There’s a lot about Monopoly that doesn’t resemble real life in any way. But the idea that one needs a strategy to increase earning potential? We’ll call that a definite resemblance.

The following tactics will help you determine the steps you can take now and those you may need to be prepared to take, to make a career in phlebotomy pay the wage that you seek.

1. Keep Learning

You earned your phlebotomy credentials the hard way — by earning them. Having pushed yourself as hard as you did, it’s tempting to relax. Don’t let up, though. Continuing your learning journey is an excellent way to increase your attractiveness to prospective employers. Every enterprise is only as strong as the people within it; developing expertise through continual learning demonstrates your commitment to excellence and makes you a great recruit.

2. Consider Changing Employers

Speaking of prospective employers: they can be the next step to higher pay. Employees who switch companies expect a 10% salary increase. Admittedly, a change in employers isn’t always required. If your supervisors recognize your commitment to excellence and lifelong learning, they’ll realize your potential and increase your pay to keep you in their team.

3. Go Where the Work Is …

Increasing your pay or job prospects isn’t always a matter of changing employers, however. It may be that a change in location is required. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the following three states are the best for phlebotomist pay:

• California
• Alaska
• Washington, D.C.

This doesn’t mean living elsewhere limits your salary potential. But it does mean that there are areas in the country with a pay discrepancy because of factors such as population density or phlebotomist scarcity.

4. … But Don’t Panic If You Can’t

One thing working in your favor is that our entire country is steadily getting older. That increases healthcare demands and, therefore, the need for phlebotomists. The three states with the oldest citizens right now are:

1. Florida (with nearly 18% of its population over 65 years of age)
2. Pennsylvania (almost 16%)
3. West Virginia (15%)

This is another example of how geographic demographics may play a role in your earning potential.

Even if you sit tight in your current state, America’s changing demographics will come to you. The country’s 65-and-older residents will hit close to 24 percent of the population by 2060. That’s nearly 1 in 4 people.

5. Understand That Networking Isn’t a Four-Letter Word

For something as reviled as it is, networking doesn’t get the hint. No one likes it, but it’s going to stick around for a while. A LONG while. That’s okay since it’s a great way to meet the people and discover the opportunities that might make all the difference to your salary goals.

LinkedIn makes networking easier. No easy; easier. You might not have to hang out face-to-face with relative strangers, forcing small talk for hours without ever letting your smile fade. But it’s called “social” media for a reason, so it does require some diligence. For example:

• Write reviews for contacts
• Join, and participate in, LinkedIn groups
• Give others attention; don’t make it all about you … or you’ll become the person everyone avoids
• Contribute to groups, reviews, or something similar at least once a week to demonstrate how engaged you are

You’re in the Right Place to Make Phlebotomy Pay!

If you’re beginning to get the impression that entering the healthcare field right now is a good idea, you’d be right. That means it’s also an excellent field to enter if your ambitions are set at a certain salary level.

It won’t be easy; nothing worth having ever is. And you might never end up with all four railroads in Monopoly. But that doesn’t mean in the end that you won’t come out a winner.

What are you waiting for? Do not pass “Go”— learn more here!

Reason #1: Job prospects for phlebotomists are strong

According to data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, now is an excellent time to get into phlebotomy. Employment growth between now and 2026 comes in at a robust 25 percent.  

Reason #2: Already large, healthcare’s role in the U.S. will only grow

Here’s a (very!) quick history lesson. Manufacturing employed seven million more workers than did the healthcare field. Around the beginning of the Great Recession, the retail industry employed around two-and-a-half million more people than were in the healthcare industry.

Healthcare surpassed both of those industries in 2017 and is only getting bigger. That’s thanks in part to the extended life expectancies in the U.S. in addition to our aging population.

Reason #3: Developing a phlebotomy career doesn’t take years

Depending on your situation, moving through your phlebotomy coursework, an externship or two, and a job search can take as little as a few months.

Would you like to be a surgeon instead? Who wouldn’t? It’s a high-paying, Hollywood-glamorized, and well-respected career choice. Unfortunately, it’s also one that requires a LOT of schooling and training.

• Begin with four-to-five years for medical school
• Add in two years of an internship and residency
• Wrap it all up with anywhere from three to eight years as a fellow in your specialty

What’s that? You’d rather make your career move in less than 15 years? And not have hundreds of thousands of dollars in school loan debt?

(And now you know why surgeons make the big bucks!)

Reason #4: You have greater control over your time with a phlebotomy career

Phlebotomy attracts many people looking for a better work-life balance. After all, no one wants to devote the best years of their lives to the sorts of corporate drudgery mocked so accurately in the television show “The Office.”

One student whose journey is emblematic of this came to phlebotomy seeking a change from a well-paying but utterly demanding desk job that required 70-hour work weeks. A 70-hour work week is fine if you don’t have a family, friends, hobbies, a desire to see the outdoors, or any such interests. But if you ARE interested in those things, phlebotomy is a fitting career choice. There aren’t any recurring 70-hour work weeks here.

Reason #5: There are few careers as rewarding as a phlebotomy career

A role in the healthcare field is as rewarding as they come. Yes, everyone has rough days now and again. But this is a field dedicated to improving, extending, and even saving lives. Becoming a teacher, firefighter, or military officer are similarly rewarding fields. If that’s where your desires lie, they will all help you contribute to improving our world. But for thousands of students who have walked through our doors, phlebotomy has been the ideal choice.

But wait! There’s one more reason …

Here’s how easy it is to begin your phlebotomy career: simply do one of the following:

• Call 734-762-3220 to speak with us about the many courses and certification options we offer.
• Click here to send us a message with any remaining questions you might have.

We’re looking forward to hearing from you!

Sources: Bureau of Labor Statistics; The Atlantic; Moguldom