How Much Does a Lab Courier Make in 2025?
A lab courier's main responsibility is to help transport and deliver medical equipment, pharmaceutical tools, medical specimens, as well as help deliver medical records from one hospital to another in case of emergency.
Salary.com reports that the average salary of a Lab Courier is $37,200 as of October 10, 2025. This guide provides everything you need to know about a Lab Courier's salary - salary data from states and cities, factors within the industry that can affect earnings, as well as tips that can help increase a Lab Courier's compensation.
What is the Average Lab Courier's Salary?
Salary.com reports that the average salary for a Lab Courier as of October 10, 2025, in the United States is $37,200 per year. The average salary is $18 per hour, with rates ranging from $15 to $21.
2025 Average Salary for Lab Courier: $37,200 ($18 per hour)
Meanwhile, the monthly and weekly compensation for the Lab Courier is $3,100 and $715, respectively.
What is the Pay Range for a Lab Courier?
Salary.com's data suggest that the salary range for Lab Courier starts at $31,660 per year and can reach as high as $42,931, with most earning between $34,300 and $40,200.
However, it's important to note that this salary range for Lab Courier is heavily affected by key factors including education, level of experience, and geographic location.
Lab Courier Salary Range: $31,660 to $42,931 ($15 to $21 per hour)
| Percentile | By Hour | By Week | By Month | By Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th Percentile | $15 | $609 | $2,638 | $31,660 |
| 25th Percentile | $16 | $660 | $2,858 | $34,300 |
| 50th Percentile (Median) | $18 | $715 | $3,100 | $37,200 |
| 75th Percentile | $19 | $773 | $3,350 | $40,200 |
| 90th Percentile | $21 | $826 | $3,578 | $42,931 |
Lab Courier Salary Factors
Similar to other jobs, several factors influence a Lab Courier's salary. These include experience, location, and skills. See the figures below for more details.
Years of Experience
The average income for Lab Courier by years of experience ranges from $37,076 per year for entry-level Lab Courier and expert-level Lab Courier or those with more than 8 years of experience can receive $38,318.
| Level | Years of Experience | Average Salary per Year |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level Lab Courier | <1 | $37,076 |
| Intermediate Level Lab Courier | 1-2 | $37,393 |
| Senior Level Lab Courier | 2-4 | $38,087 |
| Specialist Level Lab Courier | 5-8 | $38,225 |
| Expert Level Lab Courier | 8+ | $38,318 |
Skill Set
Lab couriers with certain in-demand skills are also in line to increase their salaries. For instance, the Real-time Job Posting Salary Data Report shows that Lab Couriers with specimen collection and handling skills can earn up to 9.50% more than those without.
On the other hand, a Lab Courier with chromatography, healthcare data privacy and protection, and product testing skills are more likely to land a job with a 10.80% and 10.70% demand increase, respectively.
| Skill | Demand Increase | Salary Increase |
|---|---|---|
| Specimen Collection and Handling | 10.60% | 9.50% |
| Biotechnology | 10.50% | 8.61% |
| Chromatography | 10.80% | 8.42% |
| Preventative Maintenance | 10.40% | 8.12% |
| Healthcare Data Privacy and Protection | 10.70% | 7.95% |
| Probability | 10.50% | 7.69% |
Lab Courier Salary by City and State
The location you live and work in can greatly influence your salary as a Lab Courier. Understanding how pay varies by city and state can help professionals in this field strategically select areas that maximize their earning potential and career opportunities, enabling them to take action to secure the best compensation.
Highest Paying States for Lab Courier
Based on the Salary.com data, the salary of a Lab Courier is the highest in the District of Colombia, at $41,200.
- District of Columbia: $41,200 (or $20 per hour)
- California: $41,100 (or $20 per hour)
- Massachusetts: $40,500 (or $19 per hour)
- New Jersey: $40,400 (or $19 per hour)
- Washington: $40,400 (or $19 per hour)
Lab Courier Salary State by State
| State | Average Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Alabama | $34,200 |
| Alaska | $40,300 |
| Arizona | $36,300 |
| Arkansas | $33,600 |
| California | $41,100 |
| Colorado | $38,000 |
| Connecticut | $39,800 |
| Delaware | $37,700 |
| District of Columbia | $41,200 |
| Florida | $35,200 |
| Georgia | $35,900 |
| Hawaii | $38,900 |
| Idaho | $34,800 |
| Illinois | $38,000 |
| Indiana | $35,700 |
| Iowa | $35,600 |
| Kansas | $35,500 |
| Kentucky | $35,000 |
| Louisiana | $35,400 |
| Maine | $36,300 |
| Maryland | $38,400 |
| Massachusetts | $40,500 |
| Michigan | $36,700 |
| Minnesota | $38,100 |
| Mississippi | $33,200 |
| Missouri | $35,400 |
| Montana | $35,200 |
| Nebraska | $35,100 |
| Nevada | $36,900 |
| New Hampshire | $37,600 |
| New Jersey | $40,400 |
| New Mexico | $34,500 |
| New York | $39,600 |
| North Carolina | $35,400 |
| North Dakota | $36,800 |
| Ohio | $36,300 |
| Oklahoma | $34,400 |
| Oregon | $37,800 |
| Pennsylvania | $37,100 |
| Rhode Island | $38,600 |
| South Carolina | $34,900 |
| South Dakota | $33,800 |
| Tennessee | $34,800 |
| Texas | $36,300 |
| Utah | $35,700 |
| Virginia | $37,500 |
| Washington | $40,400 |
| West Virginia | $33,500 |
| Wisconsin | $36,600 |
| Wyoming | $35,700 |
Highest Paying Cities for Lab Courier
Salary.com data also shows that San Jose, CA leads the salary for Lab Courier with $141,993 per year.
- San Jose, CA: $46,900
- San Francisco, CA: $46,500
- Oakland, CA: $45,500
- New York, NY: $43,100
- Queens Village, NY: $42,900
- Paramus, NJ: $42,600
Ways to Increase Your Salary as a Lab Courier
- Acquire a license: Lab couriers do not need to have a high school diploma - however, they should have a commercial driving license specializing in HazMat (hazardous materials) to be considered for the role.
- Get the needed experience: Typically, lab couriers do not need to have any prior experience before getting the role and can apply to the role right away given that they have the skills. However, having the right credentials can easily help you negotiate a better salary.
- Develop better skills: Learning more about the skills in a Lab Courier's job description can help you negotiate for higher compensation. For instance, having the aforementioned skills like specimen collection and handling and biotechnology skills can help the Lab Courier negotiate a higher salary.
- Moving to a different city: Seeking job openings in states and cities in the United States that compensate Lab Courier better, like California or the District of Colombia and moving to these areas can increase your salary by an estimate of 10%.
- Know your worth: Negotiating your pay by researching market rates and showing how hard you work and how much you've grown in your current position as an employee, your current connections, and your current experience level can increase your salary. As of this writing, the lab courier earns between $31,660 to $42,931 per year.
Average National Salaries by Source
As of October 10, 2025, the following are the salaries for Lab Courier from four top salary reporting sites, averaging $27,683 (unweighted) across these sites.
SALARY.COM AVG. SALARY
$37,200/year
GLASSDOOR AVG. SALARY
$40,000/year
PAYSCALE AVG. SALARY
$32,173/year
ZIPRECRUITER AVG. SALARY
$35,360/year
