Phlebotomist Salary: How much can you make?

Phlebotomy technicians handle a broad range of responsibilities that enable them to move up the career ladder in the field of health care. They can be future nurses, CNAs or RNAs, if they so desire. This shows how important phlebotomy is in the world of health care, and is often compensated accordingly. How much a phlebotomist earns, however, differ based on many elements.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median pay of phlebotomy technician on an entry-level education is $14.29 per hour or $29,730 per year. There may be differences now, but it is often considered lower compared to other health care jobs. This is because phlebotomy is an entry position in general. The pay will only increase once you have gained certifications and take on higher positions. For more information about phlebotomists’ salary and job outlook you can check HealthCareSalariesGuide.com

Factors to Consider

As previously mentioned, remuneration differ due to various factors. These include the following:

1. Location of a Facility

Generally, laboratories and hospitals in big towns pay more than those in small towns or rural areas, something to do with economics. So, if you want to earn more, you should look for a job in highly industrialized or developed cities. Know though that competition would be tough in these places, as every other phlebotomist in town is likely to have similar thoughts. If you are in it for the experience, however, you can start in small town and far away areas.

2. The Kind of Facility

Big facilities cater to a huge number of patients and in diverse population, which enables them to earn more, thus paying you more. If they have sophisticated and advanced equipment and machinery, the more they can afford to charge a higher rate. The opposite is often true in smaller facilities. The downside in huge laboratories, hospitals or clinics, however, is that the demands of the job can be really stressful. More patients require you to move faster, so you can cater to a lot of people. This will need your utmost attention to detail, while keeping up a good and steady pace. Small facilities, however, doesn’t necessarily mean work is less. In some cases, it could mean more, especially if the equipment is outdated.

3. Level of Practical Experience

How much you earn is sometimes identified by your level of experience or expertise. This is why advanced training is highly recommended, since your certification will put you one level higher than anyone else. The more credentials attached to your name, the bigger your remuneration will be. Getting certified, however, requires money. This is why you have to start small before you can go big. Just to inspire you, a phlebotomist with many years of experience can earn up to $45,000 per year.

4. Job Position

The responsibilities of a phlebotomy technician range from drawing blood to keeping track of it in storage. At some point, however, you will gain other skills that will make you eligible to take on other related tasks.

Phlebotomy Salary Scale

• Phlebotomist Supervisor

Salary: $47,000

Becoming a phlebotomist supervisor could mean you have reached the top of your career ladder. It is the highest-paying job in the field of phlebotomy, after all. You will be responsible for managing a team of phlebotomist, and scheduling day to day staffing and emergency cover. It is also your duty to ensure the appropriate use of all equipment and supplies, follow all department, company and OSHA policies, and other safety protocols.

Due to the responsibilities expected from you, it is vital that you meet the job requirements that often go beyond standards. For example, you must have experience in Internal Medicine, Hematology/Oncology, and Infectious Disease, depending on what a company needs. In some cases, you are expected to have knowledge in scheduling and payroll, although not necessary.

• Nurse Medical Assistant Phlebotomist

Salary: $46,000

To be hired for this job and enjoy this much salary, you must have medical assistant experience and physician office experience. Most of the time, companies are looking primarily for a medical assistant and your skills as a phlebotomy technician would come really handy. If you think about it, you are actually handling two jobs under one title. Of course, the firm gets what they pay for you.

• Certified Phlebotomist

Salary: $32,000

Your job as a certified phlebotomist isn’t that different from a regular phlebotomy technician, but the difference in salary is quite significant. This only shows how important it is to be certified. Apart from the usual tasks, you are also expected to work in certain events, such as blood drives sponsored by Red Cross, conduct patient interviews and transport blood samples for testing.

• Phlebotomist Technician

Salary: $32,000

This is the first step to becoming a lead phlebotomist or supervisor. As a technician, most of your tasks are hands-on, ranging from preparing the tools to be used to centrifugation. Most of the time, the amount of responsibilities given to you will depend on your education and experience.

• PST Phlebotomist

Salary: $30,000

What makes this job position different is that you must have prior experience as a patient service technician (PST). You must have working knowledge about basic care and procedure that includes checking vital signs, updating charts, and assisting patients when bathing or during transport. You must also have excellent patient communication skills.

• Phlebotomist Specimen Collector

Salary: $30,000

Also known as specimen processor, your job is to receive specimen, input the data into a computer or laboratory system, prepare samples when further laboratory analysis is required, and transport it to other facilities or clinical departments. An entry level position as a phlebotomist specimen collector only requires basic data entry and high school diploma.

• Patient Service Technician

Salary: $29,000

Because nurses and doctors already have plenty of responsibilities, they sometimes delegate certain tasks to a patient service technician, including collecting blood samples. Part of your task is to clean medical equipment, check vital signs, update charts, and assist patients in other ways. But the most important role is to communicate with patients and medical staff to ensure that information is delivered properly. Think of yourself as the middle person between the two parties.

• Phlebotomist Float

Salary: $28,000

Your primary responsibilities are basically the same as a phlebotomist, except that you need to work in several facilities within a particular territory. So, aside from your skills in drawing blood, you must be highly organized in order to work all client offices’ shift times. You must ensure that your communication skills are also up to par, considering that you will be interacting with different people in different facilities. Keeping it cool until you get to your last clinic or office for the day is also vital.

• Mobile Phlebotomist

Salary: $26,000

Remuneration for a mobile phlebotomist may seem the lowest on the list, but you have more chances of increasing it, depending on the amount of work you are willing to handle. If you don’t mind driving a lot, you will definitely earn a lot from this job. Most of the time, you will be dealing with geriatrics, patients who have mobility problems and can no longer travel to visit clinics and laboratories. Companies organizing blood drives are likely to be your clients as well. You can also set up your own mobile phlebotomy service, where you can act as consultant for various medical organizations.

So which job title you want to have? If you aim for the highest with an equally handsome compensation, be prepared to invest in your education and continuous development.