Phlebotomist Jobs in Washington, DC
Phlebotomists in Washington draw blood for hospital labs on the Irving Street medical campus and Georgia Avenue, for Kaiser Permanente on Capitol Hill and for Labcorp. DC does not register phlebotomists, and Academy of Hope trains District residents at no cost in about five months. Current openings are below.
Current phlebotomist Openings in Washington, DC
Listings marked External are sponsored openings provided by the Jobs2Careers network.
Phlebotomist Work in Washington
Most phlebotomy jobs in the District sit inside hospitals. Children's National Hospital on Michigan Avenue NW and Howard University Hospital on Georgia Avenue NW both run laboratory services teams that draw, label and process specimens on day and evening shifts, and MedStar Washington Hospital Center and the DC VA Medical Center share the same Irving Street campus. Outpatient draws add daytime work at Kaiser Permanente's Capitol Hill Medical Center, at Children's National's outpatient site in Friendship Heights and at Labcorp's District locations.
DC sets a higher floor than most of the country. The District minimum wage rose to $18.40 an hour on July 1, 2026, and employers must post a pay range, so you can compare hospital and outpatient offers before you apply. The bigger local advantage is free training: Academy of Hope runs a phlebotomy program for DC residents in Ward 8 and Ward 5, and the DC Department of Employment Services lists George Washington University Hospital as a DC Healthcare Academy phlebotomy training site.
Top Washington Employers for Phlebotomists
These DC hospitals and labs hire phlebotomists and specimen collection staff:
- Children's National Hospital - hires phlebotomists, titled Clinical Lab Support Reps, for its main campus and its Friendship Heights outpatient site.
- Howard University Hospital - the Georgia Ave NW teaching hospital hires phlebotomist and processing assistants for its Laboratory Services evening shift.
- Kaiser Permanente - employs phlebotomists, including part-time, at its Capitol Hill Medical Center.
- Labcorp - the national clinical lab company hires phlebotomists for its locations in the District.
Phlebotomist Salaries in Washington
- Entry level: about $18.40 to $22 per hour for newly certified phlebotomists.
- Experienced: roughly $22 to $28 per hour with a year or two of hospital draws.
- Senior: $28 to $35 per hour for lead phlebotomists and top hospital steps.
These are estimates. BLS put the Washington metro mean at $24.96 an hour ($51,910 a year) across about 1,990 phlebotomists in May 2023. Posted ranges in the District include Howard University Hospital at up to $27.84 an hour, Kaiser Permanente's Capitol Hill part-time role at $25.19 to $37.07, and Children's National at a full-time range of $42,224 to $82,430 with a $5,000 sign-on bonus offered in a 2026 posting. Hospital and pediatric experience, evening shifts and national certification all push pay higher.
How to Become a Phlebotomist in Washington
DC does not require a license or registration for phlebotomists, according to the DC Department of Employment Services. Employers look for a high school diploma or GED, completed phlebotomy training and usually a national certification such as the NHA Certified Phlebotomy Technician (CPT), which requires 30 venipunctures and 10 capillary sticks on live patients, or the NCCT National Certified Phlebotomy Technician. Academy of Hope Adult Public Charter School offers a 200-hour, five-month Phlebotomy Technician Training program at its Sycamore Drive SE campus in Ward 8 and its 18th Place NE campus in Ward 5, free for DC residents and including CPR and BLS, scrubs and a laptop; graduates sit for the NHA CPT exam.
What the Job Involves
Phlebotomists identify patients, draw blood by venipuncture and finger or heel stick, label and log every tube, and deliver or process specimens for testing. In a hospital the day includes early morning rounds on inpatient units, emergency department draws and centrifuging and sorting samples in the lab, while outpatient phlebotomists see a steady line of scheduled patients and manage the check-in paperwork that comes with them.
Skills Employers Look For
- Confident venipuncture and capillary collection
- Calm, reassuring manner with anxious adults and children
- Accurate labeling and specimen handling
- Infection control and safety habits
- Laboratory information system and order entry experience
- NHA CPT or NCCT certification
Career Path and Advancement
Many Washington phlebotomists start in an outpatient draw station or on a hospital evening shift, then move to pediatric or lead phlebotomy roles. Processing assistant work at Howard University Hospital and lab support roles at Children's National are a step toward the bench, and an associate degree in medical laboratory technology turns that into a technician career. Others use phlebotomy as a step into medical assisting or patient care technician roles, which the DC Board of Nursing registers.
Related Careers in Washington
If drawing blood interests you, these related Washington roles are close matches:
- Medical Laboratory Technician Jobs
- Medical Assistant Jobs
- Certified Nursing Assistant Jobs
- Medical Receptionist Jobs
Frequently Asked Questions
Do you need a license to be a phlebotomist in DC?
No. The DC Department of Employment Services lists phlebotomy as an occupation with no DC registration required. Most employers still expect completed training, and many want a national certification such as NHA CPT or NCCT.
How much do phlebotomists make in Washington?
Expect about $18.40 to $22 an hour to start, with experienced hospital phlebotomists earning about $22 to $28. BLS put the Washington metro mean at $24.96 an hour, and some hospital ranges reach the mid $30s.
How long does phlebotomy training take in DC?
Academy of Hope's program runs about five months and 200 hours, with day and evening classes. It is free for DC residents over 18 who meet the reading, math and digital literacy entry scores, and it has limited space for Winter 2027.
Can I get hired as a phlebotomist in DC without experience?
Some employers will hire new graduates. Howard University Hospital has accepted completion of a phlebotomy training program in place of a year of experience, while Children's National has asked for two years, so outpatient and evening roles are the usual way in.
Which phlebotomy certification do DC employers want?
The NHA Certified Phlebotomy Technician and the NCCT National Certified Phlebotomy Technician are the two certifications DOES details for DC. Exam fees are $125 and $119, and both require 10 hours of continuing education every two years.
Ready to apply? Browse all Phlebotomist jobs in Washington, DC on LocalJobPage and apply today.