Louisiana is a Southern state known for marshes, swamps, and raucous Mardi Gras celebrations. The principal agricultural products of this state include seafood, cattle, cotton, poultry, soybeans, and eggs.
It is also a major player in the energy industry due to its supply of natural gas and petroleum. Whether you prefer a bustling town filled with tourists or a small swamp town hidden away for the locals, Louisiana has something to offer.
Louisiana requires phlebotomy technicians to be licensed in order to perform blood draws. To perform venipuncture or arterial puncture, the state requires you to become a certified phlebotomist.
Schools in Louisiana
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Once you complete your training, consider the many employment opportunities available in this state.
Some of the best-ranked hospitals in the state include:
- Ochsner Medical Center
- Our Lady of Lake Regional Medical Center
- St. Francis Medical Center
- WK Bossier Health Center
- Willis-Knighton Medical Center
- Rapides Regional Medical Center
- Tulane Medical Center
If you have the credentials necessary to work at a blood bank, there are dozens in this state. Life Share Blood Center, CSL Plasma, United Blood Service, Lady of the Sea Donor Center, and Blood Center of Harvey are just a few of the potential employers available. If you have completed a phlebotomy program and prefer to work for a private practice, there are hundreds of options. The Allergy Clinic, Baton Rouge Cardiology Center, Baton Rouge Family Health Center, and Broadmoor Medical Clinic are just a few of the options available in Baton Rouge alone. There are hundreds of others in New Orleans, Shreveport, Lafayette, Metairie, and other cities.
Once you have determined where you want to work, salary is another important consideration. In New Orleans, you can expect to earn approximately $29,700 per year as a phlebotomy technician. If you work in Shreveport, the median annual phlebotomy salary is a little less at $27,274. When comparing employment offers, be sure to consider whether a potential employer offers benefits and how much those benefits would cost you out of pocket.
If one employer offers $28,000 per year and one offers $29,000 per year, these offers are probably not equal. Maybe both employers offer health insurance coverage, but the employer offering $28,000 per year pays for 100 percent of the premiums and the other employer only pays 50 percent of the premiums. In this case, the employer offering the lower salary may be the best one for your needs.
