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Updated September 9, 2022
Review a list of states that offer the highest salaries and projected increases in employment demand for phlebotomists.
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Phlebotomists play a crucial role in the medical field, drawing and preparing blood for donations, testing, and transfusion. Because blood analysis will remain an essential function in medicine, and with a 22% projected national job growth, now is a great time to explore the best states to be a phlebotomist.
This guide explores the top states offering the highest salaries and demand for phlebotomists.
The Top States to Be a Phlebotomist
The U.S. Bureau of Labor and Statistics (BLS) reports that phlebotomists earn a median salary of $37,380 per year, with the bottom 10% earning $28,990 and the top 10% earning $48,490. Geographic location impacts salary ranges, with pay varying from one state to the next.
Many of the top-paying states have high costs of living; therefore, healthcare facilities within those regions must offer higher salaries to attract workers to the state. These states offer a yearly salary ranging from $48,870-$41,790, all above the national average.
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1 California
California offers phlebotomists the highest average salary in the U.S. at $48,070, above the national average of $37,380 but below the average for all other occupations in the state of $68,510. The top 10% of phlebotomists in California earn a yearly salary of $61,060.
Phlebotomists employed in metropolitan areas often earn higher than average. These professionals earn the best phlebotomist salaries in San Jose ($56,940), San Francisco ($56,050), and Santa Cruz ($53,880).
Despite having the highest employment level in the country, the BLS still projects a significant increase in demand for phlebotomists at 23.6%. This equates to approximately 1,880 new jobs per year from 2020-2030.
$48,070
Average Annual Salary
$23.11
Average Hourly Salary
23.6%
Projected Change in Employment
(2020-2030)
2 Washington, D.C.
Phlebotomists in Washington, D.C. earn an average salary of $45,390, approximately 50% less than all other occupations in the region ($89,800). Outside of Hawaii, Washington, D.C. has the highest cost of living, making it necessary for employers to offer phlebotomists a salary that is above the national average.
Although the BLS projects the region’s change in employment to be one of the lowest in comparison to the other top-paying states, they still anticipate a 12.5% increase, which is higher than the 8% national average.
$45,390
Average Annual Salary
$21.82
Average Hourly Salary
12.5%
Projected Change in Employment
(2020-2030)
3 New York
New York phlebotomists earn the same average salary as those in Washington, D.C. at $45,390. However, with New York’s cost of living being slightly lower than in Washington, D.C., phlebotomists’ pay stretches further. The top 10% of phlebotomists in the state can make upwards of $61,060.
According to the BLS, phlebotomists in New York also benefit from a 29.5% projected employment growth, making it the most in-demand location when compared to the other top-paying states. This projected increase translates to approximately 1,040 open positions per year from 2020-2030.
$45,390
Average Annual Salary
$21.82
Average Hourly Salary
29.5%
Projected Change in Employment
(2020-2030)
4 Massachusetts
The salary for phlebotomists in Massachusetts falls between $36,780 to $49,600, with an average annual pay of $44,020. Those who work in the nonmetropolitan regions of the state benefit from a higher salary than those who work in major cities, such as Boston and Cambridge, earning $47,100 and $44,900, respectively.
The metropolitan areas in the state also report some of the highest employment levels for phlebotomists in the country. Even with the high number already employed in the states, the BLS still projects a 17.9% increase in the number of open positions between 2020 and 2030.
$44,020
Average Annual Salary
$21.16
Average Hourly Salary
17.9%
Projected Change in Employment
(2020-2030)
5 Washington
Washington phlebotomists make an average annual salary of $43,770, above the state’s average for all healthcare support occupations at $40,320. The top 10% of workers in the state earn $58,130, while the bottom 10% earn $37,420. Washington is also home to one of the top-paying nonmetropolitan areas, with those employed in western Washington making $42,700 per year.
The BLS also reports that the projected change in employment for phlebotomists in Washington is exponentially higher than the 8% national average, with new positions projected to increase by 25% from 2020-2030.
$43,770
Average Annual Salary
$21.05
Average Hourly Salary
25%
Projected Change in Employment
(2020-2030)
6 Rhode Island
Rhode Island phlebotomists earn an average salary of $43,010, with the bottom 10% earning $30,230 and the top 10% earning $48,510. The state also offers one of the lowest costs of living when compared to the other top-paying regions. Phlebotomists in Rhode Island receive an annual income higher than the average for all other healthcare support occupations, which is approximately $35,900 per year.
According to the BLS, Rhode Island can anticipate a 9.8% growth in new phlebotomy positions from 2020-2030.
$43,010
Average Annual Salary
$20.68
Average Hourly Salary
9.8%
Projected Change in Employment
(2020-2030)
7 Alaska
Phlebotomists in Alaska reported earning $42,630 per year, slightly higher than the average salary for all other healthcare support occupations at $42,080. The top 10% of phlebotomists in the state earn $49,160, whereas the bottom 10% earn $36,780.
While Alaska currently employs the fewest number of phlebotomists compared to the other top-paying states, the BLS anticipates a 15.4% increase in job openings. This translates to an average of 20 new positions per year from 2020-2030.
$42,630
Average Annual Salary
$20.50
Average Hourly Salary
15.4%
Projected Change in Employment
(2020-2030)
8 Delaware
Delaware offers phlebotomists an average annual salary of $42,520, with the bottom 10% earning $34,400 and the top 10% earning $49,150. On average, those working in the field earn 25% more than al lhealthcare support occupations in the state at $32,530.
Phlebotomists also benefit from the state’scost of living and demand. Delaware has the lowest cost of living among the top-paying states and the second highest projected growth in employment. The BLS expects a 28.9% increase in new phlebotomy positions from 2020-2030.
$42,520
Average Annual Salary
$20.44
Average Hourly Salary
28.9%
Projected Change in Employment
(2020-2030)
9 Connecticut
The average salary for phlebotomists in Connecticut reaches $41,820, while annual pay ranges $31,680 and $48,490 for the top and bottom 10%, respectively. The average pay for all healthcare support professionals in the state is $36,720.
The BLS also projects an increase in demand for phlebotomists in Connecticut at 12.6% between 2020 and 2030, or approximately 180 openings per year.
$41,820
Average Annual Salary
$20.10
Average Hourly Salary
12.6%
Projected Change in Employment
(2020-2030)
10 Maryland
Maryland phlebotomists earn an average salary of $41,790, slightly more than the$35,620 average annual pay for all healthcare support occupations in the state. However, phlebotomists’ annual pay in Maryland can range from $48,510 for the top 10% of earners to $30,230 for the bottom 10%.
According to the BLS, Maryland can anticipate a 19.5% growth in new positions each year from 2020-2030. This increase suggests an addition of approximately 490 new positions per year.
$41,790
Average Annual Salary
$20.09
Average Hourly Salary
19.5%
Projected Change in Employment
(2020-2030)
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