Phlebotomists are trained healthcare workers who specialize in drawing blood for analysis, typically working in hospitals and doctors’ offices. Phlebotomy jobs entail clinical, laboratory work performing blood draws from patients and preparing blood specimens to be tested, transported, or stored. 

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, phlebotomy positions and other clinical laboratory work are expected to grow by 14 percent between 2008 and 2018, a rate that outpaces all other professions. Why the demand? Because of population growth and the development of new types of blood testing, as well as job turnover and retirements, the amount of lab work requiring phlebotomists continues to rise.

Phlebotomist jobs command an average salary of $26,000 per year. And technicians who pass a phlebotomy certification exam earn an average of 10 percent more, according to the American Society for Clinical Pathology’s (ASCP) 2010 Wage Survey

Jobs in phlebotomy, as in most other fields, allow for upward mobility. As you climb the ladder, you will have opportunities to gain more skills and pursue work outside of your immediate environment in a physician’s office or hospital. Working for the state, local, for federal government opens the door to higher salaries up to $37,000 annually. Top paying phlebotomy jobs such as supervisor of a hospital earn approximately up to $44,000 per year.

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Learn more about phlebotomy salaries and phlebotomy jobs at Allied Health Schools. 

U.S. News ranks jobs in phlebotomy among the best careers in 2011.