How much does a blood draw technician make?
a year · about $22 an hour
A typical blood draw technician in the United States makes $45,230 a year, about $22 an hour, about the same as a typical US worker (median, May 2025, US Bureau of Labor Statistics).
What do they do?
They greet patients, check each person's identity, explain the draw, and collect blood. Then they label tubes, record details, clean equipment, and send samples for testing; some also collect urine.
Did you know? In US labs, blood samples can look alike, so phlebotomists carefully check whose blood it is and label each tube to keep samples from getting mixed up.
Is that a lot?
Compared with jobs you knowIf 100 people had this job
Most earn between $35,780 and $58,780How do you become one?
Most US phlebotomists complete a certificate course after high school, usually in under a year; some employers train high-school graduates. Certification is often preferred, and state licensing rules vary.
School needed: Vocational school or a few years' experience
Good for people who like building and doing and keeping things organized
Why does pay differ?
In the US, earnings can differ with experience, certification, workplace, and location. BLS data show pay varies by work setting; hospital and lab jobs may include nights, weekends, or holidays, so hours and shifts can change total earnings.
Where does it pay most?
Highest in California ($56,040), lowest in Louisiana ($36,120).
See every state
Top 5 and bottom 3 states, typical (median) yearly pay.
Jobs like this
Data table and sources
| Lower earner (10th from bottom) | Typical person (median) | Higher earner (10th from top) | People in this job |
|---|---|---|---|
| $35,780 | $45,230 | $58,780 | about 144,000 |
| State | Typical person (median) | People in this job |
|---|---|---|
| California | $56,040 | about 14,000 |
| New York | $50,530 | about 6,000 |
| Massachusetts | $50,170 | about 3,000 |
| Oregon | $49,160 | about 2,000 |
| Washington | $48,880 | about 3,000 |
Official definition: Draw blood for tests, transfusions, donations, or research. May explain the procedure to patients and assist in the recovery of patients with adverse reactions.
Source: US Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS May 2025 (bls.gov); descriptions and related jobs from O*NET 31.0. Figures as of May 2025, full-time yearly pay (hourly × 2,080 hours). bls.gov/oes · O*NET OnLine
Pages used for the text
- www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/phlebotomists.htm
- www.onetonline.org/link/summary/31-9097.00
- www.bls.gov/careeroutlook/2015/article/wage-differences.htm
Data: US BLS OEWS, May 2025 · 1 USD = 150 JPY