If you’re researching a career in healthcare, you might be considering whether to become a medical assistant or whether you should train to be a phlebotomist. Medical assistants and phlebotomists both work in medical offices and healthcare facilities, but there are differences between the two.
There are some differences between phlebotomists and medical assistants in the type of training they require, the length of training programs, and their duties and responsibilities. Some vocational colleges offer programs where you can earn your medical assisting certification and get your phlebotomy certificate in the same program.
Before you decide on a healthcare career, let’s examines the similarities and differences between the two positions.
Differences Between Medical Assistants and Phlebotomists
Medical assistants perform a range of clinical and administrative duties, such as taking vital signs, scheduling appointments, and updating patient records. Phlebotomists draw blood and preparing samples for diagnostic tests.
Medical Assisting Duties
- Clinical duties like taking vital signs
- Preparing patients for examination
- Administering injections only under a doctor’s supervision
- Updating patient’s medical records
- Scheduling appointments, answering phone
- Relaying instructions to patients from physician
- Helping physicians with examinations
- Preparing examination rooms for next patient
Phlebotomy Duties
- Drawing blood from patients or donors
- Verifying patient identity for donation
- Preparing and labelling blood specimens
- Updating patient or donor records in medical database
- Maintaining clean and sterile environment for donation
- Venipunctures and in less common cases, arterial draw, evacuated tube system (ETS)
Where Do They Work?
Medical assistants work primarily in physicians’ offices (56%), and some in hospitals (16%), according to the BLS, as of May 2023.
| Medical Assistant Workplace | Percentage of Jobs |
|---|---|
| Offices of physicians | 56% |
| Hospitals; state, local, and private | 16% |
| Outpatient care centers | 9% |
| Offices of other health practitioners | 8% |
Phlebotomy technicians work primarily in hospitals (35%), medical and diagnostic labs (31%), and ambulatory services (17%), according to May 2023 data from the BLS.
| Phlebotomist Workplace | Percentage of Jobs |
|---|---|
| Hospitals; state, local, and private | 35% |
| Medical and diagnostic labs | 31% |
| All other ambulatory services | 17% |
| Offices of physicians | 8% |
| Outpatient care centers | 2% |
Salary Comparisons and Job Outlook
Both medical assistants and phlebotomists are projected to have faster than average job growth in the decade from 2023 to 2033, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
How Much Do Medical Assistants Earn?
According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the median annual salary for medical assistants in the entire US in May 2023 was $42,000, and the median hourly wage was $20.19. The BLS projects that 118,000 medical assistant jobs will be added between 2023 and 2033, a 15% increase, which is much faster than average.
Highest Paying States for Medical Assistants
| State | Annual Mean Salary | Mean Hourly Wage |
|---|---|---|
| Washington | $53,780 | $25.86 |
| Alaska | $52,530 | $25.25 |
| California | $50,900 | $24.47 |
| District of Columbia | $50,110 | $24.09 |
| Minnesota | $49,740 | $23.91 |
Highest Paying Cities for Medical Assistants
| City | Mean Annual Salary | Mean Hourly Wage |
|---|---|---|
| Vallejo, CA | $66,590 | $32.02 |
| San Francisco, CA | $62,160 | $29.89 |
| San Jose, CA | $60,180 | $28.93 |
| Sacramento, CA | $59,690 | $28.70 |
| Santa Rosa, CA | $58,720 | $28.23 |
| Seattle, WA | $58,070 | $27.92 |
| Napa, CA | $56,610 | $27.22 |
| Anchorage, AK | $52,900 | $25.43 |
| Longview, WA | $51,800 | $24.91 |
| Bremerton, WA | $51,770 | $24.89 |
How Much Do Phlebotomists Earn?
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, in May 2023, the median average salary for phlebotomists in the US was $41,810 and the median hourly wage was $20.20 per hour. Phlebotomist jobs are projected to increase about 8% between 2023 and 2033.
Highest Paying States for Phlebotomists
| State | Mean Annual Salary | Mean Hourly Wage |
|---|---|---|
| California | $52,370 | $25.18 |
| Washington | $50,800 | $24.42 |
| New York | $50,110 | $24.09 |
| Maryland | $48,970 | $23.55 |
| Delaware | $48,630 | $23.38 |
Highest Paying Cities for Phlebotomists
| City | Mean Annual Salary | Mean Hourly Wage |
|---|---|---|
| San Jose, CA | $60,600 | $29.13 |
| San Francisco, CA | $59,690 | $28.70 |
| Santa Barbara, CA | $57,500 | $27.64 |
| Santa Cruz, CA | $57,020 | $27.41 |
| Stockton, CA | $56,340 | $27.09 |
| Salinas, CA | $55,340 | $26.61 |
| Santa Rosa, CA | $53,650 | $25.78 |
| Merced, CA | $53,520 | $25.73 |
| Seattle, WA | $53,150 | $25.55 |
| San Diego, CA | $52,850 | $25.41 |
Training and Certification Requirements
In California, you are not required to be certified as a medical assistant to work, but there are specific requirements you must meet which are not common. Most employers in California will look for candidates that are certified through an approved training program. In the United States, only four states require all medical assistants to be certified: Idaho, Washington, Connecticut, and New Jersey.
Most medical assistant programs take between 9 and 24 months to complete, with most employers preferring certified medical assistants.
To work as a phlebotomist in California, you must be certified through an approved training program. There are four states that require certification for phlebotomists: California, Louisiana, Nevada, and Washington.
Phlebotomy programs are much quicker than medical assistant programs, and can usually be completed in a matter of months.
Why Would You Take a Phlebotomy Certification with Medical Assistant Training?
In California, there is a continual demand for healthcare workers who are certified to draw blood. Medical assistants still need a phlebotomy certification, such as CPT-I to draw blood. Having this certification opens up more types of jobs to you, if you are seeking a job in the medical field.
Get Certified as a Medical Assistant and Phlebotomist in 48 Weeks
If you want to start your healthcare career, Campus Sacramento gives you the real-world experience you need to enter the medical field as a certified Medical Assistant and certified Phlebotomist. Demand for medical assistants and phlebotomists are projected to stay strong over the next decade. Medical offices and hospitals need candidates that are trained and certified. If you want more information on our comprehensive training program, including financial aid options, contact our Admissions Department about our Medical Assistant with Phlebotomy Certification program.