Are you interested in pursuing a career as a phlebotomist? If you enjoy conducting scientific analyses, are able to work well under pressure and possess sound dexterity, you would make a strong phlebotomist. Phlebotomists are responsible for taking, analyzing and storing blood samples from patients. We do face an incredibly challenging economy as well as high unemployment. We must also deal with an incredibly fierce and hyper-competitive job market as well. As such, it is vital to examine the career prospects and expected phlebotomist salary. This article will take a look at the details.

Career prospects for phlebotomists are strong and the market for this profession is anticipated to expand between 10 and 20 percent. The US Bureau of Labor predicted 14 percent growth between 2006 and 2016. What is fueling this surge in demand for phlebotomists? The rapidly expanding population of older people is very much responsible for the strong job prospects for phlebotomy jobs. This portion of the population requires significant medical attention, which means that there will be a greater need for phlebotomists to take and analyze blood samples. Independent medical laboratories are expected to have very high demand for phlebotomists because hospitals now tend to send a greater portion of their work to independent outside laboratories.

Now that we have established that career prospects look to be strong for phlebotomists throughout the next decade, it is important to look at the earning potential for this profession. As with most professions, experience, employer type and geographic location all play a role in determining salary. In 2009, the average hourly and annual salary for a phlebotomist was $12.84 and $26,710, respectively. These numbers change fairly significantly in some cases when you take experience, employer and location into consideration.

If you believe you possess the characteristics necessary to become a phlebotomy tech and ultimately choose to do so, feel confident knowing that job prospects are expected to be strong for this profession. The fact that the population of older people is rapidly expanding means that there will be greater demand for phlebotomists to take and analyze blood samples. If you are interest in learning about salary information for this profession, you need to research the average pay for phlebotomists in the location you wish to work.

In order to secure employment and maximize phlebotomy salaries given the challenging economic times we live in combined with the hyper-active job market we must deal with, it is important that you strategize properly. This means that, if necessary, you select an educational program that will be most beneficial to your job search once your education ends. You must also consider which types of prospective employers to pursue as well as geographic locations that provide the best opportunities and phlebotomy salaries within this profession. One profession that is expected to be in high demand over the course of the next decade is phlebotomy. As the population of older people continues to expand rapidly, phlebotomists will be in high demand. If you have chosen to pursue this career, it is important that you understand how you can maximize your salary as a phlebotomist.

Let’s begin by taking a look at the top five states that provide the highest average phlebotomy salaries: Connecticut at roughly $57,000; Tennessee at roughly $56,000; Alaska at roughly $52,000; Hawaii at roughly 52,000; and Minnesota at roughly $51,000. The following metropolitan areas offer the highest average salary for phlebotomists: Grand Junction, Colorado at approximately $73,000; Norwich-New London, Connecticut at approximately $65,000; Nashville, Tennessee at approximately $61,000; Bremerton-Silverdale, Washington at approximately $61,000; and New Haven, Connecticut at approximately $60,000. These areas vastly surpass the national average salary of all phlebotomists. Connecticut and Tennessee both seem to provide high salaries to phlebotomist when you consider both states are in the top five in both states and have metropolitan areas listed as well. Would you consider relocating to one of these states to complete your training and then seek employment? This decision could serve you well. It is also important to highlight that the best opening salary for phlebotomists can be found in the diagnostic and other medical laboratories.

If you are looking to pursue a career as a phlebotomist, it is important that you do some research to determine which areas offer the best training programs and earning potential. Some simple research can go a long distance in maximizing your opportunities and phlebotomy salaries.

If you’ve been offered a phlebotomy job, the next step will be discussing the phlebotomist salary associated with the position. As we discussed in a prior article on interview tips, the interview process is not the proper time to discuss the phlebotomist salary. However, if you have been offered a position as a phlebotomist, then this is generally the time to begin salary negotiations and in this article, we’ll present six tips for successfully negotiating the best phlebotomist salary possible.

Be the First to Bring Up Salary

Many successful recruiting coaches point to the fact that the first salary figure which is presented by either side during salary negotiations tends to be the range around which all subsequent discussions revolve. If you have a specific number in mind that you believe will be slightly higher that the offer which will be presented by the hiring manager for a position, it never hurts to mention the number which you have in mind first before salary discussions begin.

Don’t Jump at the First Offer

Generally, hiring managers for phlebotomy jobs have a pay range to work with and in most cases, they will begin on the lower end of that range. When a hiring manager does present a phlebotomist salary to you, it’s always a good practice to at least attempt at negotiating upward, even slightly.

Leverage Your Offer

If you have been interviewing for multiple phlebotomy jobs and you are presented an offer, it is usually common courtesy to inform other hiring managers of your offer. This can work in your favor as if you have been a leading candidate for other positions, informing these hiring managers of your offer will often lead to a faster interview process for those jobs as well as a possible increase in the phlebotomist salary offered for those positions.

