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Cadaver Transport Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Tissue Recovery Technician-Itasca

Itasca, IL · On-site

$28.91 - $29.28/hr

Experience in an anatomy or cadaver lab is very applicable, as is experience as an EMT, Paramedic ... Transport/transfer donor as necessary to and from morgue, patient room, or other recovery area

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Cadaver Transport information

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$23K

$66.1K

$93.5K

How much do cadaver transport jobs pay per year?

As of Aug 23, 2026, the average yearly pay for cadaver transport in the United States is $66,074.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $49,000.00 and $78,000.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is a cadaver transport?

Cadaver transport refers to the process of safely and respectfully moving deceased human bodies from one location to another. This may include transferring bodies from hospitals, homes, or accident scenes to funeral homes, morgues, or medical facilities for further processing. Professionals in this role ensure that all legal, health, and ethical guidelines are followed during transport, and they often work closely with medical staff, funeral directors, and law enforcement. Proper documentation and care are essential throughout the process to maintain the dignity of the deceased and comply with regulations.

What are some typical challenges faced by cadaver transport professionals, and how are they addressed on the job?

Cadaver transport professionals often encounter challenges such as handling emotional situations with grieving families, adhering to strict protocols for identification and documentation, and ensuring the safe and respectful movement of remains. They must also coordinate with hospitals, funeral homes, and sometimes law enforcement, which requires strong communication and organizational skills. Many organizations provide thorough training on safety, legal compliance, and sensitivity to help staff navigate these challenges and maintain professionalism at all times.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a cadaver transport professional, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Cadaver Transport professional, you need attention to detail, a valid driver's license, physical stamina, and often a high school diploma or equivalent. Familiarity with body handling equipment, safe lifting techniques, and compliance with health and safety protocols is typically required. Compassion, discretion, and strong communication skills help you interact respectfully with families and healthcare staff. These abilities are crucial for maintaining professionalism, ensuring safety, and providing sensitive service during a difficult time.

What is the difference between Cadaver Transport vs Medical Courier?

AspectCadaver TransportMedical Courier
CredentialsOften requires specialized training in handling human remains, sometimes certifications in biohazard handlingRequires valid driver’s license, sometimes certifications in medical specimen handling
Work EnvironmentHospitals, funeral homes, morgues, medical facilitiesHospitals, laboratories, clinics, pharmacies
Employer & IndustryHospitals, funeral services, medical transport companiesMedical supply companies, laboratories, hospitals

Cadaver Transport and Medical Courier roles share similarities in working within medical environments and requiring certifications related to handling sensitive materials. However, Cadaver Transport specifically involves transporting human remains, often requiring specialized training and handling protocols, whereas Medical Couriers typically handle medical specimens, pharmaceuticals, or equipment. Both roles are essential in healthcare logistics but differ in the type of materials transported and the handling procedures involved.

What jobs work with cadaver transport?

Jobs that involve cadaver transport typically include funeral home drivers, medical transport technicians, and mortuary assistants. These roles require knowledge of proper handling procedures, transportation safety, and sometimes certification in body transportation or embalming. Employees often work in funeral homes, hospitals, or medical examiner offices and may need to follow strict health and safety protocols.
More about Cadaver Transport jobs

What are the most commonly searched types of Cadaver Transport jobs?

The most popular types of Cadaver Transport jobs are:

What states have the most Cadaver Transport jobs?

States with the most job openings for Cadaver Transport jobs include:

Infographic showing various Cadaver Transport job openings in the United States as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 100% Full Time. Highlights an 100% In-person job distribution, with an average salary of $66,074 per year, or $31.8 per hour.

Tissue Recovery Technician-Itasca

Gift of Hope

Itasca, IL • On-site

$28.91 - $29.28/hr

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Vision, Life, Retirement, PTO

Re-posted 21 days ago


Job description

Overview
Put your skills to work in a field that profoundly impacts many lives: Organ and Tissue Donation.
At Gift of Hope Organ & Tissue Donor Network, we're dedicated to coordinating organ and tissue donation in the northern three-quarters of Illinois and northwest Indiana. Our goal is to provide the highest quality service to families and hospitals as we strive to fulfill our mission of saving and enhancing the lives of as many people as possible through organ and tissue donation.
A Tissue Recovery Technician uses surgical instruments to recover tissues for transplant from a deceased donor body during a tissue recovery case; precepts new employees and displays respect for the donor during each case.
Experience in an anatomy or cadaver lab is very applicable, as is experience as an EMT, Paramedic, Surgical Tech or Patient Care Tech.
Compensation range for is $28.91 - $29.28/hour
Our Benefits
In addition to competitive salaries, we offer a comprehensive benefits package:
  • Medical, dental, vision, disability and life insurance options for full-time employees
  • Generous Paid Time Off (PTO) plan
  • 403(b) retirement plan with company match
  • Tuition Reimbursement up to the IRS-allowed maximum
  • Personalized learning and educational development opportunities
  • Monthly cell phone and internet stipends
  • Paid Parental Leave
  • Annual Employer-funded Lifestyle Spending Accounts to support wellness needs
  • Support and counseling for personal, work financial or family needs through our Employee Assistance Program (EAP) and our partnership with Critical Incident Stress Consultants (CISC)

