Is Becoming a Phlebotomist a Viable Career Path?

Some people aren’t even familiar with the word “phlebotomist,” but these are medical professionals who serve a crucial purpose. A phlebotomist is a person who receives training in drawing blood from medical patients. That is something most individuals need to have done from time to time.

You can attend phlebotomy school if this is something that interests you. Before you do, though, it’s worth talking about whether phlebotomy is a viable career path.

You Have Flexibility as a Phlebotomist

If you’re wondering about whether you can make a living as a phlebotomist, the answer is yes, you absolutely can. Many individuals get into this profession and support themselves through it.

Part of why phlebotomy is a suitable career path is that you can work in this profession in many different locales. You can work as a phlebotomist in a hospital, at a clinic, in an emergency care facility, in a private medical practice, or in a lab.

You can also work in a freelance capacity. As long as you’ve got the training and the expertise, you should not find it difficult to get a job.

You Can Live Anywhere Around the Country

You can also become a phlebotomist and live virtually anywhere around the country. There is a need for phlebotomy in major cities and rural settings. You can choose where in the U.S. you want to live and move there.

You can even live internationally as a phlebotomist in some instances. Since this is a skill that is in such high demand, you can sign up to work for the Red Cross or a similar entity overseas.

You can get international experience and then come back to America with a stronger resume. If you speak a second language, your skills become even more desirable since you can communicate with people who speak limited or no English.

How Much Does a Phlebotomist Make?

It’s true that you will probably never become extremely wealthy as a phlebotomist, but you can make a comfortable living in some parts of the country if this is your primary profession. You will probably make about $35K per year on the low end or up to $75K on the high end.

If you want a better position as a phlebotomist, you might get one if you work in the field for some time and then demonstrate that you can function as a technician or supervisor. You might look for those kinds of jobs after you have mastered the basics and worked in various positions over a number of years.

It’s also entirely possible to make six figures as a phlebotomist, but to get to that point, you will likely need to show that you can work in a laboratory setting. Laboratory phlebotomists are often the ones that command the highest salaries, and those jobs have a lot of competition.

If you’re not squeamish at the sight of blood, this can be your new career. It’s worth considering if you’d like to enter the medical profession.