How Much Do People Who Draw Blood Makes

People considering becoming a phlebotomy technician often ask: How much does a phlebotomist make? A phlebotomist's salary can vary by location, experience and other factors as described below.

Phlebotomy is defined as the process of inserting a needle into a vein with the primary purpose to safely draw blood from an individual. The procedure is technically known as venipuncture and is performed for several medically related purposes. Blood is drawn to be used as a donation to others in need, for blood tests or blood transfusions, to name a few.

The professional who is tasked with the responsibility of drawing blood is a phlebotomy technician; however, many other medical professionals – like nurses, doctors, & lab scientists – are often called upon to draw blood from a patient when needed. The phlebotomy technician is a significant medical team member.

How to Become a Phlebotomist?

To become a certified phlebotomy technician, you must successfully attend an accredited phlebotomy-training program that includes traditional classroom learning techniques plus a supervised clinical training practicum within a laboratory setting. The program's accreditation must be awarded by a recognized professional phlebotomy regulatory agency.

Following your formal phlebotomy training, and about a year phlebotomy experience, you will be eligible to sit for the required certification examination. Note though, to be eligible for the phlebotomy certification examination you must have completed the above-noted requirements within five years of sitting for the certification test.

The Six Most Recognized Phlebotomy Certification Pathways

In the United States, there is no national certification offered to phlebotomy technicians.

Each state develops its accreditation requirements for the phlebotomy certification programs offered in that particular state. Therefore, before you enroll in (and remit payment to) a phlebotomy certification program, it is crucial to confirm that phlebotomy program you have chosen meets the mandated requirements for the state in which you intend to work.

Generally speaking, six pathways lead to legitimate phlebotomist certifications. These pathways have been detailed below -

The American Medical Certification Association (The AMCA Phlebotomy Certification)

The Phlebotomy Technician certification awarded by the American Medical Certification Association (AMCA) follows a 100-question format and a two-hour time limit in which to finish. The questions included in the AMCA's certification examination cover the following areas of content –

Patient Identification & Site Preparation.
Overall Patient Care.
The collection of blood Specimens.
Safety Control.
The Order & the Equipment Selection Process.
Specimen Collection/Processing.

The Association of Phlebotomy Technicians (The ASPT Phlebotomy Certification)

The phlebotomy certification awarded by the Association of Phlebotomy Technicians (ASPT) is known as the Phlebotomy Technician Certification (PTC). The ASPT awards their PTC certificate to individuals who successfully pass their PTC examination. It is noted, however, those professionals who hold an ASPT certification must complete a minimum of six hours of CE units to maintain an active certification.

The National Center for Competency Testing (The NCCT/MMCI Phlebotomy Certification)

Those interested in obtaining the accreditation through the National Center for Competency Testing (NCCT/MMCI) must sit for its national phlebotomy technician test. The NCCT/MMCI's certification exam includes a time frame of three hours to answer 125 questions regarding the following topics-

Infection Control.
Patient Identification.
Site Prep.
Quality & Professional Services.
Equipment Selection.
Collections.
Problems & Solutions.

The American Medical Technologists (The AMT Phlebotomy Certification)

The American Medical Technologists (AMT) organization administers its Phlebotomy Technician examination with a 200-question format that tests your knowledge in these areas -

Blood Samples.
The collection of blood Specimens.
Professional Communication Skills.
Time Management Skills
Relevant Terminology.
Legal/Ethical Considerations
Required Clerical Skills.
Safety Standards & Procedures

The American Society for Clinical Pathology (The ASCP Phlebotomy Certification)

The American Society for Clinical Pathology (ASCP) offers a professional certificate for phlebotomy technicians who successfully pass the ASCP certification test. The ASCP's two-hour written exam covers these content areas and includes 80 questions.

The Circulatory System.
The collection of blood Specimens.
The Handling of Specimen including the Transport, & Processing.
Knowledge of Non-Blood Specimens.
Appropriate Laboratory Operations.

The National Healthcareer Association (The NHA Phlebotomy Certification)

The National Healthcareer Association (NHA) Certified Phlebotomy Technician exam includes 120 questions to be completed within 2 hours. These questions cover the following 5 content areas:

Safety Standards & Procedures
Site Prep.
The collection of blood Specimens.
Special Collection procedures
The processing of blood Specimens

Remember, while most people would prefer to select the phlebotomy training program that that appeals to them the most, the reality is that the phlebotomy program that you choose must meet the state-mandated requirements if you are to be able to work legally in that state. As noted above, each certification exam varies with regard to the number of questions, content covered and time limit.

