Phlebotomist Jobs in Albuquerque, NM
Phlebotomists in Albuquerque draw for TriCore Reference Laboratories, New Mexico's largest lab, for Quest Diagnostics patient service centers and for the big hospital systems. Quest's current Albuquerque postings start at $20 an hour. Here are the current openings, followed by who is hiring and how to get trained.
Current phlebotomist Openings in Albuquerque, NM
Listings marked External are sponsored openings provided by the Jobs2Careers network.
Phlebotomist Work in Albuquerque
Albuquerque is a lab town for its size. TriCore Reference Laboratories is headquartered on Woodward Place NE and employs more than 1,400 people at over 60 locations around New Mexico, and it staffs its draw sites with clinical lab assistants, the title TriCore uses for its phlebotomists. Quest Diagnostics runs patient service centers in the city's northeast quadrant, with current openings on California Street NE, Homestead Road NE and Office Boulevard NE, including a territory role that rotates between sites.
Hospital and clinic work adds to that. Lovelace Health System lists phlebotomy among the job categories for its hospitals, which include Lovelace Medical Center Downtown and Lovelace Westside Hospital, and First Choice Community Healthcare hires lab assistants for health centers from the South Valley to Los Lunas and Edgewood. Outpatient draw sites keep early weekday hours, often starting at 6 or 8 in the morning, while hospital labs also staff nights and weekends.
Top Albuquerque Employers Hiring Phlebotomists
These Albuquerque employers list phlebotomy roles on their own careers sites:
- TriCore Reference Laboratories - the state's largest laboratory hires clinical lab assistants (phlebotomists) and lab assistants with no experience required.
- Quest Diagnostics - the national lab has Phlebotomist I, II and III Territory openings at its Albuquerque patient service centers.
- Lovelace Health System - the Ardent Health system lists laboratory and phlebotomy roles for its New Mexico hospitals, most of them in Albuquerque.
- First Choice Community Healthcare - the community health center network hires lab assistants for its metro health centers.
Phlebotomist Salaries in Albuquerque
- Entry level: about $17 to $20 per hour for new phlebotomists and lab assistants.
- Experienced: roughly $20 to $24 per hour with three or more years of draws, including pediatric and geriatric patients.
- Senior / territory: about $23 per hour and up for float and territory phlebotomists who cover several sites.
These are estimates. Quest's October 2026 Albuquerque postings list $20 and up for a part-time Phlebotomist I, $20 to $24 for a Phlebotomist II and $23.10 and up for a Phlebotomist III Territory role, while salary surveys put the typical Albuquerque phlebotomist in the high teens. Experience with difficult draws, a national certification, willingness to float and shift differentials for hospital nights all move pay up.
How to Become a Phlebotomist in Albuquerque
New Mexico does not license phlebotomists, so there is no state board to apply to. Employers set the bar instead: a high school diploma or equivalent is the floor, and many prefer a completed phlebotomy course or a national certification such as the PBT (ASCP) or CPT (NHA). Central New Mexico Community College offers a Phlebotomy Technician Certificate of Achievement that can be finished in as little as 10 weeks, with a day option at the South Valley Campus and an evening option at the Westside Campus, plus five weeks of clinicals at outpatient draw sites and hospitals. TriCore says clinical lab assistants who complete an approved 12-week course at CNM or UNM can work across several of its lab positions.
What the Job Involves
Phlebotomists greet and identify patients, check orders, and collect blood by venipuncture and capillary stick, then label, process and package specimens so the lab can test them. They explain the draw, calm nervous patients, handle children and older adults with fragile veins, and follow strict infection control and chain-of-custody rules. Data entry is part of every draw, and some roles add urine and drug-screen collections or courier hand-offs.
Skills Employers Look For
- Confident venipuncture and capillary collection
- Pediatric and geriatric draw experience
- Accurate labeling and specimen processing
- Keyboard and data entry skills
- Calm, friendly customer service
- A valid driver's license for float and territory roles
Career Path and Advancement
Many Albuquerque phlebotomists start as lab assistants or Phlebotomist I hires, then move up to experienced, lead and territory roles that cover several patient service centers. Lab work also opens a path to Medical Laboratory Technician: CNM's NAACLS-accredited MLT program runs its lab sessions at the South Valley Campus, and TriCore offers tuition reimbursement and certification incentives for employees working 20 or more hours a week. Others use phlebotomy as a step into medical assisting or nursing.
Related Careers in Albuquerque
If phlebotomy interests you, these related Albuquerque roles are close matches:
Frequently Asked Questions
Do you need a license to be a phlebotomist in New Mexico?
No. New Mexico does not license phlebotomists. Employers decide what they require, and many prefer a completed phlebotomy course or a national certification such as the PBT or CPT.
How much do phlebotomists make in Albuquerque?
Entry pay is roughly $17 to $20 an hour. Quest's current Albuquerque postings pay $20 to $24 for an experienced Phlebotomist II and $23.10 and up for a territory phlebotomist.
How long does phlebotomy training take in Albuquerque?
CNM's Phlebotomy Technician certificate can be finished in as little as 10 weeks on the day schedule at the South Valley Campus. The evening option at the Westside Campus takes longer because its five weeks of daytime clinicals follow the classes.
Can you get hired as a phlebotomist in Albuquerque without experience?
Yes, at some employers. TriCore says its lab assistant role requires a high school diploma or equivalent and no experience, and Quest's part-time Phlebotomist I posting lists experience as preferred rather than required.
What hours do Albuquerque phlebotomists work?
Patient service centers usually run early weekday shifts, such as 6 a.m. to 2 p.m. or 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Hospital labs also staff nights, weekends and holidays, and TriCore advertises shift differential and premium pay.
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