Medical Assistants vs Phlebotomists: Similar Pay, 12.9% vs 6.8% Growth

Medical Assistants vs Phlebotomists: what changes?

Consider Medical Assistants if you want to perform administrative and certain clinical duties under the direction of a physician. Consider Phlebotomists if you would rather draw blood for tests, transfusions, donations, or research. Both list postsecondary nondegree award; compare training and prior experience separately.

Try this next: Compare three local entry-level postings for Medical Assistants and Phlebotomists. List the duties, credentials, prior experience, and paid training each employer actually asks for. Try a supervised class or sample project from each field before choosing a program.

BLS 2025 wages and 2025–2035 projections. National medians are not starting offers. Occupation size is not a count of vacancies. View the BLS data.

Compare the practical differences

Medical Assistants

National median pay (2025): $45,690
Route into the job: Postsecondary nondegree award
Prior related experience: No prior related occupation is typically required; employer requirements vary.
Training and licensing: BLS does not list a separate on-the-job training requirement. Employers may still provide orientation and role-specific training.
Work to investigate: Interview patients to obtain medical information and measure their vital signs, weight, and height.
Annual openings (2025–2035): 109,700

Know before you choose

Exposure to illness or infection is a recurring part of the work context, even when safety procedures are followed.

See the full Medical Assistants brief

Phlebotomists

National median pay (2025): $45,230
Route into the job: Postsecondary nondegree award
Prior related experience: No prior related occupation is typically required; employer requirements vary.
Training and licensing: BLS does not list a separate on-the-job training requirement. Employers may still provide orientation and role-specific training.
Work to investigate: Dispose of contaminated sharps, in accordance with applicable laws, standards, and policies.
Annual openings (2025–2035): 18,000

Know before you choose

Exposure to illness or infection is a recurring part of the work context, even when safety procedures are followed.

See the full Phlebotomists brief

How the national numbers differ

Medical Assistants has the edge on annual openings

Medical Assistants is at 109,700 annual openings, compared with 18,000 annual openings for Phlebotomists.

Medical Assistants has the edge on projected growth

Medical Assistants is at 12.9% projected growth, compared with 6.8% projected growth for Phlebotomists.

National pay benchmarks are very similar.

Compare actual offers, expected paid hours, schedule, and benefits before treating either career as the higher-paying option.

65.6/ 100

Medical Assistants

56.6/ 100

Phlebotomists

Each available metric is ranked from 0 to 100 against the careers on ChooseField. The weighted average uses this profile: pay 30%, growth 25%, openings 30%, preparation level 15%. Missing values are not scored as zero; their weights are redistributed across available metrics. Occupation size has zero weight: employment is not accessible vacancies. Preparation categories do not measure admission difficulty or years without earnings. The score summarizes national measures; local opportunities and personal fit still need separate consideration.

Detailed evidence

Medical Assistants vs Phlebotomists

Dimension	Medical Assistants	Phlebotomists
Median pay (2025)	$45,690	$45,230
Pay percentile	19.1 percentile	18.4 percentile
Projected growth (2025–2035)	12.9%	6.8%
Annual openings (2025–2035)	109,700	18,000
2025 employment	833,900	143,900
How you qualify	Postsecondary nondegree award	Postsecondary nondegree award
O*NET preparation group	Job Zone 3	Job Zone 3
Related work experience	No prior related occupation is typically required; employer requirements vary.	No prior related occupation is typically required; employer requirements vary.
On-the-job training	BLS does not list a separate on-the-job training requirement. Employers may still provide orientation and role-specific training.	BLS does not list a separate on-the-job training requirement. Employers may still provide orientation and role-specific training.

The table reports national benchmarks and reviewed work descriptions. It does not rate personal suitability, job security, or physical safety.

Read Medical Assistants brief Read Phlebotomists brief

Medical Assistants vs Phlebotomists: what changes?

The facts most likely to affect your decision

Medical Assistants

Phlebotomists

How the national numbers differ

Medical Assistants has the edge on annual openings

Medical Assistants has the edge on projected growth

National pay benchmarks are very similar.

Medical Assistants vs Phlebotomists

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