Responsibilities
Essential Functions
The following essential functions are the basic job duties that an employee must be able to perform, with or without reasonable accommodation.
  • Advance Gift of Hope's mission, vision and core values: providing compassionate service, contributing to outstanding teams and engaging as one of our passionate people committed to a positive culture that respects the dignity and worth of each individual. Adhere to all policies and procedures in carrying out the responsibilities of this position.
  • Use surgical instruments, such as scalpels and saws, to recover authorized donor tissue
  • Participate in all aspects of tissue recovery such as:
    • Load/unload equipment
    • Clean and decontaminate instruments
    • Transport/transfer donor as necessary to and from morgue, patient room, or other recovery area
    • Set up tissue recovery supplies and equipment in an aseptic fashion
    • Prep and drape donor
    • Culture, package, and ship tissue as needed
    • Provide post-mortem care to donor, e.g. reconstruction, re-identifying, placing in a body bag
    • Close post-operative and other incisions, such as autopsy incisions, as needed
    • Verify donor identification
    • Verify authorization and understanding tissue to be collected
    • Assist with physical assessment of donor for high risk behaviors
    • Aseptic recovery of authorized tissue
    • Verify authorization of tissue recovered
    • Collect donor blood samples and perform testing as trained
    • Package tissue
    • Clean the recovery suite and other pertinent recovery areas
  • Act as a preceptor to new employees
  • Attend organizational and/or department events such as staff meetings and/or training outside of regularly scheduled hours
  • Other duties as assigned

Qualifications
Education and Training Required
The following identifies the minimum education and training required to perform the essential functions of the job.
  • EMT-P (paramedic), EMT-B, CST or ORT, or high school diploma/GED with 6 months tissue banking experience or 18 months of related experience
  • Or Bachelor's Degree in Biology or related field with anatomy lab experience
  • Other candidates may be considered on an individual basis at the discretion of management dependent on aligned job experience

Experience and Skills Required
The following indicates the minimum skills and experience required to perform the essential functions of the job.
  • Experience maintaining proper aseptic technique
  • Experience using surgical instruments such as scalpels and suture needles
  • Ability to recover all donor tissues proficiently once trained
  • History of high-quality tissue procurement (low error rate) and low level of tissue contamination preferred
  • Ability to transition to role of Tissue Recovery Coordinator within 1 year after training complete in the Technician role
  • Basic computer skills

Physical Demands
The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of the job.
  • Ability to drive personal car to hospitals and other locations to perform job functions
  • Ability to work outside normal business hours including nights, weekends, and holidays
  • Ability to walk, stand, bend, stoop, and kneel to perform job functions
  • Ability to work 12- to 24-hour shifts, as dictated by organizational needs
  • Ability to use personal cell phone for business purposes
  • Ability to hear and speak to convey information to co-workers
  • Ability to stand for up to 6 consecutive hours to complete a case
  • Ability to see to conduct donor assessment
  • Fine motor skills to package and label recovered tissue
  • Ability to move up to 50-75 lbs.
  • Ability to move and turn donors of a maximum of 400 lbs. with assistance, and move them from cart to cart, or cart to table
  • Use of surgical equipment such as needles and scalpels without causing injury to self or others

Work Environment
The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those that will be encountered by an employee while performing the essential functions of the job.
  • Work a rotating shift schedule to respond to tissue referrals throughout Gift of Hope's service area
  • Work 2-3 weekends per month while on the call schedule
  • Work in Gift of Hope and hospital operating rooms, and coroner and medical examiner offices in designated service area
  • Possible exposure to communicable diseases, hazardous materials, pharmacological agents, with little likelihood of harm if established health precautions are followed
  • Travel by personal car within Gift of Hope's service area
  • Respond timely to Gift of Hope's notifications via smartphone
  • Overnight travel 1 - 2 times a year for up to 4 nights for training, education and/or conferences
  • Attend organizational and/or departmental staff meetings, training, etc., outside scheduled work hours
  • Carry a personal cell phone to be accessible outside regular business hours
  • Ability to arrive at tissue recovery site within 1 hour after being dispatched, if not already on-site at a Gift of Hope office
  • 12-hour shifts (12 noon - 12 midnight) that require some flexibility at times due to case length
  • Shift differential provided
  • Total of 7 shifts/2-week rotation, with 2 weekends per month required

Gift of Hope Organ & Tissue Donor Network provides equal employment opportunities to all qualified candidates and does not discriminate with regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, disability, military or veteran status, family medical history or genetic information or any other classification protected by applicable law. All employment decisions are made based on an individual's job-related qualifications and abilities.