ways.

Get Certified – Even if certification isn’t required by your state, you’re welcome to get certified to ensure yourself of a more lucrative career. A certification shows that you have the skills and knowledge to work in this field, something that’ll give you an edge over the rest of the staff. Become a Phlebotomy Specialist – By choosing to become a specialist in your line of phlebotomy, you’ll be guaranteed a higher pay that an average phlebotomist. This will require more years of experience as well as additional training, but it’ll be worthwhile. Ask Your Employer for a Raise – One of the simplest yet least taken roads is being direct and asking for a wage raise out front. However, don’t use any emotional data to get your employer on your side. Have solid numbers along with proper documents to justify why you need a raise. Apply Elsewhere – If you’re completely unsatisfied with your current pay and can easily leave your current employer, try your luck elsewhere. Keep applying at the top paying employers in your city and hone your skills in the meantime to ensure that your resume stands out from the rest. Consider Changing States – Different job search engines like Indeed.com and Salary.com offer comparison tools to help you determine which states offer better salaries and reasonable living expenses. You can do your research a little to discover a new place and enjoy a more rewarding job.

For Future Phlebotomy Technicians

If you’re planning on getting your first job, one of the skills you should learn is how to negotiate your salary. To help you develop or hone this important skill, follow these tips.

Know Your Worth – Find out the median salary you can get for your qualifications. This will ensure that you don’t settle for less or fight too hard for a salary you don’t deserve just yet. List Your Qualifications before the Interview – Write down your accomplishments, strengths and scholastic awards you had received. You may also want to add the duration of your experience, any certifications you may have, and/or recent volunteer experience. Avoid Getting Personal – You need to avoid mentioning personal details such as expenses and financially-draining hardships as they won’t swap your potential employer. You need to be paid according to your qualifications like everyone else. Don’t Compare Salaries of Current Employees – If you had discovered how much someone else earns at the company, never mention that number. This is never appropriate. You need to remember that everyone has their own set of experiences and qualifications. So you can’t expect to be paid equally.

Remember: don’t negotiate unless you have other options. If you’re still inexperienced, try your best to become employed and forget about the salary for at least a year.

The Bottom Line of Phlebotomy Technician Salary

It’s important that you understand how much you’re worth by finding out the salary you can get and what factors can affect it. However, you need to also know when to back down and be content with what you get. Now that you have the necessary information, good luck with being paid handsomely according to your skills.

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