Prevailing Wage for Phlebotomists
Prevailing wages for Phlebotomists, including roles filed under titles like Phlebotomy Technician, Patient Service Technician, and Mobile Examiner, are set by the DOL using Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics surveys. DOL establishes four experience-based wage levels for this occupation, and the floor varies significantly by worksite city.
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Entry-level phlebotomists with limited professional experience, typically recent completions of a phlebotomy training program with minimal independent practice. DOL expects close supervision, a narrow task range, and no specialized procedure responsibilities beyond routine venipuncture.
The most common filing level for sponsored phlebotomists. Applies to qualified technicians with one to three years of hands-on experience who work with moderate supervision and handle a standard range of draw procedures and patient interactions independently.
Experienced phlebotomists who perform complex or specialized draws, mentor newer staff, or float across multiple collection sites with minimal supervision. These professionals often hold national certification and manage difficult-access or pediatric patients routinely.
Fully competent lead or senior phlebotomists who operate without supervision, may coordinate site-level operations or train staff, and take on quality assurance responsibilities. This level reflects the top of the independent-practice range for the occupation.
Prevailing Wage for Phlebotomists by OES area
Each shape is a DOL OES area, the unit prevailing wage is published for.
What’s an OES area?
The Department of Labor publishes prevailing wages for geographic zones called OES areas. Every U.S. county belongs to exactly one, and the wage floor applies across the whole area. A worker in Oakland gets the San Francisco metro wage, not a separate Oakland wage.
Top 10 cities · Level 1
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See which U.S. employers are actively hiring for Phlebotomists and sponsoring H-1B, OPT, and green card visas at or above the prevailing wage.
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Verify your filing level matches your certification status
Employers often file phlebotomists at Level 1 even when the candidate holds a national certification such as Registered Phlebotomist. Certification typically signals qualified-level standing and may support a Level 2 filing, raising the wage floor your offer must clear.
Watch for mobile or agency phlebotomist title mismatches
Roles titled Mobile Examiner or Lab Liaison Technician are sometimes filed under a different SOC by staffing agencies, which can shift the prevailing wage floor away from the phlebotomist standard. Confirm the SOC code on your Labor Condition Application before accepting an offer.
Compare metro floors before accepting a California posting
California metros show the widest wage spread for this occupation. San Jose's prevailing wage floor runs substantially higher than inland California metros, and the worksite city on the LCA, not your home address, determines which floor applies to your offer.
Use Migrate Mate to find employers with phlebotomist sponsorship history
Hospital systems and national reference labs account for most sponsored phlebotomist roles. Migrate Mate shows which employers have historically sponsored this occupation, so you can focus applications on organizations with a proven track record before negotiating compensation.
Jobs for Phlebotomists are hiring across the US. Find yours.
Find Jobs for PhlebotomistsPrevailing Wage by Reported Job Title
DOL classifies these titles under SOC 31-9097.00 alongside Phlebotomists, so the same four-tier wage schedule applies to each. Tap a title to see the full breakdown.
Lab Liaison Technician Prevailing Wage
Lab Liaison Technician Prevailing Wage
Lab Liaison Technician positions fall under SOC 31-9097.00 (Phlebotomists). DOL OFLC publishes one four-tier prevailing wage schedule for the entire classification; employers filing H-1B, E-3, or PERM petitions for this title use the levels below.
Mobile Examiner Prevailing Wage
Mobile Examiner Prevailing Wage
When a U.S. employer sponsors a Mobile Examiner for a work visa or green card, DOL applies the prevailing wage schedule for SOC 31-9097.00 (Phlebotomists). Wage level reflects the role's experience and responsibility, not the title itself.
Patient Service Technician (PST) Prevailing Wage
Patient Service Technician (PST) Prevailing Wage
Patient Service Technician (PST) is an O*NET-reported job title within SOC 31-9097.00 (Phlebotomists). All roles in this SOC share the same prevailing wage tiers. The level an employer files at depends on what the role requires, not which title is used.
Phlebotomy Technician Prevailing Wage
Phlebotomy Technician Prevailing Wage
Phlebotomy Technician positions fall under SOC 31-9097.00 (Phlebotomists). DOL OFLC publishes one four-tier prevailing wage schedule for the entire classification; employers filing H-1B, E-3, or PERM petitions for this title use the levels below.
Registered Phlebotomist Prevailing Wage
Registered Phlebotomist Prevailing Wage
When a U.S. employer sponsors a Registered Phlebotomist for a work visa or green card, DOL applies the prevailing wage schedule for SOC 31-9097.00 (Phlebotomists). Wage level reflects the role's experience and responsibility, not the title itself.
Frequently Asked Questions
How does the DOL set the prevailing wage for Phlebotomists?
DOL uses Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey data collected by the Bureau of Labor Statistics across hundreds of metropolitan and nonmetropolitan areas. For each area, DOL calculates four wage levels tied to experience and job complexity. Employers filing a Labor Condition Application for a sponsored phlebotomist must pay at least the level that matches the position's actual duties.
What do the four wage levels mean and how do I identify which one applies to my offer?
Level 1 covers entry-level work under close supervision with limited experience. Level 2 reflects qualified performance with moderate independence, and is the most common level filed for this role. Level 3 applies to experienced technicians handling complex draws or mentoring others. Level 4 is reserved for fully competent senior or lead phlebotomists. OFLC guidance ties level selection to the position's actual duties, not the candidate's resume, so review the job description carefully against DOL's level criteria.
Why does the prevailing wage for the same role vary so much from city to city?
DOL calculates area wages from regional Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics surveys, so each metro reflects its own local labor market. High-cost metros with dense hospital and laboratory networks, such as those in the San Francisco Bay Area, produce higher survey medians than rural or lower-cost areas. The wage floor that applies to your position is determined by the worksite address listed on the Labor Condition Application, not where the employer is headquartered or where you live.
What happens if my job offer falls below the prevailing wage for a sponsored phlebotomist position?
An employer cannot certify a Labor Condition Application unless the offered wage meets or exceeds the applicable prevailing wage. USCIS will not approve an H-1B or related petition backed by a deficient LCA. If your offer is below the floor, the employer must either increase the salary to reach the required level or reclassify the position at a lower wage level that the duties genuinely support. DOL and USCIS both review wage attestations, and violations can result in back-pay liability and debarment for the employer.
How do I find and verify the prevailing wage for a Phlebotomists position in a specific U.S. city?
Use the OFLC Wage Search tool, which lets you look up current prevailing wages by SOC code and metropolitan area. Enter SOC code 31-9097 and select the worksite metro to see all four wage levels. You can also review the O*NET profile for this occupation to confirm the standard duties associated with each level. For the employer side of the picture, Migrate Mate shows which companies have sponsored phlebotomist roles and in which locations, helping you focus on employers already familiar with the LCA process.
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