Phlebotomist Salary: Pay and Take-Home by State
The typical (median) phlebotomist in the US earns $21.75 an hour, or $45,230 a year, according to Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates for 143,540 jobs (May 2025). The middle half earn between $38,190 and $48,930 a year, and the top 10% earn more than $58,780.
After federal income tax, Social Security and Medicare, the median salary leaves a single filer about $38,522 a year ($3,210 a month) in a state with no income tax. Using each state's own median pay for this job, take-home is highest in California ($44,938 a year) and lowest in Louisiana ($30,476).
Phlebotomist pay range
| Pay level | Hourly | Yearly | Take-home a year* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bottom 10% earn less than | $17.20 | $35,780 | $30,929 |
| 25th percentile | $18.36 | $38,190 | $32,866 |
| Median (half earn more) | $21.75 | $45,230 | $38,522 |
| 75th percentile | $23.53 | $48,930 | $41,495 |
| Top 10% earn more than | $28.26 | $58,780 | $49,410 |
The average (mean) is $45,520 a year ($21.88 an hour), above the median because a minority of high earners pull it up. *Take-home after federal income tax, Social Security and Medicare for a single filer in a state with no income tax (2026). Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, occupation 31-9097. Source
Phlebotomist salary by state
The highest median pay for phlebotomists is in California ($56,040), District of Columbia ($51,980), New York ($50,520), Massachusetts ($50,170), Oregon ($49,150). The lowest is in Louisiana ($36,110), Mississippi ($36,300), Alabama ($37,210).
The most phlebotomists work in California (13,520), Texas (12,820), Florida (10,220).
After each state's taxes, the most take-home at the local median is in California ($44,938), New Hampshire ($41,286), Washington ($40,777), New York ($40,360), North Dakota ($40,298). A state with no income tax can come out ahead of a state that pays more before tax.
Median pay in each state for this job (BLS, May 2025), and take-home at that pay. Take-home is after federal income tax, Social Security, Medicare and the state's income tax and payroll programs, for a single filer with a 2026 W-4 and no deductions. Local taxes are not included. *District of Columbia: federal taxes only (DC income tax is not modeled yet).
| State | Median hourly | Median yearly | Take-home a year | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $17.89 | $37,210 | $30,572 | 2,350 |
| Alaska | $22.07 | $45,910 | $38,839 | 210 |
| Arizona | $22.24 | $46,260 | $38,425 | 3,430 |
| Arkansas | $18.01 | $37,460 | $31,382 | 1,100 |
| California | $26.94 | $56,040 | $44,938 | 13,520 |
| Colorado | $22.69 | $47,200 | $38,063 | 2,420 |
| Connecticut | $22.03 | $45,820 | $37,137 | 1,630 |
| Delaware | $23.13 | $48,110 | $38,651 | 430 |
| District of Columbia | $24.99 | $51,980 | $43,946* | 180 |
| Florida | $19.34 | $40,230 | $34,505 | 10,220 |
| Georgia | $22.04 | $45,840 | $37,474 | 5,280 |
| Hawaii | $22.96 | $47,760 | $38,190 | 110 |
| Idaho | $20.87 | $43,410 | $35,604 | 1,010 |
| Illinois | $22.12 | $46,010 | $37,016 | 7,910 |
| Indiana | $18.87 | $39,250 | $31,816 | 2,410 |
| Iowa | $18.38 | $38,230 | $31,979 | 1,100 |
| Kansas | $18.80 | $39,100 | $32,214 | 1,120 |
| Kentucky | $20.42 | $42,470 | $34,936 | 2,500 |
| Louisiana | $17.36 | $36,110 | $30,476 | 3,410 |
| Maine | $21.94 | $45,640 | $37,038 | 500 |
| Maryland | $20.91 | $43,490 | $34,191 | 2,040 |
| Massachusetts | $24.12 | $50,170 | $40,164 | 2,580 |
| Michigan | $19.16 | $39,850 | $32,756 | 3,540 |
| Minnesota | $22.12 | $46,010 | $36,620 | 2,090 |
| Mississippi | $17.45 | $36,300 | $30,619 | 1,200 |
| Missouri | $20.73 | $43,120 | $35,735 | 1,890 |
| Montana | $21.86 | $45,470 | $37,337 | 370 |
| Nebraska | $19.01 | $39,540 | $32,738 | 920 |
| Nevada | $22.00 | $45,760 | $38,948 | 1,300 |
| New Hampshire | $23.40 | $48,670 | $41,286 | 630 |
| New Jersey | $23.39 | $48,650 | $39,525 | 5,230 |
| New Mexico | $20.63 | $42,910 | $35,429 | 760 |
| New York | $24.29 | $50,520 | $40,360 | 6,400 |
| North Carolina | $20.83 | $43,330 | $35,748 | 5,410 |
| North Dakota | $22.81 | $47,440 | $40,298 | 220 |
| Ohio | $19.12 | $39,770 | $33,328 | 5,120 |
| Oklahoma | $18.76 | $39,020 | $32,310 | 1,670 |
| Oregon | $23.63 | $49,150 | $37,927 | 1,800 |
| Pennsylvania | $21.11 | $43,910 | $36,083 | 5,510 |
| Rhode Island | $22.30 | $46,380 | $37,234 | 970 |
| South Carolina | $18.76 | $39,020 | $32,381 | 2,760 |
| South Dakota | $19.02 | $39,560 | $33,966 | 320 |
