How to Boost Your Phlebotomy Salary

Whichever profession you choose, the salary is one of the reasons why exactly that profession was your pick.

If you are thinking about becoming a phlebotomist, we have to say that it can provide you with a competitive salary, especially when you have in mind that this is an entry-level position.

The approximate wage of phlebotomists is $16 an hour, which is almost $33,000 per year.

As we have said, this is an entry job, but there are still different ways to increase your salary,

Our aim with this article is to tell you several factors which can help you get a pay raise.

The job outlook for this position is great and many people decide to become phlebotomists as there is huge security.

Phlebotomy is definitely one of the fastest-growing careers in the medical field.

According to the Department of Labor, the number of new phlebotomy positions is expected to grow 25% in the years to come.

The salary is not the most important thing when phlebotomy is in question, as future phlebotomists can experience comfort in knowing that this is an excellent job for many years to come.

Due to the fact that the demand for phlebotomists increases, it is expected that the salary will raise too.

Hospitals and clinics are places that are in need of qualified phlebotomists and will be willing to pay higher salaries so as to have them on staff.

Job security is excellent in the healthcare field and you should not think that this is the only benefit of this profession.

With phlebotomy, you should not think that you will have the same salary for the rest of your life.

It will depend on you whether you will manage to boost your pay.

We will provide you with suggestions that phlebotomists find useful if they wish to increase their salaries.

How Can I Increase a Phlebotomist Salary

Our guide is designed so as to offer phlebotomists the best ways to make more money.

Those who have not started working yet can find out the ways to start out making more money once they get the first job, while for those who are already in a position, there are some other opportunities for more money.

You have probably heard that phlebotomy is used as a way to get into other medical positions.

However, those who see themselves as phlebotomists for their whole life can also have a long and lucrative career as phlebotomists.

How much you will earn as a phlebotomist depends on numerous factors, such as your location, education, certification, experience, and how much training you have.

You can take advantage of those factors and find out how to increase your salary.

Let’s take a look at some of the ways to do it.

Select the Right Location to Work

Even before you get hired, you should think about your options.

You know that the need for phlebotomists is so high that you can find a phlebotomy job in various locations.

The chances that there is more than one place looking for a phlebotomist near you are huge and you need to think about where you would like to work

Different locations offer various salaries to a phlebotomist.

Let’s take a look at this example – a phlebotomist in Sacramento makes more than a phlebotomist in Kentucky, being that California is one of the highest-paying states for Phlebotomists.

Furthermore, states such as New York, Illinois, and Florida also offer the highest phlebotomy salaries.

You can move there if you think that is a wise decision, but that is not the only way to find the best salary.

You need to do research with local hospitals and clinics near you that may be offering similar payments.

Another important thing when looking for a phlebotomist position is not to limit yourself to working in a hospital.

Employment can be found in many other organizations that are in need of your services.

You need to consider your location options and check several places before you determine which environment fits you best.

Have in mind that hospitals do not always pay the highest salaries.

You can always try interviewing with places like:

• Clinics
• Private practices
• Health agencies
• Private agencies

It is worth mentioning that the highest-paying phlebotomy jobs come from insurance carriers.

You can try finding a job as a phlebotomist for a government organization that also offers the highest salaries.

If people look for jobs outside of hospitals, it can be easier to get hired and they may even get a higher salary.

During various interviews for a phlebotomy job, you should keep track of who pays the most.

This can be an important factor for you when deciding which offer to take.

Our suggestion is not to take a salary as the only reason you choose a job.

The job should first be the most suitable for you and it should offer you what you like doing.

Don’t Ignore Your Benefits

You need to think about benefits when selecting the right job for yourself.

People tend to overlook them when considering a job in phlebotomy, which should not be done.

A full-time phlebotomist gets a benefits package from their employer.

Our suggestion is to think about benefits as it is not all about the money you are bringing home.

You might get offered a position with a high salary but poor benefits package.

In that case, you will be taking home less money or you will need to spend money on insurance.

If you are provided an excellent benefits package, but a lower salary, you should still think about accepting, as it can save you thousands of dollars a year.

You will find it beneficial if you ever have medical issues of your own, or of a family member.

Hospitals are the places that offer significant benefits.

When determining a place to work, you have to take into account how much you will be saving each month because of the benefits offered to you.

