Phlebotomist salary in California
Phlebotomists in California earn a median of $26.66 per hour, about $55,460 a year, 27% above the U.S. median of $20.99. The middle half earn between $22.50 and $29.21 per hour. The highest median among California metro areas is in Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA, at $29.50 per hour. Source: BLS, May 2024.
- $26.66median pay per hour
- $55,460median pay per year
- 13,150phlebotomists employed in California
- #1of 50 states by median pay
Phlebotomist pay in California: percentiles
| Level | California per hour | California per year | U.S. per hour |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lowest 10% | $20.44 | $42,520 | $16.76 |
| Lower quartile | $22.50 | $46,800 | $18.05 |
| Median | $26.66 | $55,460 | $20.99 |
| Upper quartile | $29.21 | $60,760 | $23.16 |
| Top 10% | $33.82 | $70,350 | $27.77 |
Phlebotomist pay by metro area in California
| Metro area | Median / hr | Median / year | Employed | vs California median | After cost of living |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA | $29.50 | $61,350 | 250 | 11% above | $27.11 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $29.23 | $60,810 | 460 | 10% above | $26.47 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $28.78 | $59,850 | 1,350 | 8% above | $24.89 |
| Redding, CA | $28.08 | $58,400 | 90 | 5% above | $27.89 |
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA | $28.02 | $58,270 | 120 | 5% above | $26.00 |
| Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA | $27.63 | $57,460 | 40 | 4% above | $25.14 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $27.34 | $56,870 | 4,380 | 3% above | $24.07 |
| Salinas, CA | $27.24 | $56,650 | 110 | 2% above | $24.98 |
| Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA | $26.01 | $54,090 | 190 | 2% below | $23.53 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | $25.75 | $53,570 | 1,520 | 3% below | $23.01 |
| Stockton-Lodi, CA | $25.72 | $53,490 | 170 | 4% below | $24.47 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $25.15 | $52,310 | 830 | 6% below | $23.58 |
| Chico, CA | $25.03 | $52,060 | 70 | 6% below | $24.73 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | $24.28 | $50,490 | 1,380 | 9% below | $22.81 |
| San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA | $24.14 | $50,210 | 110 | 9% below | $22.23 |
| Vallejo, CA | $24.03 | $49,980 | 80 | 10% below | $22.15 |
| Merced, CA | $23.90 | $49,710 | 90 | 10% below | $24.32 |
| Modesto, CA | $23.56 | $49,010 | 150 | 12% below | $22.63 |
| Visalia, CA | $23.51 | $48,900 | 110 | 12% below | $23.55 |
| Fresno, CA | $23.16 | $48,160 | 420 | 13% below | $22.67 |
| El Centro, CA | $22.50 | $46,790 | 80 | 16% below | — |
| Bakersfield-Delano, CA | $22.43 | $46,660 | 260 | 16% below | $22.23 |
Metro areas with 30 or more workers in the BLS sample. After cost of living divides the median by the BEA regional price index (U.S. = 100).
Phlebotomist pay in states next to California
What employers are posting in California
- 54roles with published pay
- $26.73median pay per hour
- $22–$29typical published range
- 9employers hiring
| Employer | Roles | Median pay / hour |
|---|---|---|
| Quest Diagnostics | 40 | $26.73 |
| Central Maine Healthcare Corporation | 4 | $26.41 |
| One Medical | 4 | $25.50 |
| Sharp HealthCare | 1 | $35.98 |
| CommonSpirit Health | 1 | $29.11 |
| Montage Health | 1 | $38.98 |
| ScionHealth | 1 | $23.57 |
| IQVIA | 1 | $30.65 |
Midpoints of pay ranges in 54 postings collected October 15, 2026. Posted pay is a different measure from the BLS survey above and can run higher or lower.
Phlebotomist jobs in California · Phlebotomist salary nationwide · California state guide
Common questions
How much does a phlebotomist make in California?
The median is $26.66 per hour, about $55,460 a year. The lowest 10% earn under $20.44 and the top 10% earn over $33.82 (BLS, May 2024).
Which California city pays phlebotomists the most?
Among California metro areas, Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA has the highest median at $29.50 per hour. See the metro table for the rest and for pay after cost of living.
Where does California rank for phlebotomist pay?
California ranks 1st of 50 states by median phlebotomist pay.
Is this the same as the pay in job postings?
No. BLS figures come from a survey of employers and cover all workers in the occupation. Posted pay is the range an employer lists on one open role. Both are useful: use the survey for the market and the posting for a specific job.
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- 1Pay for your role at other employers
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Your Phlebotomist pay reportCalifornia · pay published by employers, collected October 15, 2026
1Pay for your role at other employers
- Quest DiagnosticsGrass Valley, CA · 40 postings$26.73/ hr$22–$34
- Central Maine Healthcare CorporationInglewood, CA · 4 postings$26.41/ hr$24–$35
- One MedicalLos Angeles, CA · 4 postings$25.50/ hr$23–$28
Median posted pay per hour, with the range each employer published.
2What they are offering now
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.
3Open now: 54 Phlebotomist roles
- Phlebotomist IPermanent$27.00–$29.45/ hour
- Phlebotomist II TerritoryPermanent$26.05–$28.45/ hour
+ 52 more in your report. Each one has pay, shift and start date.