Free Online Phlebotomy Practice Tests

As you prepare to sit for one of the phlebotomy certification exams, it is quite valuable to test your knowledge by taking the many phlebotomy practice exams available. It is also a great idea to take a practice test before you begin to study to use as a baseline to determine just how far your knowledge has grown. For many test-takers, preparing for their certification examination by practicing with these exams is the reason they pass the phlebotomy certification examination on their first attempt.

>>Test-Guide.com's Free Phlebotomy Practice Exams

Current Phlebotomist Salary Statistics

The federal government is responsible for managing the statistical records of employment by industry and occupation. They accomplish this task through the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). In 2016, more than 122,000 phlebotomy professionals were working in the United States.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median pay for phlebotomists and phlebotomy technicians was $34,480 per year. This translates to $16.58 per hour worked. Phlebotomists at the top of their field with advanced specialized training (that is, in the 90%+ percentile) can earn upwards of $50,000 per year.

Perhaps the most impressive statistic of all regarding the phlebotomy industry is that the government's statisticians anticipate a 25% growth rate in the professional through 2026. This is about 3 times as fast as the average growth rate of all occupations across all industries. The Bureau of Labor Statistics denotes that through the year 2026, another 30,000+ phlebotomy positions will become available to those who have been professionally certified.

How Much a Phlebotomist Makes Will Differ Based on a Specific Phlebotomy Position

Phlebotomy professionals throughout the United States often have job responsibilities that vary. Thus, pay differentials occur based upon the exact phlebotomy position and the area in the U.S the job is located. The list that follows extracted from Payscale.com details how phlebotomy technician salaries may vary –

A Phlebotomy Technician earns approximately $30,000 per year.
A Blood Donor Phlebotomy Technician earns approximately $23,000 per year.
A PSC Coordinator Phlebotomist earns upwards of $65,000 per year.

The Non-Monetary Benefits for Phlebotomy Technicians

Phlebotomy technicians generally receive a myriad of non-financial benefits that can often be valued upwards of $20,000. However, these types of benefits vary from facility to facility.

Health Insurance
Retirement Pensions & Social Security.
Paid Time Off.
Tuition Assistance.

Related Healthcare Salaries

Healthcare Salaries

A Phlebotomist's Salary Varies by …

The State in Which They Live

While statistics vary widely, a phlebotomist's salary is contingent upon the cost of living in the state or area you work.

While some states offer phlebotomists hourly salaries that exceed $25; other states only offer phlebotomy technicians an hourly wage that is less than half of the top-paying state's hourly wages.

Here are some phlebotomist's salary statistics for popular states:

State	# Employed	Hourly Pay	Annual Salary
California	12,190	$ 21.65	$ 45,030
Florida	8,250	$ 15.52	$ 32,280
New York	6,190	$ 19.53	$ 40,630
North Carolina	6,290	$ 15.42	$ 32,070
Texas	9,210	$ 15.87	$ 33,000

Source: https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes319097.htm

The Type of Company That Employs Them

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), phlebotomists generally receive the highest hourly wage when working for insurance carriers directly. Phlebotomy technicians can expect approximately $20 per hour when employed by an insurance provider. Here are the next four phlebotomist employers who offer above-average hourly wages –

A Company or Enterprise – about $17.50 per hour.
Specialty Hospitals – about $17.60 per hour.
Family/Individual Services – about $17 per hour.
Personal Care Businesses – about $16.90 per hour.

These higher-paying phlebotomist positions offer only a small slice of available jobs within the phlebotomy employment industry. As such, there are many applicants for these highly desirable phlebotomy positions.

How Working Phlebotomists Can Reach for Higher Wages

If you are currently gainfully employed as a phlebotomy technician or phlebotomist, several pathways help create more advanced job opportunities and higher wages. Consider the strategies noted below -

Be certain you have met your state's minimum phlebotomy certification criteria. Certification is a sure-fire way to demonstrate your education and skills.
Choose to earn a Phlebotomy Specialist certification. Specialty training is a great way to increase your job responsibilities and salary earned.
Be brave. Ask Your Employer for a Raise. This is generally the simplest method however, the request to your employer should be supported by documentation (that reasonably justifies your request) and completely avoids the emotional politics of the workplace.
Look for employment elsewhere. As they say, it is always easier to look for a new job when you are currently working as this helps eliminate the bad decisions one can make when influenced by a desperate need for work.
Work as a phlebotomist in one of the better paying states. The internet has more than enough tools to help refine your job search to match your career objectives and salary requirements. Use them to your advantage.

How Much Do People Who Draw Blood Makes

Source: https://www.test-guide.com/phlebotomist-salary-how-much-does-a-phlebotomist-make.html