Communicate Your Expectations

One of the most important factors in phlebotomist salary and job negotiations is to be clear as to what you are looking for. You should be open and honest with the hiring manager in terms of the pay, benefits, and time off which you wish to receive. These issues can be difficult to negotiate after the offer is signed, so be sure to be upfront.

Benefits Beyond the Phlebotomist Salary

In some cases, the hiring manager may not be able to negotiate the phlebotomist salary being offered. If this is the case for a position which you are offered, you may also want to inquire as to what other benefits can be included to enhance the offer such as additional paid time off or richer health benefits.

Communicate Your Value

If you do plan to negotiate salary for phlebotomy jobs which are offered to you, there is one word of wisdom which you need to be sure to follow. Any time you plan to ask for an increase in pay, whether during the job offer process or later down the road as a raise, you should be able to back up your request with valid assessments of the value which you will bring to the job. If you have certain personal attributes or an employment track record which may merit additional pay, you should have these examples prepared and on hand prior to asking for an increase in the phlebotomist salary.

As job seekers, we’re often so intent on finding employment that we neglect to really assess a potential employer to see if it’s a good fit for us and this can certainly be the case when searching for phlebotomy jobs. However, by asking a few basic questions, you can get a better understanding of what type of working environment an employer might provide for you as a phlebotomist, the type of role you would play in the organization, and the prospects for an increase in the phlebotomist salary and advancement opportunities.

“Can you tell me the primary three tasks for which I will be responsible?”

As a phlebotomist, you will very often have a standard set of daily responsibilities for your shift. However, these can vary quite a bit between phlebotomy jobs. By asking the employer what specific duties you will be expected to do day in and day out, you can get a better understanding as to whether or not it will be a good fit for you and keep you challenged and stimulated throughout the day.

“Why did you choose to work here?”

This can be a great question to ask when evaluating various phlebotomy jobs. By asking the interviewer or other personnel within the lab, clinic, or hospital why they chose the organization as an employer, you can better understand the strengths and weaknesses associated with the company. If there are particular benefits to working with the organization, it can be helpful to find out what people enjoy about the employer.

“Will I have opportunities for growth?”

If you are interested in finding phlebotomy jobs that will allow you to move up in your career and accept positions of increased responsibility, it’s important to ask this question before being hired. You will need to find out if you will be expected to remain in a position as a staff phlebotomist or if the prospects for advancement and an increased phlebotomist salary will be present.

“To whom will I be reporting?”

This can be a great question to find out a little more about the structure of the organization when evaluating phlebotomy jobs. It can give you good insight into the company culture, as well as provide a clear understanding of what you can expect if and when you report to work.

“Can you tell me about the culture of the organization?”

It becomes very difficult to go to work each day if you don’t enjoy the environment you work in and the people you work with. Phlebotomy jobs tend to span such a wide range of employment settings that it’s a good idea to ask about the general culture within the organization to see if it’s a  good fit for you.

By asking the right questions before accepting potential phlebotomy jobs, you can ensure that you understand enough about the position, the culture, and the phlebotomist salary associated with an opening to make a sound decisions as to whether or not it’s right for you.

Obviously, there are several steps involved in beginning a career in phlebotomy and working toward a phlebotomist salary. However, after you finish your training program, the next hurdle will be to get out and start interviewing for phlebotomy jobs in your area. In an effort to help you begin your hunt for a satisfying phlebotomy job and set you on your way to a phlebotomist salary, we’re going to explore a few basic interview tips in this article.

Know the Employer

One of the most important preparation factors when you’re beginning to interview for various phlebotomy jobs is to do thorough research on the company or health care provider you’re going to interview with. By taking some time to find out about the organization, such as their history, practices, and the patients they serve, you’re showing that you have taken a true interest in the organization. This signals to a prospective employer that you are looking for more than just a phlebotomist salary, but an employer that will be rewarding and satisfying to work with.

Practice Interviewing

As with any type of performance or activity that you want to do well at, you should practice interviewing for phlebotomy jobs. There are quite a few ways to do this, but the first step is to put together a list of potential interview questions and think through your answers to each one of them. To compile a list, you may want to search online for interview questionnaires. This will help you to begin thinking through sound responses to the questions which you may face in the interview. If you have a video camera, you might want to even record yourself responding to some of the questions to help you work on other non-verbal signals such as your body language and hand movements while you are speaking.

