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What is a phlebotomy technician and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025
4 min read
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If you have ever donated your blood, you must have interacted with phlebotomy technicians. They are the professionals who draw your blood for testing and other medical procedures. Phlebotomy Technician is a rewarding, excellent, and fun job. It is the starting point toward making a career in health care.

Their principal responsibility is to collect the blood specimens of patients. They forward these specimens to laboratories and other medical research centers for diagnosing diseases and health conditions. While working, they adhere to all the relevant safety and health standards.

It is essential for people interested in choosing this job as a profession to have a certification in Phlebotomy. Candidates having certification or training have a greater chance of getting hired by medical labs, hospitals, and research institutes. On average, they can get $15.40 an hour for helping others stay healthy and live a healthy life.

ScorePhlebotomy TechnicianUS Average
Salary
2.7

Avg. Salary $34,725

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability level
6.6

Growth rate 10%

Growth rate 0.3%

Diversity
9.4
Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 0.80%

Asian 11.87%

Black or African American 11.80%

Hispanic or Latino 17.24%

Unknown 5.12%

White 53.17%

Gender

female 83.66%

male 16.34%

Age - 44
Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%

Asian 7.00%

Black or African American 14.00%

Hispanic or Latino 19.00%

White 57.00%

Gender

female 47.00%

male 53.00%

Age - 44
Stress level
6.6

Stress level is high

7.1 - high

Complexity level
9.7

Complexity level is advanced

7 - challenging

Work life balance
8.7

Work life balance is excellent

6.4 - fair

Phlebotomy technician career paths

Key steps to become a phlebotomy technician

  1. Explore phlebotomy technician education requirements

    Most common phlebotomy technician degrees

    Certificate

    37.4 %

    Associate

    18.4 %

    High School Diploma

    14.5 %
  2. Start to develop specific phlebotomy technician skills

    SkillsPercentages
    Patients19.05%
    Infection Control9.06%
    Blood Specimens6.67%
    Customer Service6.19%
    Cleanliness6.09%
  3. Complete relevant phlebotomy technician training and internships

    Accountants spend an average of 1-3 months on post-employment, on-the-job training. New phlebotomy technicians learn the skills and techniques required for their job and employer during this time. The chart below shows how long it takes to gain competency as a phlebotomy technician based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real phlebotomy technician resumes.
  4. Research phlebotomy technician duties and responsibilities

    • Communicate and collaborate with care team members to implement a plan of care for oncology and surgical patients.
    • Comply with CLIA regulations for CLIA Waivedtesting.
    • Transport patients/clients using wheelchair or stretchers and assist patients with walking and exercise.
    • Operate electrocardiogram (EKG), and other equipment to administer routine diagnostic tests.
  5. Prepare your phlebotomy technician resume

    When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your phlebotomy technician resume.

    You can use Zippia's AI resume builder to make the resume writing process easier while also making sure that you include key information that hiring managers expect to see on a phlebotomy technician resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.

    Choose from 10+ customizable phlebotomy technician resume templates

    Build a professional phlebotomy technician resume in minutes. Browse through our resume examples to identify the best way to word your resume. Then choose from 10+ resume templates to create your phlebotomy technician resume.
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  6. Apply for phlebotomy technician jobs

    Now it's time to start searching for a phlebotomy technician job. Consider the tips below for a successful job search:

    1. Browse job boards for relevant postings
    2. Consult your professional network
    3. Reach out to companies you're interested in working for directly
    4. Watch out for job scams

How did you land your first phlebotomy technician job

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Average phlebotomy technician salary

The average phlebotomy technician salary in the United States is $34,725 per year or $17 per hour. Phlebotomy technician salaries range between $26,000 and $45,000 per year.

Average phlebotomy technician salary
$34,725 Yearly
$16.69 hourly

What am I worth?

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How do phlebotomy technicians rate their job?

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Phlebotomy technician reviews

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A zippia user wrote a review on Jul 2022
Cons

Nothing


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A zippia user wrote a review on Feb 2022
Cons

patient who are real sick and not able to return home it make me sad but i make sure there stay is the best care when they are in hospital this is the only hospital they want to come to and they tell other about the best care they got


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A zippia user wrote a review on Dec 2021
Pros

The interaction, conversations and making the patients feel safe as I make it my main priority to do my job.

Cons

When I miss the vein


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Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Research Team
Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.

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