Salary of a Phlebotomy Technician
Phlebotomy technicians, also called phlebotomists, draw blood and prepare blood, fecal and urine samples for testing. While these technicians need the technical skills required to properly draw and manage blood samples, they also must possess good communication skills, especially when dealing with nervous patients. Other duties include cleaning and maintaining lab equipment and updating patient records. Phlebotomy technicians make far less than the U.S. median household income, which was $52,029 in 2008, according to the U.S. Census Bureau, and factors affecting salary include experience and type of employer.
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General Salary Data
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With bonus and overtime pay, phlebotomy technicians make a salary of $22,159 to $33,087 a year, according to 2010 data from PayScale. Base hourly wages fall between $10.31 and $15.12. Meanwhile, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reports a median hourly wage of $12.50 to $13.00 as of 2007, which equates to more than $25,000 a year, not counting overtime or bonuses.
Salary by Experience
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Experience increases a phlebotomy technician's salary considerably. In the early years of a phlebotomy career, technicians earn $18,696 to $30,000 as of 2010. With five to nine years of experience, the salary ranges rises to $29,163 to $35,537, notes PayScale, and those with 10 to 19 years of experience can make more than $38,000. Technicians new to the field may find that some employers require a certain degree of lab experience for an entry-level position. In these cases, volunteer lab work experience can help land a first job.
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Salary by Employer
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Phlebotomy technicians work in a variety of healthcare setting where blood needs to be analyzed, including hospitals, doctors' offices and blood donation facilities. In addition, some phlebotomy technicians work on call to draw blood from homebound patients. PayScale reports 2010 salaries in the range of $20,482 to $34,310 for hospital positions, while technicians working in independent laboratories earn $30,740 to $40,236. Employers offer both full- and part-time positions, and large labs with round-the-clock hours operate multiple shifts. .
Salary by Certification
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While certification is not required for a phlebotomy technician career, employers typically expect it, and technicians who are certified as donor phlebotomists -- specialists who work for blood donation banks -- can improve their marketability and salaries, according to All Allied Health Schools. Several organizations offer certification examinations, including the American Society for Clinical Pathology, the American Medical Technologists and the American Society for Phlebotomy Technicians. The titles of Certified Phlebotomy Technician and Registered Phlebotomy Technician are conferred on those who pass their exams, depending on the certifying body.
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References
- All Allied Health Schools: Phlebotomy Technician
- PayScale: Hourly Rate Snapshot for Phlebotomy Technician Jobs
- PayScale: Phlebotomy Technician Salary by Employer Type
- PayScale: Phlebotomy Technician Salary by Years Experience
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Clinical Laboratory Technologists and Technicians
Resources
- Photo Credit drawing blood image by Pix by Marti from Fotolia.com