Benefits are not always related to insurance opportunities, but you might be offered things like stock options of 401k plans.

These are known as ‘future benefits’, ideal for people who are ready to retire or work on a part-time basis.

Become a Certified Phlebotomist

We keep on saying that even though only a small number of states require certification, you should get it.

There is a prediction that more states will start to demand it in the future.

Plus, by extending your training and getting your phlebotomy certification, you show future employers that you are serious about this profession and you will be considered a more appropriate candidate for employment.

Being certified will be of great help when your salary is in question, being that on average, a certified phlebotomy technician makes about $2.00 more per hour than a non-certified phlebotomist.

It is true that both certified and non-certified phlebotomists get pay raises over time, those who are certified will be slightly ahead of their non-certified counterparts.

A phlebotomy certification looks better on a resume and gives you more opportunities for higher-paying positions.

Also, you can get hired by more credible healthcare facilities that look for qualified professionals and that will offer you promotions in the future.

The extra training which is needed to become certified is definitely worth every effort as it provides you with various advantages.

Phlebotomy training programs with certification included last less than a year.

When it comes to their prices, the most expensive program is about $2,500 or less.

Once you get employment, you can expect an average starting salary for a certified phlebotomist of $14.00, while a non-certified phlebotomist will earn $12.00.

Those who work full-time will make about $4000 more per year.

That will cover the $2,500 that you gave for training, plus you will earn more in just one year of employment.

So, you get the answer to the question of whether the additional certification is worth it.

Getting a Degree in Phlebotomy

Besides numerous phlebotomy training programs and schools that are available all over the country, there are still those phlebotomists who rather choose to attend college.

If you are among those who get a two or four-year degree, you can expect to get more money as a phlebotomist once you find employment.

There are specific phlebotomy training programs and spending more time and money so as to get a college degree might look unreasonable to you.

But, there are strong reasons for this step.

In case you get a degree, it will help you get hired faster having in mind the fact that it looks better on a resume.

Plus, you can use phlebotomy as a stepping stone to a medical career and have many advantages with your degree.

In the majority of cases, people who choose to get degrees in phlebotomy actually have additional plans to achieve a higher position later.

They tend to become nurses, medical assistants, or even physicians.

Phlebotomy is such a flexible job that it allows phlebotomists to take classes and keep their phlebotomy job at the same time.

All in all, phlebotomy is an excellent alternative for people who are eager to get promoted or reach a different position in medicine.

With phlebotomy, you will not need to choose between a job and continuing your education.

Can a Phlebotomist Get Promoted?

Of course, he/she can and once you get promoted, you will increase your salary as a phlebotomist.

People who are interested in being promoted must talk with their supervisors and other individuals who are in higher-level positions.

If they know how interested you are in being promoted and that you really deserve it, they will keep you in mind when they have a new position.

Promotions can only be reached after years of experience and advanced skill levels.

Getting various certifications is another way of gaining promotion as extra training will enable you to stand out.

The more skills that have been certified you have, the greater are the chances that you will be hired for a position that offers higher payments.

Promotions that a phlebotomist can achieve are:

• Phlebotomy Specialist: So as to become a phlebotomy specialist, you do not need to take extra schooling. This is a position that comes after some time and experience within a medical facility. Once you get promoted, you will be in charge of the same tasks, but you will get a pay raise with the new title.
• Mobile phlebotomist: A mobile phlebotomist or better known as a traveling phlebotomist works in different environments. They can either work for a specific hospital or agency that will hire them occasionally or on their own. Their job is to travel to places like clinics, nursing homes, or even blood drives so as to draw blood from people or they will be asked to work with registered nurses who are not trained to perform phlebotomy. When this type of work is in question, how much money you make depends on how much you choose to work. For those who would like to work in a hospital or private medical facility would be a great benefit if their resume includes years of mobile experience. This will also help them get you a higher salary.
• Therapeutic Phlebotomist: If you wish to become a therapeutic phlebotomist, you will need to take extra training and a different type of certification. It is true that you need to invest some time and money in your additional education, but your salary will increase after you finish it. Therapeutic phlebotomists work with patients who get their blood drawn for medical reasons and a pint of blood is collected from these patients. Those are patients who have too much iron in their blood, or other conditions and if you are not a therapeutic phlebotomist, you are not allowed to perform this procedure.
• Phlebotomy Supervisor: This is a position that needs years of experience. A supervisory position in phlebotomy usually requires a Bachelor’s degree which will lead to an increase in salary. A phlebotomy supervisor is in charge of all phlebotomy techs in a medical facility and has to make sure that all the rules and safety regulations are being followed. Phlebotomy supervisors are there to check whether labeling and scheduling are done correctly. Some people consider it as a managerial position that involves quite a bit more work, but the pay is definitely worth it.

