What is a medical courier and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025
5 min read
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A medical courier transports medical supplies, equipment, specimens, and records between healthcare facilities, laboratories, and patients. They ensure items arrive on time and maintain their integrity and safety. Medical couriers use various means of transportation, including cars, bikes, or public transport. They may also need to handle and dispose of hazardous materials properly. Their role ensures healthcare providers have access to the critical supplies and information necessary for patient care.

ScoreMedical CourierUS Average
Salary
2.8

Avg. Salary $35,416

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability Level
7.2

Growth Rate 16%

Growth Rate 0.3%

Diversity
6.9
Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 0.60%

Asian 6.16%

Black or African American 13.25%

Hispanic or Latino 19.42%

Unknown 5.75%

White 54.81%

Gender

female 30.38%

male 69.62%

Age - 37
Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%

Asian 7.00%

Black or African American 14.00%

Hispanic or Latino 19.00%

White 57.00%

Gender

female 47.00%

male 53.00%

Age - 37
Stress Level
7.2

Stress level is high

7.1 - high

Complexity Level
6.9

Complexity Level is challenging

7 - challenging

Work Life Balance
6.1

Work Life balance is fair

6.4 - fair

What are the pros and cons of being a Medical Courier?

Pros

  • Flexible work schedule

  • Competitive pay

  • No formal education or degree required

  • Potential for advancement within the company

  • High demand for medical couriers in many areas

Cons

  • Physically demanding work (long hours of standing, lifting)

  • Irregular work hours, including weekends and holidays

  • Limited job security or benefits for some positions

  • Requirement for a clean driving record and reliable transportation

  • Limited opportunities for career growth beyond the courier role

Medical Courier career paths

Key steps to become a medical courier

  1. Explore medical courier education requirements

    Most common medical courier degrees

    Bachelor's

    32.5 %

    High School Diploma

    26.5 %

    Associate

    25.5 %
  2. Start to develop specific medical courier skills

    Skills
    ascdesc
    Percentages
    ascdesc
    Patients35.00%
    Customer Service19.56%
    Lab Specimens14.81%
    Medical Specimens8.19%
    Routine Maintenance3.43%
  3. Complete relevant medical courier training and internships

    Accountants spend an average of Less than 1 month on post-employment, on-the-job training. New medical couriers learn the skills and techniques required for their job and employer during this time. The chart below shows how long it takes to gain competency as a medical courier based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real medical courier resumes.
  4. Research medical courier duties and responsibilities

    • Obtain patient vitals, chief complaint, medication, and allergies from patients.
    • Prepare all patients/rooms for physical examinations; including obtaining EKG's and blood pressures on all patients.
    • Provide patient with lab results, medical questions and concerns as directed by the physician; documenting outcomes in EHR.
    • Have been certify to ship with TSA
  5. Prepare your medical courier resume

    When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your medical courier resume.

    You can use Zippia's AI resume builder to make the resume writing process easier while also making sure that you include key information that hiring managers expect to see on a medical courier resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.

    Choose From 10+ Customizable Medical Courier Resume templates

    Build a professional Medical Courier resume in minutes. Browse through our resume examples to identify the best way to word your resume. Then choose from 10+ resume templates to create your Medical Courier resume.
    Medical Courier Resume
    Medical Courier Resume
    Medical Courier Resume
    Medical Courier Resume
    Medical Courier Resume
    Medical Courier Resume
    Medical Courier Resume
    Medical Courier Resume
    Medical Courier Resume
  6. Apply for medical courier jobs

    Now it's time to start searching for a medical courier job. Consider the tips below for a successful job search:

    1. Browse job boards for relevant postings
    2. Consult your professional network
    3. Reach out to companies you're interested in working for directly
    4. Watch out for job scams

How Did You Land Your First Medical Courier Job

Zippi

Are you a Medical Courier?

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Average medical courier salary

The average Medical Courier salary in the United States is $35,416 per year or $17 per hour. Medical courier salaries range between $25,000 and $49,000 per year.

Average Medical Courier Salary
$35,416 Yearly
$17.03 hourly

What Am I Worth?

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How do medical couriers rate their job?

-/5

5 Stars

4 Stars

3 Stars

2 Stars

1 Star

Medical Courier reviews

profile
A zippia user wrote a review on Jul 2020
Cons

Long hours


profile
A zippia user wrote a review on Jun 2020
Pros

Knowing that I am helping people

Cons

There is nothing that I do Not like.I have a lot of experience,and should I be hired by someone as a courier driver,I would do my very best and more.


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Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Research Team
Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.

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