Phlebotomist I
Quest Diagnostics · Millbrae, CA
Pay for phlebotomists in the Salinas area centers on $27.24 per hour, or about $56,650 a year. The lower quarter earns under $23.31 and the upper quarter over $28.59. That ranks 8th of 310 U.S. metro areas for phlebotomist pay, and 7th of 283 once local prices are factored in. The CMS hospital directory lists 2 hospitals in Salinas. Tell us your role and we email current openings near Salinas.
The metro median is 2% above the California statewide median of $26.66 per hour. Nationally the median is $20.99 per hour. BLS counts about 110 phlebotomists employed in the Salinas metro area, 0.6 per 1,000 jobs. Employment is less concentrated here than in the country as a whole (location quotient 0.65).
| Level | Per hour | Per year | Compared with U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lowest 10% | $22.39 | $46,570 | 7% above U.S. median |
| Lower quartile | $23.31 | $48,480 | 11% above U.S. median |
| Median | $27.24 | $56,650 | 30% above U.S. median |
| Upper quartile | $28.59 | $59,470 | 36% above U.S. median |
| Top 10% | $32.97 | $68,580 | 57% above U.S. median |
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2024, Phlebotomists (SOC 31-9097), all industries. This is what employers report paying, not an offer for a specific role.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024. Prices are for the metro area, not for a single neighborhood.
Named employers near Salinas, what they pay and the roles open now. Free for candidates, email only.
Get my free pay reportGross pay before taxes and benefits, from BLS pay levels for the Salinas metro area. For take-home pay use the take-home pay calculator.
| Item | Federal rate |
|---|---|
| Lodging per night | $209 |
| Meals and incidentals per day | $92 |
| Per week (7 nights, 7 days) | $2,107 |
| 13-week assignment | $27,391 |
Travel phlebotomist assignments commonly pay housing and meals stipends. The GSA per diem is the federal benchmark for what those stipends can be tax-free. Whether a stipend is tax-free for you depends on keeping a valid tax home, so confirm with your recruiter and a tax professional. Compare with your offer in the travel pay calculator.
Source: U.S. General Services Administration per diem rates, fiscal year 2026 (average across months).
Nearest open roles with published pay. Your free report adds roles in Salinas as they open.
Quest Diagnostics · Millbrae, CA
Quest Diagnostics · Selma, CA
Most are never shown on this page. Tell us your role and get the full list, with the pay on every one, in your inbox within 24 hours.
Quest Diagnostics · Fallbrook, CA
Quest Diagnostics · Temecula, CA
Quest Diagnostics · Beaumont, CA
Quest Diagnostics · Grass Valley, CA
CMS lists 2 hospitals in Salinas, 1 of the 2 rated ones with 4 or 5 stars. Hospitals are a major employer of phlebotomists.
| Hospital | Type | Ownership | CMS rating | Emergency |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Salinas Valley Health Medical Center Salinas, CA | Acute care | Nonprofit | 4 of 5 | Yes |
| Natividad Medical Center Salinas, CA | Acute care | Government and federal | 3 of 5 | Yes |
Source: CMS Hospital General Information, public data. A directory of hospitals, not a list of our clients.
| City | Distance | Median pay | Population |
|---|---|---|---|
| Watsonville, CA | 18 mi | $27.63/hr | 51,320 |
| Gilroy, CA | 22 mi | $29.23/hr | 60,390 |
| Santa Cruz, CA | 30 mi | $27.63/hr | 62,581 |
| San Jose, CA | 43 mi | $29.23/hr | 997,368 |
| Cupertino, CA | 49 mi | $29.23/hr | 58,710 |
| Santa Clara, CA | 50 mi | $29.23/hr | 133,132 |
Phlebotomist jobs in California · Phlebotomist jobs nationwide
Phlebotomy certification where the employer or state requires it. Credentials are issued state by state, so confirm what California requires for your role with the California licensing board and with your recruiter before you commit to a start date.
California taxes wage income. Use your own rates in the take-home pay calculator.
Salinas city guide: hospitals, employers and licensing
Phlebotomists in the Salinas metro area have a median pay of $27.24 per hour, about $56,650 a year. The middle half earn between $23.31 and $28.59 per hour (BLS, May 2024).
Salinas ranks 7th of 283 metro areas for phlebotomist pay after adjusting for local prices, and 8th of 310 before adjusting. Overall prices run 9% above the U.S. average.
CMS lists 2 hospitals in Salinas, led by Salinas Valley Health Medical Center. Ask for the free report to see current openings and pay.
Phlebotomy certification where the employer or state requires it. Credentials are issued state by state, so confirm what California requires for your role with the California licensing board and with your recruiter before you commit to a start date. Confirm with the board before you accept a role.
The federal per diem benchmark in Salinas is $209 a night for lodging and $92 a day for meals and incidentals, about $2,107 a week (GSA, fiscal year 2026). Your actual stipend depends on the assignment and your tax home.
Yes. We place healthcare staff in Salinas and across California. Tell us your profession and we email the roles open near Salinas.
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270+ Phlebotomist roles in California, sent free by email
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Median posted pay per hour, with the range each employer published.
54 Phlebotomist postings with published pay in California, 49 of them posted in the last 30 days. Month-by-month history by employer comes with your full report.
+ 52 more in your report. Each one has pay, shift and start date.