| Tennessee | $18.53 | $38,540 | $33,147 | 3,520 |
| Texas | $19.45 | $40,460 | $34,690 | 12,820 |
| Utah | $19.54 | $40,640 | $33,093 | 1,680 |
| Vermont | $22.12 | $46,010 | $37,869 | 200 |
| Virginia | $22.28 | $46,340 | $37,564 | 3,600 |
| Washington | $23.50 | $48,880 | $40,777 | 2,820 |
| West Virginia | $18.87 | $39,250 | $32,698 | 1,530 |
| Wisconsin | $22.34 | $46,470 | $37,557 | 3,610 |
| Wyoming | $18.36 | $38,190 | $32,866 | 190 |
Overtime and pay rules for phlebotomists
Phlebotomists who are paid by the hour are owed overtime at 1.5 times their regular rate for hours over 40 in a workweek under federal law, and some states also require daily overtime. Hospitals and residential care facilities may instead use the "8 and 80" system: overtime after 8 hours in a day or 80 hours in a fixed 14-day period, agreed with the employee in advance. Source The new no-tax-on-overtime deduction covers the extra half of time-and-a-half pay, up to $12,500 a year for a single filer. Only overtime that the federal Fair Labor Standards Act requires counts; overtime paid only under a contract, a state law or an employer policy does not. Source Estimate your deduction.
How the exemptions work across jobs: who gets overtime pay.
Taxes on a phlebotomist's pay
On the median $45,230, federal income tax, Social Security and Medicare take about 14.8% of pay for a single filer: $3,248 of income tax and $3,460 of Social Security and Medicare a year.
Tax bracket. After the $16,100 standard deduction, taxable income is $29,130, so the top federal rate is 12%. Each extra dollar from a raise or extra shifts is taxed at about 19.65% before state tax: 12% income tax plus 7.65% Social Security and Medicare. Source
401(k). Putting 5% ($2,262 a year) into a traditional 401(k) lowers federal income tax by about $271, so it costs about $1,990 of take-home pay.
Self-employed or contract work
BLS pay figures cover employees only; self-employed phlebotomists are not counted. If you work as a contractor (1099), you pay both halves of Social Security and Medicare (15.3% self-employment tax) and usually make quarterly estimated payments. Use the 1099 Tax Calculator to see what to set aside, and see 1099 vs W-2 take-home pay for how much more a contractor needs to earn.
Jobs with similar pay
| Job | Median yearly | Median hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Construction Laborer | $47,120 | $22.66 |
| Pharmacy Tech | $45,750 | $22 |
| Medical Assistant | $45,690 | $21.97 |
| Customer Service Representative | $44,770 | $21.53 |
| EMT | $44,470 | $21.38 |
For a full breakdown of a similar wage, see $22 an hour is how much a year.
Phlebotomist salary questions
How much does a phlebotomist make?
The median pay is $21.75 an hour, or $45,230 a year (May 2025, Bureau of Labor Statistics). The bottom 10% earn less than $35,780 and the top 10% more than $58,780.
How much does a phlebotomist make after taxes?
About $38,522 a year, or $1,482 every two weeks, on the median salary for a single filer in a state with no income tax. In Louisiana, at that state's own median pay, it is about $30,476.
How much does a phlebotomist make a month?
About $3,769 a month before taxes at the median salary, and roughly $3,210 after federal taxes in a state with no income tax.
Which state pays phlebotomists the most?
California, with a median of $56,040 a year ($26.94 an hour). Next are District of Columbia ($51,980) and New York ($50,520). After state taxes, take-home at the local median is highest in California.
How much does a phlebotomist make an hour?
The median is $21.75 an hour. The middle half earn $18.36 to $23.53, and the top 10% more than $28.26.
Do phlebotomists get paid overtime?
Phlebotomists who are paid by the hour are owed overtime at 1.5 times their regular rate for hours over 40 in a workweek under federal law, and some states also require daily overtime. Hospitals and residential care facilities may instead use the "8 and 80" system: overtime after 8 hours in a day or 80 hours in a fixed 14-day period, agreed with the employee in advance. The new no-tax-on-overtime deduction covers the extra half of time-and-a-half pay, up to $12,500 a year for a single filer. Only overtime that the federal Fair Labor Standards Act requires counts; overtime paid only under a contract, a state law or an employer policy does not.
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All jobs · Hourly to salary chart. BLS data published 2026, reference period May 2025; tax figures checked Oct 26, 2026.