Phlebotomist salary in California
Phlebotomists in California earn a median of $56,040 a year ($26.94 an hour), based on BLS data for 13,520 workers.
Pay ranges from $45,490 for the lowest-paid 10% to $74,340 for the top 10%. That is 24% higher than the national median of $45,230. California ranks 1st of 51 states for phlebotomists pay, one of the best-paying states for this job. There are 0.74 phlebotomists per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.80). The average (mean) salary is $56,600, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for phlebotomists in California
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $45,490 | $21.87 |
| 25th percentile | $47,800 | $22.98 |
| Median | $56,040 | $26.94 |
| 75th percentile | $62,790 | $30.19 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $74,340 | $35.74 |
| Average (mean) | $56,600 | $27.21 |
Half of phlebotomists earn more than the median and half earn less. Percentiles show the spread: 10% earn less than the 10th percentile, and 10% earn more than the 90th.
Median paycheck, before taxes
| Pay period | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $4,670 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $2,335 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $2,155.38 |
| Weekly | $1,077.69 |
| Hourly | $26.94 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Phlebotomist salary in cities in California
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA | $62,350 | 100 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $60,600 | 350 |
| Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA | $60,290 | 190 |
| Vallejo, CA | $59,920 | 140 |
| Napa, CA | $59,840 | 30 |
| Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA | $59,800 | 50 |
| Redding, CA | $59,320 | 90 |
| Chico, CA | $59,100 | 100 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $58,900 | 1,410 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | $58,170 | 1,300 |
| Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA | $55,740 | 190 |
| San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA | $53,560 | 100 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $52,940 | 4,720 |
| Salinas, CA | $52,940 | 110 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $52,560 | 790 |
| Modesto, CA | $51,960 | 190 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | $51,490 | 1,400 |
| Merced, CA | $51,180 | 90 |
| Stockton-Lodi, CA | $50,770 | 180 |
| Fresno, CA | $49,570 | 440 |
| Visalia, CA | $49,390 | 110 |
| Bakersfield-Delano, CA | $47,200 | 240 |
| El Centro, CA | $46,910 | 110 |
Highest-paying states for phlebotomists
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| California | $56,040 |
| District of Columbia | $51,980 |
| New York | $50,530 |
| Massachusetts | $50,170 |
| Oregon | $49,160 |
| Washington | $48,880 |
| New Hampshire | $48,660 |
| New Jersey | $48,650 |
| Delaware | $48,110 |
| Hawaii | $47,750 |
Related jobs in California
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Medical Assistant | $49,660 | $23.88 |
| Dental Assistant | $50,110 | $24.09 |
| Healthcare Support Workers, All Other | $49,130 | $23.62 |
| Veterinary Assistants and Laboratory Animal Caretakers | $46,260 | $22.24 |
| Massage Therapist | $45,970 | $22.10 |
| Medical Equipment Preparer | $61,370 | $29.50 |
| Pharmacy Aide | $42,200 | $20.29 |
| Medical Transcriptionist | $45,050 | $21.66 |
| Home Health and Personal Care Aides | $34,320 | $16.50 |
| Nursing Assistant | $47,630 | $22.90 |
| Physical Therapist Assistant | $83,110 | $39.96 |
| Physical Therapist Aide | $38,330 | $18.43 |
| Orderly | $49,920 | $24.00 |
| Occupational Therapy Assistant | $81,770 | $39.31 |
More: Healthcare Support Occupations · all salaries in California
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 31-9097. Wages include base pay, tips, commissions and shift pay, but not overtime, bonuses or benefits, and exclude the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a phlebotomist make in California?
The median salary for phlebotomists in California is $56,040 a year, or $26.94 an hour. Pay ranges from $45,490 for the lowest-paid 10% to $74,340 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid phlebotomists make in California?
The top 10% of phlebotomists in California earn at least $74,340 a year. The top 25% earn $62,790 or more.
What is the starting pay for phlebotomists in California?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $45,490 a year, and a quarter of phlebotomists earn $47,800 or less.
How many phlebotomists work in California?
About 13,520 phlebotomists are employed in California, not counting the self-employed.