California · BLS SOC 31-9097
Phlebotomist salary in California
Median $53,100 · Top 10% earn $76,440+ · Roughly 16,309 workers in California. Source: BLS OEWS, May 2024.
- California median
- $53,100
- $25.53/hr
- Top 10%
- $76,440
- 90th percentile
- Bottom 10%
- $39,420
- Entry-level range
- Real pay
- $46,661
- CoL-adjusted (RPP 113.8)
California pays meaningfully above the U.S. median for phlebotomists — $53,100 versus the national median of $41,810. After adjusting for California's high cost of living, the pay edge narrows to about $4,851 above U.S. average buying power. The state employs roughly 16,309 phlebotomists.
What drives phlebotomist pay in California
California is one of the only states that licenses phlebotomists distinctly through CDPH (CPT-1 license). The licensure friction limits supply, and Bay Area phlebotomists earn $58–65K — well above the $42K national median.
Top-paying metros in California
California-area metropolitan areas with the highest phlebotomist medians.
California metros
10 highest-paying metropolitan areas. Source: BLS OEWS metro tables, May 2024.
| Rank | Metro | Median |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley, CA | $62,800 |
| 2 | San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $64,300 |
| 3 | Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $56,400 |
| 4 | Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $51,200 |
California ranks #1 of 50 states
Where California sits in the national distribution for phlebotomist pay, and the closest comparable states above and below.
| Rank | State | Median | vs. California |
|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | California (this page) | $53,100 | — |
| #2 | Washington | $51,010 | −$2,090 |
| #3 | District of Columbia | $50,590 | −$2,510 |
| #4 | New York | $49,340 | −$3,760 |
Find Phlebotomist programs near you
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Education path for California
The typical path is a postsecondary nondegree certificate (4–8 mo); some on-the-job, taking about 6 months. Tuition ranges from $700 (community college) to $4,500 (private accelerated). On the California median of $53,100, payback periods are typically 0.5 years or less from a starting income near minimum wage.
For full credentialing detail and the realistic career outlook, see the Phlebotomist salary overview. To run your own numbers, use the ROI calculator with California selected.
Phlebotomist salary in California — FAQ
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Methodology note
California-level wage data sourced from BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2024 release (SOC 31-9097: Phlebotomists), with state pay indexes from BLS area-comparison tables. Cost-of-living adjustments use BEA Regional Price Parities, 2023 release, where California's RPP is 113.8 (U.S. = 100). Last reviewed: May 2026.