Phlebotomist Median Pay: BLS Median Wage
The median annual wage for phlebotomists is $45,230/yr ($21.75/hr), according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS survey (May 2025). Half of phlebotomists earn more than this; half earn less. That is up from $43,660 in the prior (May 2024) release.
Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 (SOC 31-9097, national). Employment: 143,540.
Median vs Mean: Which Number Should You Use?
Salary reports quote both the median and the mean (average), and the two are easy to confuse. For phlebotomists they are close, $45,230 median versus $45,520 mean, but the gap tells you something about the pay distribution.
Median — $45,230/yr
The midpoint: exactly half of phlebotomists earn more and half earn less. It is not distorted by a handful of very high earners, so it is the best single answer to “what does a typical phlebotomist make?” Use the median when you want a realistic benchmark for your own pay.
Mean — $45,520/yr
The arithmetic average of every phlebotomist's wage. Because the top of the range ($58,780 at the 90th percentile) stretches further above the median than the bottom ($35,780 at the 10th) sits below it, the mean lands about $290 higher. The mean is most useful for estimating total workforce payroll, not individual pay.
Full Pay Distribution (10th to 90th Percentile)
The median is the middle of this distribution. The 25th-to-75th percentile band, $38,190 to $48,930, captures the middle half of all phlebotomists.
| Percentile | Hourly Wage | Annual Wage | Typical Profile |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $17.20 | $35,780 | Typical entry-level pay |
| 25th percentile | $18.36 | $38,190 | Early career |
| 50th percentile (median) | $21.75 | $45,230 | Half earn more, half earn less |
| 75th percentile | $23.53 | $48,930 | Experienced / hospital roles |
| 90th percentile | $28.26 | $58,780 | Senior, certified, shift premiums |
Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 (SOC 31-9097, national cross-industry). Mean annual wage: $45,520 ($21.88/hr).
Median Pay Over Time (2019 to 2025)
The phlebotomist median wage has risen every year since 2019, growing roughly 3 to 4% annually and adding about $8,900 over six years.
| OEWS Year | Median Annual Wage | Year-over-Year |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $36,320 | - |
| 2020 | $37,380 | +2.9% |
| 2021 | $38,640 | +3.4% |
| 2022 | $40,580 | +5.0% |
| 2023 | $42,110 | +3.8% |
| 2024 (May) | $43,660 | +3.7% |
| 2025 (May) | $45,230 | +3.6% |
Source: BLS OEWS median annual wage, SOC 31-9097. Each OEWS edition is released the spring after its reference month (May 2025 data released spring 2026).
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the BLS median wage for phlebotomists?
The BLS median annual wage for phlebotomists is $45,230, or $21.75 per hour, according to the Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) survey, May 2025. The median means half of all phlebotomists earn more than this and half earn less. This is the single most representative pay figure because, unlike the average, it is not pulled upward by a small number of very high earners.
What was the phlebotomist median pay in May 2024?
In the May 2024 OEWS release the median annual wage for phlebotomists was $43,660 ($20.99/hr). The figure rose to $45,230 ($21.75/hr) in the May 2025 release, a 3.6% year-over-year increase. If you have seen $43,660 quoted as the BLS median pay, that is the prior (May 2024) edition; $45,230 is the most recent.
What is the difference between median and mean (average) phlebotomist pay?
The median is $45,230/yr and the mean (average) is $45,520/yr per BLS OEWS May 2025. The mean sits about $290 above the median because the highest-paid phlebotomists (90th percentile $58,780) pull the average up. The median is generally the better gauge of typical pay; the mean is more useful for estimating total payroll across the workforce.
What is the median hourly wage for a phlebotomist?
The median hourly wage for phlebotomists is $21.75/hr (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Hourly pay ranges from $17.20 at the 10th percentile to $28.26 at the 90th percentile. The mean hourly wage is $21.88.
Do most phlebotomists earn close to the median?
The middle half of phlebotomists earn between $38,190 (25th percentile) and $48,930 (75th percentile) per year, a roughly $10,700 band around the $45,230 median. Pay below or above that band is usually explained by geography, work setting, certification, and shift differentials rather than experience alone.