Updated · 2026 tax rules · Data: IRS, BLS, BEA, HUD · How we calculate

Phlebotomist Salary in Houston, TX

Phlebotomists in the Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX metro area earn a median $45,540 a year — 1% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $38,771 take-home, or $3,231 a month.

Median salary
$45,540
$21.89 per hour
Typical range
$35,880 – $55,650
10th to 90th percentile
Jobs in Houston, TX
2,620
0.86× national concentration
▲2.6%
Pay trend: The median for phlebotomists in Houston, TX rose from $44,370 (May 2024) to $45,540 (May 2025). That roughly kept pace with inflation (2.4%).

Take-home pay calculator

Pre-filled with the median phlebotomist salary in Houston, TX. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.

Phlebotomist in Houston, TX
Deductions, kids & local tax

2026 tax year. Federal brackets from IRS Rev. Proc. 2025-32.

Your take-home pay
$38,771
per year · effective tax rate 14.9%
$3,231Monthly
$1,615Twice a month
$1,491Every 2 weeks
$18.64Hourly
  • Federal income tax$3,285
  • Social Security (6.2%)$2,823
  • Medicare (1.45%)$660
  • Texas income tax$0
  • Take-home pay$38,771

Marginal rate: 12% federal + 0.00% state

Got an offer somewhere else? Compare it with this one after taxes and rent →

Phlebotomist pay by experience in Houston, TX

PercentileSalaryHourlyTake-home / yrPer month
10th percentile (entry level)$35,880$17.25$31,010$2,584
25th percentile$37,330$17.95$32,175$2,681
Median (50th)$45,540$21.89$38,771$3,231
75th percentile$48,040$23.10$40,780$3,398
90th percentile (top earners)$55,650$26.75$46,895$3,908

Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Texas resident, 2026 tax rules.

What $45,540 buys in Houston, TX

Prices in Houston, TX are 1.4% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.05× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median phlebotomist's $38,771 take-home pay has the buying power of $39,310 in a typical American city.

1-bedroom rent
$1,316
41% of monthly take-home
2-bedroom rent
$1,558
48% of monthly take-home
Left after 1-BR rent
$1,915
per month for everything else

Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.

Phlebotomist jobs are about as common in Houston, TX as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.86).

Best-paying cities for phlebotomists, adjusted for cost of living

Houston, TX ranks #2 of 9 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.

#Metro areaMedian salaryTake-homeReal value*
1Atlanta, GA $49,370$39,909$39,886
2Houston, TX $45,540$38,771$39,310
3Dallas, TX $46,480$39,527$38,342
4Philadelphia, PA $47,370$38,788$37,822
5Los Angeles, CA $52,940$42,803$37,690
6Phoenix, AZ $46,260$38,402$37,170
7Chicago, IL $47,190$37,906$36,591
8New York, NY $49,980$40,237$35,746

*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 9 metros →

About the job: phlebotomists

Draw blood for tests, transfusions, donations, or research. May explain the procedure to patients and assist in the recovery of patients with adverse reactions.

Typical education
Postsecondary nondegree award
Work experience
None required
On-the-job training
None
Job outlook, 2025–35
+6.8% (faster than average)

Source: BLS Standard Occupational Classification and Employment Projections, 2025–35.

Phlebotomist salaries elsewhere in Texas

Frequently asked questions

How much does a phlebotomist make in Houston, TX?

The median phlebotomist salary in the Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX metro area is $45,540 a year, or about $21.89 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $37,330 and $48,040.

What is a phlebotomist’s take-home pay in Houston, TX?

On the median $45,540 salary, a single filer living in Texas takes home about $38,771 a year ($3,231 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare in 2026.

Is Houston, TX a good place to work as a phlebotomist?

Pay here is 1% above the national median of $45,230. Local prices are 1.4% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $39,310 would in a typical U.S. city. Houston, TX ranks #2 of 9 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.

Can a phlebotomist afford rent in Houston, TX?

HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Houston, TX is $1,316 a month ($1,558 for two bedrooms) — 41% of a median phlebotomist’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.

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