Pay Rate of a Phlebotomist
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), phlebotomists are included in the career group called laboratory technicians, with phlebotomists specifically specializing in drawing blood from patients. Additional duties include labeling samples, delivering samples to labs and entering sample information into databases. Phlebotomists work in clinics, hospitals and a number of varied settings. According to the BLS, the job outlook is excellent for phlebotomists.
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Salary
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According to the BLS, median annual salary for medical and clinical laboratory technicians was $35,380 in May 2008. Fifty percent earned between $28,420 and $44,130. The average hourly wage for a phlebotomist was $12.50 an hour in a hospital setting and $13 an hour in a physician's office.
Location
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Where you live and work can also affect how much you are paid and what jobs are available. The BLS lists the three states with the most technicians as Massachusetts, Tennessee and Pennsylvania. Massachusetts' average hourly wage is $18.98, Tennessee's is $16.07 and Pennsylvania's is $18.44. None of these states is among the top three highest-paying markets. Rhode Island, Connecticut and the District of Columbia are at the top, with Rhode Island paying $26.02, Connecticut $23.43 and the District of Columbia $21.23.
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Work Setting
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Pay for a phlebotomist varies according to the setting she is working in. According to the BLS, the top five employers for laboratory technicians are, in order, hospitals, diagnostic labs and doctor's offices, colleges/universities and ambulatory health care services. The highest-paying industry is the hospital setting. While the hourly wage in a hospital setting is slightly lower ($12.50) than in a physician's office ($13), the higher overall salary can possibly be attributed to the availability of overtime in a hospital setting.
Highest-Paying
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While hospitals, labs and offices are the top employers, none of those three is the highest-paying. According to the BLS, the top-paying industries for phlebotomists are junior colleges ($21.69), pharmaceutical companies ($21.67) and supply wholesalers ($21.15). While those are the top-paying industries, they are also on the bottom of the list for number of technicians employed. In other words, jobs in these companies are difficult to come by but very much worth it.
Advancement
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Phlebotomists can advance to the position of supervisor by completing additional coursework. Supervisors oversee other phlebotomists and ensure that the lab is running smoothly. According to the American Society for Clinical Pathology, phlebotomy supervisors earn an average of $18.14 per hour or $37,814 annually.
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References
- Photo Credit blood testing image by John Keith from Fotolia.com
