Phlebotomist Jobs in San Diego, CA
Certified phlebotomists in San Diego see posted hospital pay from about $25 an hour to $43 at the top of Sharp's scale, with draw stations from Hillcrest to Rancho Bernardo hiring per diem and part-time staff. Here are the current openings, then who is hiring and how to get your California certificate.
Current phlebotomist Openings in San Diego, CA
Listings marked External are sponsored openings provided by the Jobs2Careers network.
Phlebotomist Work in San Diego
Phlebotomy jobs in San Diego follow the big health systems' lab networks. Scripps staffs phlebotomists at Scripps Mercy in Hillcrest, its North County clinics, Rancho Bernardo, Carmel Valley, La Jolla and Encinitas. Sharp Laboratory Services sends outreach phlebotomists out from its Copley Drive lab. In Kearny Mesa, Rady Children's on Children's Way and Kaiser's San Diego Medical Center on Clairemont Mesa Boulevard both hire people who draw blood.
California sets a firm bar. You cannot draw blood here on a short course alone; the state health department certifies phlebotomists, and every hospital posting in the county asks for that certificate. Many San Diego postings are per diem or part time, which suits people still in school.
Top San Diego Employers Hiring Phlebotomists
These San Diego employers post phlebotomy openings on their own careers sites:
- Scripps Health - hires phlebotomists and lead phlebotomists at Scripps Mercy San Diego in Hillcrest, North County clinics, Rancho Bernardo and La Jolla.
- Sharp HealthCare - Sharp Laboratory Services posts certified phlebotomy tech roles for its outreach lab on Copley Drive.
- Rady Children's Health - the Kearny Mesa children's hospital hires combined medical assistant and phlebotomist staff for its hematology and oncology clinic.
- Kaiser Permanente - posts laboratory assistant jobs at San Diego Medical Center that require a California phlebotomy certificate and include venipuncture.
Phlebotomist Salaries in San Diego
- Entry level: about $25 to $31 per hour for newly certified phlebotomists.
- Experienced: roughly $31 to $38 per hour with hospital experience.
- Senior / lead: $38 to $43 per hour at the top of hospital pay ranges.
These are estimates drawn from ranges San Diego employers posted in 2025 and 2026. Scripps lists $29.73 to $41.71 for per diem phlebotomists in Hillcrest, Sharp $30.98 to $43.37 for outreach phlebotomy techs, and Kaiser $31.21 to $35.17 for lab assistants. Hospital work, years of experience, and combined medical assistant duties move pay up.
How to Become a Phlebotomist in San Diego
California requires a Certified Phlebotomy Technician I (CPT I) certificate from the California Department of Public Health, Laboratory Field Services. With no experience, you need a high school diploma or GED, 40 hours of classroom training from a CDPH-accredited program, and 40 hours of clinical practice with at least 50 venipunctures and 10 skin punctures. You then pass a CDPH-approved national exam. The certificate renews every year with continuing education. In East County, the Grossmont Health Occupations Center at 8770 Mast Blvd in Santee runs a CDPH-approved program: a five-month Phlebotomy and Medical Lab Assistant track for $995, or a Clinical Phlebotomy Technician only track for $695, both with a 120-hour internship. Southwestern College does not currently offer phlebotomy training.
What the Job Involves
Phlebotomists draw blood for testing, donations and transfusions. A shift means checking patient identity and orders, choosing the right tubes, performing venipunctures and finger or heel sticks, labeling and logging every specimen, and getting samples to the lab on time. Hospital phlebotomists make early-morning rounds on inpatient floors, while outpatient staff work draw stations and clinics.
Skills Employers Look For
- Active California CPT I or CPT II certificate
- AHA Basic Life Support for Healthcare Providers
- Steady venipuncture technique on adults and children
- Accurate specimen labeling and chain of custody
- Calm, reassuring patient manner
- Spanish, which some clinic roles such as Rady Children's hematology and oncology require
Career Path and Advancement
Many San Diego phlebotomists start per diem at a Scripps or Sharp draw station, move to full-time hospital work, and step up to lead phlebotomist. The CPT certificate is also a stepping stone: Southwestern College's MLT program in National City requires it to apply, so drawing blood can be the first step toward a medical laboratory technician license. Others combine it with medical assistant training for clinic jobs like Rady Children's MA and phlebotomist role.
Related Careers in San Diego
If phlebotomy interests you, these San Diego healthcare roles are close matches:
- Medical Laboratory Technician Jobs
- Medical Assistant Jobs
- Certified Nursing Assistant Jobs
- Healthcare Jobs
Frequently Asked Questions
Do you need a license to be a phlebotomist in San Diego?
Yes. California requires a Certified Phlebotomy Technician certificate from the California Department of Public Health, Laboratory Field Services. San Diego hospital postings from Scripps, Sharp and Kaiser all list it as a requirement.
How much do phlebotomists make in San Diego?
Posted hospital ranges run from about $25 an hour at the low end to about $43 at the top of Sharp's outreach scale. Most newly certified phlebotomists start around $25 to $31 an hour.
How long does phlebotomy training take in San Diego?
The state minimum is 40 hours of classroom training plus 40 hours of clinical practice. The Grossmont Health Occupations Center in Santee runs its programs over about five months, including a 120-hour internship.
How much does phlebotomy school cost in San Diego?
At the Grossmont Health Occupations Center, the registration fee is $995 for the Phlebotomy and Medical Lab Assistant program or $695 for the phlebotomy-only track. That covers textbooks, BLS and the national exam fee; the state CPT I application fee of $100 and scrubs are extra.
Can I work as a phlebotomist part time?
Yes. Many San Diego phlebotomy jobs are per diem or part time, including Scripps roles in Hillcrest and North County and Sharp's outreach lab shifts. Those schedules can fit around classes if you are working toward a lab or nursing program.
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