Side-by-side career matchup

Phlebotomist vs Respiratory Therapist

A common question: should I take the longer path to Phlebotomist, or the faster path to Respiratory Therapist? The salary gap is real, but so is the opportunity cost of school.

A Healthcare

Phlebotomist

$43,660 median

B Healthcare

Respiratory Therapist

$80,450 median

What the day actually looks like

A phlebotomist's shift is built around scheduled and STAT blood draws, moving between hospital units or seeing patients in a clinic. They interact with nurses and lab personnel to ensure samples are correctly collected and delivered. A respiratory therapist's day is less predictable. They assess patients, administer breathing treatments, and manage ventilators in response to a doctor's orders and changes in a patient's condition. They are a key part of emergency response teams during a "code blue" or other critical events.

Where each role is actually hiring

Demand for phlebotomists is steady in hospitals, diagnostic labs, and blood donation centers. Growth is driven by an aging population needing more diagnostic bloodwork. Respiratory therapists are overwhelmingly hired by hospitals, especially in critical care, emergency, and neonatal units. Significant demand exists in regions with large aging populations, such as the Midwest, South, Florida, and Arizona, leading to shortages in some urban and rural areas.

If you start as a Phlebotomist today

Transitioning from phlebotomy to respiratory therapy is a common career path. Phlebotomy experience provides a strong foundation in patient interaction and comfort with needles, though drawing arterial blood for gas analysis is a different skill. The path requires completing an associate degree in respiratory therapy, which typically involves 60-70 credits. While phlebotomy courses don't typically transfer as core credits, the prior clinical experience can be beneficial for program admission and patient comfort.

Sources cited (14)

payments Salary

Phlebotomist median

$43,660

Respiratory Therapist median

$80,450

Salary edge

Respiratory Therapists earn $36,790 more per year at the median. That's roughly $3,066/month before taxes — a gap that compounds over a career but needs to be weighed against any difference in training time or upfront costs.

State-by-state pay

State	Phlebotomist	Respiratory Therapist	Gap
California	$55,460	$102,120	-46,660
New York	$49,080	$103,820	-54,740
District of Columbia	$47,110	$104,240	-57,130
Massachusetts	$48,270	$96,940	-48,670
New Jersey	$46,840	$98,020	-51,180
Washington	$47,700	$97,150	-49,450
Oregon	$47,510	$96,130	-48,620
Alaska	$46,110	$94,210	-48,100
Hawaii	$45,510	$94,670	-49,160
Delaware	$46,340	$87,380	-41,040

checklist Requirements at a glance

Factor	Phlebotomist	Respiratory Therapist
Typical time	4-8 months (for training program)	2-4 years
Est. total cost	$800	—
Exam	National certification exams (e.g., NHA CPT, ASCP PBT, AMT RPT, NCCT NCPT, NPCE CPT)	NBRC CRT or RRT exam
License required	Some states	Most states
Education	High school diploma or GED and completion of a state-approved phlebotomy training program.	Associate degree from a CoARC-accredited program
CE hours / cycle	12 hrs	19 hrs

Barrier to entry

Timeline differs: Phlebotomist typically takes 4-8 months (for training program), while Respiratory Therapist takes 2-4 years. Respiratory Therapist licensing is more universal — required in 98% of states versus 10% for Phlebotomist.

trending_up Job market

Phlebotomist growth

+5.6%

Respiratory Therapist growth

+12.1%

Annual openings

Phlebotomist: 18,400

Respiratory Therapist: 8,800

Phlebotomist AI exposure

Low -0.28

Respiratory Therapist AI exposure

Low -0.19

Market outlook

Respiratory Therapist is projected to grow faster (+12.1% vs +5.6% over the next decade). Volume-wise, Phlebotomist is the bigger market (18,400 openings per year vs. 8,800). The smaller field isn't bad — niche often pays better per job — but market depth is a real factor if you value mobility.

flag Bottom line

The national wage gap is material: Respiratory Therapist out-earns Phlebotomist by $36,790/year. Compound that over a career and the lifetime difference is ~$367,900, before you factor in the extra training Respiratory Therapist requires.

There's a real time gap — Phlebotomist at 4-8 months (for training program) versus Respiratory Therapist at 2-4 years. Whether the extra months pay back depends on what the longer-path earnings actually look like in your state.

Respiratory Therapist is the higher-growth pick of the two. The practical implication is not 'faster' becomes 'better,' but rather that job markets in growth occupations are easier to move around in.

Frequently asked questions

Who makes more, phlebotomist or respiratory therapist? expand_more

Respiratory Therapist has the higher median at $80,450/year. Phlebotomist comes in at $43,660.

Is it harder to become a phlebotomist or a respiratory therapist? expand_more

It depends on the metric — Phlebotomist requires 4-8 months (for training program) of training, Respiratory Therapist needs 2-4 years. State-level exam pass rates add another layer of comparison.

How hard is it to switch between phlebotomist and respiratory therapist? expand_more

Career transitions between phlebotomist and respiratory therapist happen regularly. You'll need new credentials, but your existing experience gives you a head start on the learning curve.

Which career is growing faster: phlebotomist or respiratory therapist? expand_more

Respiratory Therapist has stronger projected growth at +12.1% over the next decade (vs +5.6%). However, Phlebotomist has more annual openings overall.

Do both phlebotomist and respiratory therapist require state licenses? expand_more

About 10% of states require phlebotomist licensure and 98% require it for respiratory therapists. State-by-state requirements differ significantly.