Phlebotomist in Mississippi: Salary, License Requirements, and How to Start

Allied healthcare

Mississippi employs 1,200 phlebotomists, with a statewide median of $36,290 and wide variation by city and experience. Here is the real wage data, the exact Mississippi licensing picture, and where to train.

What Phlebotomists Earn in Mississippi (May 2025)

Wages vary substantially by metro. Median annual pay for phlebotomists in major Mississippi markets:

What That Pay Is Worth in Mississippi

Prices in Mississippi run about 13% below the national average (cost-of-living index 87.0 vs a U.S. baseline of 100, 2024), so the $36,290 median stretches to roughly $41,713 in national buying-power terms.

Job Outlook in Mississippi (2024–2034)

Mississippi is projected to grow phlebotomists employment +16.5%, faster than the +5.6% projected nationally. The state expects about 210 openings a year, counting both growth and workers who retire or move on.

Mississippi License and Certification Requirements

No state license; national certification employer-preferred — regulated by the No Mississippi state license.

1. Mississippi does not license phlebotomists.
2. Complete a short phlebotomy program (weeks to a few months).
3. Earn a national certification (NHA CPT or ASCP PBT) that most labs and hospitals require.

Official requirements: No Mississippi state license →

Training in Mississippi

Quickest healthcare entry of all, and a common foot-in-the-door to hospital systems and other clinical roles.

Real training providers and registered apprenticeships in Mississippi include:

• Blue Cliff College-Gulfport — Certificate
• Delta Technical College-Mississippi — Certificate
• East Mississippi Community College — Certificate
• Mississippi Delta Community College — Certificate

Where Phlebotomists Work in Mississippi

Real Mississippi hospitals that employ phlebotomists include:

• Brentwood Behavioral Healthcare of MS — Flowood
• VA Medical Center Gulfport — Gulfport
• University of Mississippi Med Center — Jackson
• North Mississippi Medical Center — Tupelo
• Mississippi Baptist Medical Center — Jackson
• Fmol Health I St Dominic — Jackson

Is This the Right Move for You?

Best for: People who want the fastest possible healthcare entry and are comfortable with needles, blood, and brief but frequent patient contact.

Think twice if: Repetitive patient draws all day, modest wages, and limited advancement without additional credentials sound like a dead end.

Why it's resilient: Blood collection requires in-person patient access, manual technique, and clinical safety protocols that cannot be automated.

First Steps

Enroll in a phlebotomy certificate program (typically 4–8 months) and check which certifications your state or target employer requires.

Frequently Asked Questions

Sources and Verification

Wage data: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (May 2025), Mississippi statewide and metro estimates for SOC 31-9097. Licensing summary compiled from the No Mississippi state license (2026-06-11). Requirements change — always confirm current rules with the board and verify program costs and outcomes before enrolling.

BLS Occupational Outlook · O*NET Mississippi wages · Mississippi licensing/certification source

Employment projections: Projections Central / BLS Employment Projections (2024–2034); Cost of living: BEA Regional Price Parities; Employer lists from CMS Provider of Services, the FAA Part 145 directory, EIA Form 860, and USGS/state EMS registries (2026).

Pay percentiles describe current workers, not entry-level offers; training costs and local demand vary, so verify locally before committing money or quitting a job.