Other Medical Field Jobs for Phlebotomists

If you have chosen to get a degree or continue your education, you can easily be promoted to other medical positions.

You can be one of those people who simply use phlebotomy as a stepping stone towards some other healthcare professions.

The most common positions you can reach with additional education and training are:

• Registered Nurse: Being that nurses are needed in hospitals and clinics as much as phlebotomists, you can choose to become one. RNs are in charge of different things, such as giving medication and monitoring a patient’s recovery. This is an excellent opportunity for people with phlebotomy training, as registered nurses are not able to draw blood from patients. So, those who have a phlebotomy background are stronger candidates when they apply for an RN position.
• Hematology Technologist: Those who wish to become hematology technologists will need to reach an Associate’s degree. This position ideal for people who have an interest in blood diagnosis. Plus, it will provide you a more substantial salary. A hematology technologist both draws blood from a patient and analyzes it, as well. After the analysis, they report what they have found to the patient’s physician.
• Medical Assistant: Medical assistants can perform both administrative and clinical work. There are some states that do not allow medical assistants to draw blood, so those who already have phlebotomy certification and decide to become an MA will be allowed to perform venipuncture, making them a more appropriate candidate for employment, thus increasing their salary potential.
• Medical Lab Technician: These professionals perform almost the same duties as a phlebotomist, but are required to have higher education. So as to become a medical lab tech, an individual will need at least a Bachelor’s degree. Some of the duties of a medical lab technician are preparing lab specimens for different types of tests. They use the same equipment as phlebotomists. Being that it takes more schooling, a higher salary is offered to a medical lab technician.

Working Extra Hours and Contract Work

For those who wish to advance in their career, phlebotomy is an ideal profession as it offers a lot of flexibility.

Hospitals typically have several phlebotomists on staff and employees can find a schedule that works for them.

You can choose between two opportunities if you wish to make a little more money.

First, working more hours will definitely boost your paycheck.

You can ask your supervisor for more hours or tell your fellow phlebotomists that you are ready to fill in for them if they need a day off.

It does not have to be too many hours, but working a few extra hours each week will enable you to potentially earn thousands of extra dollars each year.

The other way to increase your salary is to find contract work.

You are allowed to have a full-time or part-time phlebotomy job at a medical facility and do mobile work

For those who want to earn extra money, there are many different places that might need a phlebotomist from time to time.

These places include:

• Nursing homes
• Prisons
• Assisted living centers
• Community centers

Can You Make a Living as a Phlebotomist?

Yes, you can make a living as a phlebotomist, being that, on average, you will make between $20,000-$30,000 each year.

Some phlebotomists may earn less, while others will earn more, being that a lot of different factors determine how much a phlebotomy technician will make.

We provide you with some factors that should be considered if still have doubts whether the pay is worth it or not:

• Phlebotomists work 40 hours each week and you have enough time to work more if you need extra money. The working hours are typically regular business hours on weekdays. However, some hospitals and clinics require that phlebotomists work nights and weekends, and even holidays sometimes.
• A phlebotomist has to work with different people each day, being that blood is drawn from people of different ages, children to senior citizens. Do not get disappointed if you have to deal with some problematic patients. You must be able to work well as a team member with other members of the hospital staff.
• Our suggestion is to decide on your goals even before starting a job as a phlebotomist. Try finding the answers to the following question: Do you want it to be a life-long career or just a stepping stone for another healthcare job?

Is it Easy to Boost a Phlebotomist’s Salary?

As we have already mentioned, you can make use of several different ways to boost your salary as a phlebotomist.

Which one you will use is up to you, as some of them are easier than others and some take more time than others.

All in all small strategies can help you increase your salary as a qualified phlebotomist.