Phlebotomist Jobs in Raleigh, NC
Phlebotomists in the Raleigh-Cary metro earned a median of $22.25 an hour in May 2025, and Duke Raleigh Hospital, WakeMed and Quest Diagnostics are all posting draw jobs this fall. North Carolina requires no state license. Here are the current openings, followed by who is hiring and how to get trained.
Current phlebotomist Openings in Raleigh, NC
Listings marked External are sponsored openings provided by the Jobs2Careers network.
Phlebotomist Work in Raleigh
Raleigh phlebotomy jobs split between hospital floors and outpatient draw sites. Duke Raleigh Hospital on Wake Forest Road, near the Beltline and North Hills, staffs inpatient phlebotomy around the clock with second, third and PRN shifts. WakeMed hires phlebotomists for the Raleigh Campus on New Bern Avenue and for ambulatory draw stations in Raleigh, Cary and Apex. Quest Diagnostics runs patient service centers where phlebotomists work daytime outpatient hours. With three health systems and the national labs competing for the same Wake County workers, Raleigh pay runs above the North Carolina median of $20.83 an hour.
Top Raleigh Employers Hiring Phlebotomists
These employers have posted phlebotomy jobs in Raleigh and nearby Wake County towns:
- Duke Health - Duke Raleigh Hospital hires inpatient phlebotomists on second shift, third shift and PRN schedules, plus specimen processing staff.
- WakeMed - the Raleigh health system posts Phlebotomist and ambulatory Phlebotomist roles in Raleigh, Cary and Apex, and Clinical Services Technician roles in pathology at WakeMed Cary Hospital.
- Quest Diagnostics - the national lab hires Phlebotomist II staff for its Raleigh patient service center on Town Drive.
Phlebotomist Salaries in Raleigh
- Entry level: about $18 to $20 an hour for newly trained phlebotomists.
- Experienced: roughly $20 to $23 an hour with a national certification and a year or more of draws.
- Senior: $23 to $25 an hour or more for lead, pediatric and night-shift hospital phlebotomists.
These are estimates based on federal May 2025 wage data for the Raleigh-Cary metro, where phlebotomists ran from $17.94 an hour at the 10th percentile to $24.40 at the 90th. Hospital night and weekend shifts usually carry a differential, national certification helps at hiring, and hospital jobs tend to pay more than outpatient draw stations.
How to Become a Phlebotomist in Raleigh
North Carolina does not license phlebotomists, so no state credential stands between you and a job. Employers set the bar instead: a high school diploma or GED plus either completion of a phlebotomy program or about a year of clinical draw experience, with national certification preferred. Wake Technical Community College runs a 12-week, 176-hour Phlebotomy program that is NAACLS-accredited, and its graduates may be eligible to sit for the ASCP phlebotomy technician exam. The last four weeks are clinical, requiring 50 hours and 50 successful collections at sites that include Duke, UNC, WakeMed, Labcorp and the Wake County Health Department.
What the Job Involves
Phlebotomists identify patients, draw blood by venipuncture and fingerstick, label and log specimens, and get them to the lab on time and in the right condition. Hospital phlebotomists run morning draw rounds on inpatient floors and respond to stat orders from the emergency department. Outpatient phlebotomists check patients in, verify orders and insurance, and process urine and other samples. Safety and accuracy come first, since one mislabeled tube can mean a wrong result.
Skills Employers Look For
- Venipuncture and capillary collection on adults, children and hard draws
- Accurate patient identification and specimen labeling
- Knowledge of tube order of draw and specimen handling
- Infection control and needlestick safety
- Calm bedside manner with anxious patients
- Data entry in a lab information system or electronic health record
- National certification such as ASCP
Career Path and Advancement
Many Raleigh phlebotomists start at an outpatient draw station or on a hospital PRN schedule, then move to full-time hospital shifts or lead roles. From there the path runs to specimen processing, lab assistant and, with more school, laboratory technology; Wake Tech offers a Medical Laboratory Technology program for that step. Others use phlebotomy as a first clinical job before nursing, medical assisting or physician assistant school.
Related Careers in Raleigh
If phlebotomy interests you, these related Raleigh roles are close matches:
Frequently Asked Questions
Do you need a license to be a phlebotomist in North Carolina?
No. North Carolina does not license phlebotomists. Raleigh employers ask for a high school diploma or GED and either a phlebotomy program or clinical draw experience, and many prefer a national certification such as ASCP.
How much do phlebotomists make in Raleigh?
Federal data put the Raleigh-Cary median at $22.25 an hour in May 2025, above the statewide median of $20.83. Most new phlebotomists start around $18 to $20, and experienced hospital staff on nights or weekends can earn $24 or more.
How long does phlebotomy training take in Raleigh?
Wake Tech's Phlebotomy program takes about 12 weeks and 176 contact hours, including four weeks of clinical rotations. Daytime classes meet in person twice a week, and an evening option combines online and in-person sessions.
Do Raleigh hospitals hire phlebotomists for night shift?
Yes. Duke Raleigh Hospital posts inpatient phlebotomy jobs on second shift, third shift and PRN schedules. Night work usually carries a shift differential, and inpatient phlebotomists handle the early morning draw rounds on the floors.
Can I become a phlebotomist without going to school?
Sometimes. Some Raleigh postings accept about a year of clinical phlebotomy experience in place of formal training. Without experience, a phlebotomy program and national certification are the fastest way to get hired.
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