Healthcare career

Phlebotomist

Also called: Phlebotomy Technician · Certified Phlebotomy Technician (CPT) · Lab Assistant

What phlebotomists do, what they earn, how long training takes and how to get started, with official BLS pay data and practical, job-level detail.

Updated By the Career Education Institute Curriculum Team
What does a phlebotomist do?

Phlebotomists draw blood from patients and donors for lab testing, transfusions and research, then label, process and transport each sample so results are accurate and traceable. The median pay is $45,230 per year (BLS, May 2025), most people train for about 1–4 months, and employment is projected to grow +6.8% from 2025–35.

Pay data: BLS OEWS, May 2025 · Outlook: BLS 2025–35 · Checked October 15, 2026

  • Median pay
    $45,230
    $21.75/hour · May 2025
  • Job growth
    +6.8%
    2025–35, faster than average
  • Openings per year
    18,000
    Average, 2025–35
  • Typical entry education
    Postsecondary nondegree award
    BLS classification
  • Time to train
    1–4 months
    Typical program length
  • U.S. jobs
    143,900
    Employment, 2025

What phlebotomists do

Phlebotomists are specialists in collecting blood. They identify patients, select the right veins and tubes, perform venipunctures and fingersticks, and make sure every sample is labeled and handled correctly so the lab can trust the result.

It is one of the fastest ways into healthcare: many phlebotomy programs take a few weeks to a few months. The job rewards steady hands, a calm bedside manner and obsessive attention to labeling: a mislabeled tube can lead to the wrong diagnosis.

Typical duties

  • Verify patient identity and test orders before every draw
  • Select the appropriate site, needle and collection tubes
  • Perform venipuncture, capillary (fingerstick) and heelstick collections
  • Follow the correct order of draw to prevent additive contamination
  • Label specimens at the bedside and complete chain-of-custody forms when required
  • Process, centrifuge, store and transport samples according to lab requirements
  • Reassure anxious patients and monitor for fainting or other reactions

Work environment and schedule

Phlebotomists work in hospitals, diagnostic laboratories, blood donor centers, physician offices and mobile collection services. Hospital phlebotomists move from room to room; lab and donor-center staff work at a draw station. Some travel to homes or nursing facilities.

Schedule: Full-time and part-time roles are common. Hospitals need early-morning, overnight and weekend coverage; outpatient labs usually keep daytime hours.

A day in the life

  1. Start hospital morning rounds with a cart of tubes, needles and requisitions, early draws let results reach physicians before rounds.
  2. Collect a series of timed draws, including a fasting glucose and a drug level that must be drawn right before the next dose.
  3. Move to the outpatient lab and work through walk-in patients, calming a first-time donor who is nervous about needles.
  4. Centrifuge and aliquot samples, then log them into the laboratory information system.

See a full day in the life of a phlebotomist →

Phlebotomist salary

Half of phlebotomists earned more than $45,230 and half earned less in May 2025. Pay ranged from about $35,780 for the lowest 10% to $58,780 for the top 10%.

Full phlebotomist pay scale and hourly rates →

How to become a phlebotomist

  1. Earn a high school diploma or GED
  2. Complete a phlebotomy training program
  3. Pass a national certification exam
  4. Meet state requirements
  5. Get hired and build volume

Most phlebotomists complete a postsecondary phlebotomy certificate program that includes classroom training and a set number of supervised successful draws. Programs at community colleges and vocational schools usually run 4 to 16 weeks.

Step-by-step guide to becoming a phlebotomist →

Skills and tools

Technical skills

  • Venipuncture and capillary collection
  • Order of draw and tube additives
  • Specimen labeling and processing
  • Centrifuge operation
  • Chain-of-custody procedures

People skills

  • Calm, reassuring bedside manner
  • Steady hands and focus
  • Accuracy under time pressure
  • Empathy for anxious patients

All phlebotomist skills and tools →

Pros and cons

Pros

  • Very fast entry: programs often take weeks to a few months
  • Constant demand in hospitals, labs and donor centers
  • Clear, focused skill set you can master
  • Good stepping stone into lab, nursing or medical assisting careers

Cons

  • Repetitive work with high daily volume
  • Early-morning or overnight shifts are common in hospitals
  • Dealing with difficult veins and fearful patients
  • Exposure to bloodborne pathogens requires constant vigilance

Certifications and licenses

  • CPT (NHA): Certified Phlebotomy Technician from the National Healthcareer Association.
  • PBT (ASCP): Phlebotomy Technician certification from the American Society for Clinical Pathology.
  • RPT (AMT): Registered Phlebotomy Technician from American Medical Technologies.
  • State license: California, Nevada, Louisiana and Washington require phlebotomists to hold a state license or certificate.

Career path

  1. Phlebotomist: Collect and process blood specimens.
  2. Lead Phlebotomist or Specimen Processor: Train new staff, handle difficult draws and manage specimen flow.
  3. Medical Lab Technician: Earn an associate degree to run lab tests rather than just collect samples.
  4. Lab Supervisor, Nurse or Medical Assistant: Use your patient-care experience to move into broader clinical roles.

Learn the job before day one

Our Phlebotomist training (8 hours, $74.99) covers the role, 15+ key terms, step-by-step procedures such as perform a routine venipuncture and follow the order of draw, safety and how to land your first job.

View Phlebotomist trainingIs this career right for me?

Medical Assistant

Room patients, take vitals, give injections and keep clinic records accurate.

  • $45,690
  • 9–12 months

Pharmacy Technician

Fill prescriptions, manage inventory and help pharmacists keep patients safe.

  • $45,750
  • 3–12 months

Compare: Phlebotomist vs. Medical Assistant · Phlebotomist vs. CNA · Phlebotomist vs. EMT · Phlebotomist vs. Pharmacy Technician

Phlebotomist FAQ

How long does it take to become a phlebotomist?

Most phlebotomy certificate programs take about 4 to 16 weeks, including supervised clinical practice. You can often start working within a few months.

Is phlebotomy hard to learn?

The concepts are straightforward, but the skill takes practice. Most new phlebotomists feel confident after a few hundred successful draws.

Can phlebotomists work in hospitals?

Yes. Hospitals are one of the largest employers, along with diagnostic laboratories, donor centers and physician offices.

How much does a phlebotomist make?

The median annual wage for phlebotomists was $45,230 ($21.75 per hour) in May 2025, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. The lowest 10% earned less than $35,780 and the highest 10% earned more than $58,780.

How long does it take to become a phlebotomist?

Most people need about 1–4 months of training. Most phlebotomists complete a postsecondary phlebotomy certificate program that includes classroom training and a set number of supervised successful draws. Programs at community colleges and vocational schools usually run 4 to 16 weeks.

Do you need a degree to be a phlebotomist?

No four-year degree is typically required. BLS lists “postsecondary nondegree award” as the typical entry-level education.

More phlebotomist questions →

Sources

Reviewed by the Career Education Institute Curriculum Team. Pay figures are national estimates; local pay varies. See our editorial policy.

Enroll in trainingTake fit quiz