Work on Behavioral-Based Interview Questions

Many employers are beginning to move toward an interview practice which involves asking behavioral-based interview questions. The basic premise of this practice is that past performance is the best indicator of future performance. And with this in mind, employers are beginning to rephrase questions to ask things like “Tell me about a time when you worked through a conflict with a co-worker” as opposed to asking “How would you handle a conflict with a co-worker”. Obviously, the latter can be answered with any type of fluffed-up hypothetical positivity, whereas the former forces the interviewee to discuss how they have actually handled a situation based on past facts. However, these types of questions can be difficult to answer if you haven’t taken the time to think through past scenarios and how you dealt with them successfully. Take some time to think about how you can use your past work experiences to convince an employer of your competencies.

Be Prepared

Prior to actually interviewing for any of the phlebotomy jobs that you are looking into, be sure to work through the details of the interview beforehand. For example, be sure that you know the location of the interview, who you will be meeting with and their role in the organization, as well as how long it will take you to get there so that you can arrive 10 to 15 minutes early. Be sure to take along several copies of your resume to provide to the employer and any other staff members that may decide to sit in on the interview at the last minute.

By preparing to interview for phlebotomy jobs, you can ensure that you have the best chances of successfully landing the position you want and you’ll be on your way to a phlebotomist salary.

If you are interested in becoming a phlebotomy technician, or even if you’re already working in the field, you may be interested in how the phlebotomist salary stacks up by state. As with many professions within the health care industry, the phlebotomist salary can vary widely from one state to another and in this article, we’ll take a look at the various factors that influence pay for the phlebotomy technician by state as well as where the earnings are the highest.

Cost of Living

The single largest factor which drives discrepancies in the phlebotomist salary from one state to the next is the cost of living in a particular state. As you’re likely well aware, some states have exorbitantly high cost of living indices, such as California and New York. To attract and retain a qualified phlebotomy technician, an employer within one of these states must offer a salary that is in line with the costs to reside within the state. Some areas of the nation have very low costs of living, particularly in the southeast. In turn, you will find that the median phlebotomist salary tends to be lower in these areas.

Demand

The demand for qualified phlebotomy technicians is some states is simply greater than the number of available professionals seeking jobs. In this state of increased demand versus supply, the phlebotomist salary tends to increase to attract employees. This is currently the case in Texas where, although the cost of living is not particularly high in most areas, the phlebotomist salary can often reach over $40,000 per year.

Where is the Phlebotomist Salary the Highest

If you are seeking to become a phlebotomy technician in the state of California, we have good news for you. Although the bottom 10% of professionals in the field earn just over $23,000, the phlebotomist salary for the upper 10th percentile is over $51,000 per year. This is obviously due to an increased cost of living in the state. However, the state with the second highest phlebotomist salary, Florida, does not have a high cost of living, but employers are having difficulty finding a qualified phlebotomy technician. Because of this, the earnings in that state can often exceed $46,000 for top earner in the field.

If you’re interested in becoming a phlebotomy technician, it’s very likely that you’ll want to know about the phlebotomist salary prior to making an investment in education and certification. In this article, we’ll take a look at a few of the various factors that can influence the phlebotomist salary so that you can plan and prepare yourself to make the most of this investment in your future.

There is quite a range in the compensation offered in various settings. Currently, the national median phlebotomist salary is $29,407. This median comes from a general compensation scale that ranges from $23,802 in the 10th percentile to $35,438 for those in the 90th percentile. These salaries are often offered for newly certified technician in the field, so positioning yourself for an attractive compensation package right out of your training program can make a pretty big difference in the pay you’ll be offered. The following are the three primary factors that determine the compensation of a phlebotomy technician.

Geographical region
As with many positions in the health care industry, where you practice has a large influence on the salary you can expect to earn. As you might expect, employment in major metropolitan areas leads to a higher salary due to the increased cost of living in these places. For example, in New York, the median income for this occupation is $34,759, which is over 16% higher than the national median. Other large cities report similar numbers. If you’re planning to seek employment in a major city, you will need to balance the increased salary with a higher than average cost of living.

Employment setting
When you browse the statistics for the phlebotomist salary, you’ll notice a trend that illustrates that private clinics and labs have higher wages than hospital settings. This does not, however, factor in additional benefits that may be obtained through employment within a hospital. Often, these positions provide outstanding benefits packages and health care coverage, so if you’re evaluating employment between a private lab and perhaps a public hospital, you’ll need to consider the entire scope of compensation being offered.

Supervisory positions
Many health care settings offer supervisory or managerial positions for the phlebotomy technician. These positions usually require additional training and certification, as well as some relevant experience in the field, but can often increase the median salary by up to $8,000.

Certification
While many employment opportunities for the phlebotomist require certification from a state or federal agency, some do not. However, you’ll want to fully evaluate whether your certification may garner additional compensation within your region. If you’re evaluating employment within a private health care setting that does not require a certification, you may be paid a higher salary for having this credential.

While there are many factors that influence the phlebotomist salary, by fully understanding these aspects prior to applying for employment, you’ll be able to maximize your potential earnings. This can make your career as a phlebotomy technician very rewarding.