Is this a competitive Phlebotomists salary in 2026?
Based on BLS OEWS wage percentiles, JOLTS May 2026 demand signals, and ECI Q1 2026 wage growth.
$Competitive · ~P50
P10$36K
P25$38K
P50$45K
P75$49K
P90$59K
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Demand: HOT. Demand is hot -- health care job openings are running at 5.6% (JOLTS, May 2026), a tight market. Candidates have leverage, so a competitive offer sits at or above the median; below-median offers often will not close.
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Merit budget: Wages in health care are rising about 4% a year (BLS ECI, Q1 2026). Budget a 3.6-4.1% merit increase to hold this role at market.
Bottom line
For a competitive 2026 offer, target $45,240 to $48,942 (market median to the 75th percentile). Lean toward the top of the range for senior or hard-to-fill roles.
Figures are market benchmarks from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics; apply professional judgment before making pay decisions.
Source: BLS OEWS · Published May 15, 2026
Next refresh: May 2027
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The national median salary for Phlebotomists is $45,240 per year ($21.75/hr) according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) survey, May 2025. The middle 50% of earners make between $38,189 and $48,942 annually. Top earners at the 90th percentile reach $58,781 per year. There are approximately 143,540 phlebotomists employed in the United States.
About This Role
BLS Standard Occupational Classification 2018
Draw blood for tests, transfusions, donations, or research. May explain the procedure to patients and assist in the recovery of patients with adverse reactions.
Career Outlook
BLS Employment Projections · 2024-2034
10-year growth
+5.6%
Faster than average
Annual openings
18K
per year, on avg
Workforce today
140K
as of 2024
Why those openings exist
4% from new growth96% from people leaving the role
Most openings come from replacement, not growth. Retention matters more than recruiting here.
Typical entry requirements
Education
Postsecondary nondegree award
Experience
None
On-the-job training
None
Industry Wage Breakdown
Top 5 industries by employment · median annual wage, sector-specific
Industry
Workforce
Median Pay
General Medical and Surgical Hospitals
NAICS 622100
50K
$44,100
Medical and Diagnostic Laboratories
NAICS 621500
48K
$46,670
Other Ambulatory Health Care Services
NAICS 621900
24K
$39,930
Offices of Physicians
NAICS 621100
12K
$44,500
Outpatient Care Centers
NAICS 621400
3K
$48,030
Wage range across top 5 industries: $39,930 to $48,030 (20% spread)
Wage Percentiles
Hourly & annualized (2,080 hours)
Percentile
Hourly Rate
Annual Salary
P10
$17.20
$35,776
P25
$18.36
$38,189
P50MEDIAN
$21.75
$45,240
P75
$23.53
$48,942
P90
$28.26
$58,781
Market Context Signal
JOLTS · health sector
Hot
Openings Rate
5.6%
Quits Rate
1.7%
Health Care & Social Assistance openings eased to 1.42M (-115K) in May, rate 5.6%, but the sector stays structurally tight. Quits edged down to 1.7%; compensation pressure persists for clinical roles.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the average phlebotomists salary?
The national median salary for Phlebotomists is $45,240 per year ($21.75/hr) according to BLS OEWS May 2025 data. The middle 50% earn between $38,189 and $48,942 annually.
How much do top-earning phlebotomists make?
The 90th percentile salary for Phlebotomists is $58,781 per year ($28.26/hr). The 75th percentile is $48,942 per year.
What is the entry-level salary for phlebotomists?
Entry-level Phlebotomists (10th percentile) earn approximately $35,776 per year ($17.20/hr). The 25th percentile is $38,189 per year.
Wage figures on this page come from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics (OEWS) survey, May 2025 release. OEWS surveys roughly 1.1 million establishments annually. It is the most comprehensive employer-reported wage dataset in the United States.
P10 through P90 percentiles represent the wage distribution across all surveyed employers (not self-reported by workers). Geographic adjustments use BLS-derived cost multipliers calibrated from regional wage variation.
Wages are estimates. Individual compensation depends on experience, education, employer size, industry, and negotiation. Use this as benchmark context, not absolute ground truth.
CompSignal is a free labor market intelligence tool built for HR, compensation, and talent acquisition teams. We make BLS data, the same primary source Mercer and Radford cross-reference in their paid surveys, searchable and actionable without an enterprise subscription.
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