Medical Transcriptionists vs Phlebotomists: $40K vs $45K Median Pay

Medical Transcriptionists vs Phlebotomists: what changes?

Consider Medical Transcriptionists if you want to transcribe medical reports recorded by physicians and other healthcare practitioners using various electronic devices, covering office visits, emergency room visits, diagnostic imaging studies, operations…. 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 Transcriptionists 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 Transcriptionists

National median pay (2025): $40,410
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: Return dictated reports in printed or electronic form for physician's review, signature, and corrections and for inclusion in patients' medical records.
Annual openings (2025–2035): 6,200

Know before you choose

BLS projects employment to shrink 4.4% from 2025 to 2035. Openings can still occur when existing workers leave.

See the full Medical Transcriptionists 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

Phlebotomists has the edge on projected growth

Phlebotomists is at 6.8% projected growth, compared with -4.4% projected growth for Medical Transcriptionists.

Phlebotomists has the edge on annual openings

Phlebotomists is at 18,000 annual openings, compared with 6,200 annual openings for Medical Transcriptionists.

Phlebotomists has the edge on median pay

Phlebotomists is at $45,230, compared with $40,410 for Medical Transcriptionists.

31.1/ 100

Medical Transcriptionists

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 Transcriptionists vs Phlebotomists

Dimension	Medical Transcriptionists	Phlebotomists
Median pay (2025)	$40,410	$45,230
Pay percentile	11.8 percentile	18.4 percentile
Projected growth (2025–2035)	-4.4%	6.8%
Annual openings (2025–2035)	6,200	18,000
2025 employment	42,000	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 Transcriptionists brief Read Phlebotomists brief

Medical Transcriptionists vs Phlebotomists: what changes?

The facts most likely to affect your decision

Medical Transcriptionists

Phlebotomists

How the national numbers differ

Phlebotomists has the edge on projected growth

Phlebotomists has the edge on annual openings

Phlebotomists has the edge on median pay

Medical Transcriptionists vs Phlebotomists

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