One of the first steps most people take before entering a new field—or even a new position within their current field—is to check out how much it pays. You have to be able to support yourself and your family, after all. So, how much does a traveling phlebotomist make? In some cases, more than a phlebotomist who works in a stationary facility.
Basic Phlebotomy Pay vs Traveling Phlebotomist Income
The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reports that the average median pay for phlebotomists, in general, is $35,510 per year. This breaks down to $17.07 per hour. (Though, it should be noted that some healthcare facilities tend to pay more, such as outpatient care centers or medical and diagnostic labs.)
Yet, if you research the average annual income for a traveling phlebotomist, the numbers start a bit higher. For instance, ZipRecruiter shares that the median salary for a traveling phlebotomist is around $41,230 per year or $20 per hour. Indeed has the average hourly rate for a mobile phlebotomist at $20.96 per hour.
At roughly a $3 per hour difference, that equates to another $120 each week (assuming a 40-hour workweek). If you work 50 weeks per year, that’s another $6,000 in your income. Imagine what you can do with that extra cash. But let’s take it one step further.
If you enjoy a 30-year career, you’ll make about $180,000 more as a mobile phlebotomist than you would working in a brick-and-mortar facility. That doesn’t even take into account any pay increases, which are likely to occur.
Why Work as a Phlebotomist?
Whether you’re looking for a complete career change or want to start a side gig to supplement your current income, phlebotomy is definitely worth considering. According to the BLS, jobs within this field are expected to grow 17% by the year 2029. To put this into context, this rate is more than four times as high as the rate of all other occupations combined.
There are additional reasons to work as a phlebotomist, beyond the money. Perhaps the biggest is that you get to take an active role in saving lives. Patients rely on bloodwork to help identify any major health issues. Others use their test results to help determine whether they can donate blood or a life-saving organ. That makes you a key player in these processes.
Certainly, you can provide phlebotomy services at a hospital, doctor’s office, or lab. A quick online search will likely reveal a number of local agencies that are hiring for this type of position. But another option is to start your own mobile phlebotomy business.
How to Start a Mobile Phlebotomy Business (With Ease)
It can be scary to start your own business, especially if you’ve never built a company from the ground up. However, mobile phlebotomy can be an easier business to start compared to several others. One, you aren’t making a product, so you don’t have to worry about that. Two, you can start providing services as a mobile phlebotomist with very little start-up costs.
You don’t even have to figure out all of the steps on your own. Myrna Steinbaum, founder of VeniExpress—a reputable mobile phlebotomy company that operates within several states—joined forces with small business marketing expert Matthew Smith and Businessing Magazine co-founder Emily Lund to provide a Comprehensive Guide to Starting a Mobile Phlebotomy Company.
This guide contains everything you need to know to start your business as a traveling phlebotomist. It covers topics such as licensing and certification, as well as the equipment you need to offer people within your community this valuable service. And if you’re starting your mobile phlebotomy business with the intention of having employees, it talks about that too, offering tips for hiring the right staff.
So, maybe the question isn’t so much about how much you can make as a traveling phlebotomist. Maybe it is how you can take greater control of your own future by starting a traveling phlebotomy business. When you work for yourself, you determine how much you make. That’s a definite advantage and one that may be worth pursuing.
