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Up to 3 careers or trades side by side, on the numbers that decide between them.
Scroll the table sideways to reach every pathway.
| Pathway | Phlebotomy Technician Career | Patient Care Technician (PCT) Career |
|---|---|---|
| Salary range | $35K–$55K+ (planning range) | $35K–$55K+ (planning range) |
| Median salary | None (a planning range has no median) | None (a planning range has no median) |
| Pay basis | Planning range from the Wealth Playbook medical careers guide, 2026 | Planning range from the Wealth Playbook medical careers guide, 2026 |
| Time to qualify | 1–6 months | 3–12 months |
| Training | Certificate, 1–6 months | Certificate, 3–12 months |
| Pathway | Specialty Diagnostics (Medical Skilled Trades) | Patient Care (Medical Skilled Trades) |
| Patient contact | High | High |
| Education | Certificate | Certificate |
| College required | No | No |
| Apprenticeship route | No | No |
| Credentials | CPT - Certified Phlebotomy Technician (National Healthcareer Association), PBT(ASCP) - Phlebotomy Technician (ASCP Board of Certification) | CPCT/A - Certified Patient Care Technician/Assistant (National Healthcareer Association) |
| Outlook | Employment of phlebotomists is projected to grow 7 percent from 2025 to 2035, much faster than the average for all occupations. | Employment of nursing assistants and orderlies (the closest group in government data) is projected to grow 3 percent from 2025 to 2035, about as fast as the average for all occupations. |
| Where you work | Hospitals, Medical and diagnostic laboratories, Offices of physicians | Hospitals, Nursing care facilities, Home health care |
| Overtime common | — | — |
| Path to ownership | — | — |
| Next step |
Medical Skilled Trades careers show a planning range from the Wealth Playbook medical careers guide (2026), not wage data, unless BLS wage data has been loaded; the Pay basis row names the source and year, and outlook figures are cited on each career page.