Phlebotomist Jobs in Seattle, WA
Phlebotomist jobs in Seattle start well above the city's $21.30 minimum, with Fred Hutch and Virginia Mason posting blood draw roles from about $22 to $41 an hour. Here are the current openings, followed by who is hiring and how to earn the credential Washington requires.
Current phlebotomist Openings in Seattle, WA
Listings marked External are sponsored openings provided by the Jobs2Careers network.
Phlebotomist Work in Seattle
Seattle's blood draw jobs cluster where its hospitals and labs do. On First Hill, Harborview Medical Center and Virginia Mason Medical Center staff draws on day, evening and night shifts, and Bloodworks Northwest, the region's blood center, is headquartered on Terry Avenue. Fred Hutch collects specimens from cancer patients at its South Lake Union campus, UW Medicine staffs phlebotomists at UW Medical Center in Montlake and at its Northwest campus, and Quest Diagnostics runs patient service centers in South Lake Union and Ballard with a lab on Airport Way South.
What sets Washington apart is the credential. Anyone who draws blood here needs a Department of Health credential, usually the Medical Assistant-Phlebotomist, unless they already hold a license such as RN or LPN. Add Seattle's $21.30 minimum wage and Washington's rule that postings show pay ranges, and you can compare offers across employers before you apply.
Top Seattle Employers Hiring Phlebotomists
These Seattle hospitals, labs and blood centers hire phlebotomists and lab assistants who draw blood:
- UW Medicine - the Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology hires phlebotomists for Harborview and UW Medical Center, plus lab assistants who draw and process specimens at UW Medical Center - Northwest.
- Fred Hutch - the cancer center posts Phlebotomist I roles in specimen collection at its South Lake Union campus.
- Virginia Mason Franciscan Health - Virginia Mason Medical Center on First Hill hires Laboratory Assistant/Phlebotomists on variable day and night shifts.
- Quest Diagnostics - the national lab hires Phlebotomist I staff for its Seattle patient service centers on Westlake Avenue North and NW Market Street.
- Bloodworks Northwest - the nonprofit blood center hires donor phlebotomy staff with paid training, no prior experience required for some roles.
Phlebotomist Salaries in Seattle
- Entry level: about $22 to $26 an hour for newly credentialed phlebotomists.
- Experienced: roughly $26 to $32 an hour for phlebotomists with hospital experience.
- Senior / top of range: $32 to $41 an hour at the top of hospital lab scales.
These are estimates. The federal May 2025 wage survey puts the median phlebotomist in the Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue metro near $24 an hour ($49,900 a year), and current postings run higher: Fred Hutch lists $22.22 to $31.63 and Virginia Mason $27.99 to $41.00. Hospital lab roles that combine draws with specimen processing sit at the top of the range, and arterial or line draws require extra training under state rules.
How to Become a Phlebotomist in Seattle
Washington requires a Medical Assistant-Phlebotomist credential from the Washington State Department of Health for anyone who draws blood without another health care license. You qualify by finishing a phlebotomy program at an accredited school, or a training program approved by a health care practitioner, then applying to the department with your transcripts and fee. Locally, Renton Technical College runs a Phlebotomy Technician certificate at its campus on NE 4th Street with a roughly three-week externship and starts every quarter, and Bellevue College offers a Phlebotomy Technician Certificate of about 27 credits that most students finish in three quarters. Fred Hutch and Virginia Mason both ask for a high school diploma or GED, and Fred Hutch also requires Basic Life Support certification.
What the Job Involves
Phlebotomists identify patients, draw blood by venipuncture and fingerstick, label and log every tube, and process and package specimens for testing. They instruct patients on urine and other collections, keep draw stations stocked and clean, and calm nervous patients and children. In hospitals they also make inpatient draws on the units.
Skills Employers Look For
- A current Washington Medical Assistant-Phlebotomist credential
- Basic Life Support (BLS) certification
- Confident venipuncture on adults, children and difficult veins
- Careful patient identification and specimen labeling
- Specimen processing and centrifuge use
- Calm, reassuring bedside manner
- Accurate data entry in the lab or hospital system
Career Path and Advancement
A common Seattle path starts at a Quest service center or a Bloodworks donor center, then moves into hospital lab assistant or Clinical Lab Technician roles at UW Medicine, where draws are combined with specimen processing. From there the ladder runs to lead phlebotomist, lab supervisor, or back to school for a medical laboratory science degree, which opens Medical Lab Scientist trainee roles at the UW and other Seattle labs. Others use phlebotomy as a step toward nursing or medical assisting.
Related Careers in Seattle
If drawing blood interests you, these Seattle roles are close matches:
Frequently Asked Questions
Do you need a license to be a phlebotomist in Washington?
Yes. Anyone who draws blood in Washington needs a Department of Health credential, usually the Medical Assistant-Phlebotomist, unless they already hold a license such as RN or LPN. The department issues it after you finish an approved phlebotomy training program and submit your application, transcripts and fee.
How much do phlebotomists make in Seattle?
The May 2025 federal wage survey puts the metro median near $24 an hour. Current Seattle hospital postings run from about $22 to $41 an hour, with the top of the range at hospital labs.
How long does it take to become a phlebotomist in Seattle?
It depends on the route. Renton Technical College's program ends with an externship of about three weeks, while Bellevue College's certificate usually takes three quarters. Some employers, including Bloodworks Northwest, offer paid training.
Is national certification required to draw blood in Seattle?
Washington's requirement is the state Medical Assistant-Phlebotomist credential, not a national exam. Renton Technical College's program also prepares you for a national certification exam, but the state credential is what makes you legal to draw.
What shifts do Seattle phlebotomists work?
Hospitals such as Harborview and Virginia Mason post day, evening and night shifts, and UW Medicine uses temporary on-call phlebotomists as well. Fred Hutch's specimen collection role is part-time, so check the FTE on each posting.
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