How Much Does a Phlebotomist Make in South Carolina in 2026?

A typical Phlebotomist in South Carolina earns about $18.76 per hour, or $39,010 per year, according to the latest government wage data (May 2025). Calculated from the annual figure, that comes to roughly $3,251 a month or $750 a week. These figures represent typical pay across the state, covering phlebotomy technicians in hospitals, labs, and clinics alike.

That pay runs 14% below the national figure of $45,230 a year ($21.75 an hour), placing South Carolina 44th among the 51 states and territories ranked. Roughly 2,760 phlebotomists work in South Carolina, compared with 143,540 nationwide, giving a sense of scale relative to the national workforce. Lower pay in South Carolina tracks its lower cost of living compared with higher-paying states.

Entry-level positions in South Carolina typically offer around $17.19 an hour ($35,760 a year), according to the same May 2025 data. Pay tends to move up toward the typical $18.76-an-hour rate within the first few years on the job. New phlebotomists often start in hospital or lab settings, where training and certification requirements shape early pay.

Experienced Phlebotomists in South Carolina often earn upwards of $21.44 an hour ($44,600 a year), and the top 10% make over $22.63 an hour ($47,060 a year). The gap between entry-level and top-tier pay runs $11,300 a year. Setting, years of experience, and city all factor into where an individual phlebotomist falls within that range.

South Carolina's typical Phlebotomist pay rose from $26,760 in 2015 to $39,010 in 2025, a gain of $12,250 over the decade. That's a 46% increase, according to the same wage data series. The increase has been steady each year rather than a single jump.

Nationally, typical Phlebotomist pay rose 43% over the same decade, slightly below South Carolina's pace. Pay for phlebotomists entering the field today starts from a higher base than it did ten years ago, though future gains are not guaranteed. That gives new phlebotomists in South Carolina a stronger starting point than the 2015 workforce had.

Phlebotomist pay runs highest in the Gastonia metro area, where the typical rate is $44,980 a year ($21.63 an hour), about 15% above the state figure. Pay in the Hilton Head Island, Bluffton, and Port Royal area follows close behind, at $44,220 a year. Columbia, the state capital, comes in lower, at $40,210 a year.

Florence pays the least among the state's metro areas, at $38,150 a year, a spread of $6,830 between the top and bottom cities. Gastonia also has the largest Phlebotomist workforce among South Carolina's metro areas, with 1,260 employed there. City figures reflect each metro area as a whole, and part of the difference tracks each area's cost of living.

South Carolina's Phlebotomist pay trails both of its neighbors. Georgia pays $45,840 a year, about 18% more than South Carolina, and North Carolina pays $43,330, about 11% more. Phlebotomists considering a move across state lines should note that certification and registry credentials can often be transferred or endorsed between neighboring states, though requirements vary.

Phlebotomists in South Carolina typically earn $39,010 a year ($18.76 an hour), a figure that has climbed 46% over the past decade. For current licensing or registry requirements, check South Carolina's state licensing or certification board page. Readers weighing where to work can compare local figures on the city pages, from Gastonia's higher pay to Florence's lower rate.