How to Get Started as a COVID-19 Screener

January 12, 2021

As the pandemic continues, COVID-19 screeners are in high demand. Some organizations are hiring internally for this position, but many others are hiring specifically for dedicated health screeners or temperature takers. Learn more about what it takes to become a COVID-19 screener.

What Do COVID Screeners Do

COVID screeners can work in a variety of settings, screening people for signs of COVID-19 as they enter the building. Companies are hiring people to screen employees, facility visitors, and customers to ensure they don’t have COVID-19 related symptoms. Some of their typical duties include taking and recording the temperature of people entering the building, assessing an individual’s risk, following company processes related to screening, wearing personal protective equipment while on the job, and self-screening before coming into work.

Person checking temperature — Photo by Mufid Majnun on Unsplash

As a screener, you’ll need to make sure entrants stay physically distanced. You’ll also need to ask them questions to screen their risk. Depending on the facility you work at, such as at a hospital, you also may have to either separate a potentially infected person or, for less urgent services, ask them to return at another time. Some other titles for COVID screeners include temperature screener, facility screener, re-entry screener, and temperature checker. These positions can be temp, part-time, or full-time, depending on where you work.

Who Can Be a COVID Screener

Nurses, medical assistants, health specialists, as well as people versed in administrative and hospitality roles, can become COVID screeners. As a screener, you will be working closely with people and sometimes handling high emotions, so having experience working in hospitality and being empathetic are useful skills.

Job Requirements/Certifications

To become a COVID screener, most employers require at least a high school diploma or equivalent, or higher. Excellent organizational and communication skills will come in handy as you work closely with people and documenting their information regarding any symptoms. You’ll also want to have strong attention to detail, as it can be helpful to memorize the list of screening questions you’ll need to ask.

Being empathetic, caring, and able to deal with stressful situations are other traits that employers look for. You may need to turn people away or handle a family member not being permitted to visit someone in an end-of-life condition if they don’t pass screening, which requires strong people skills and understanding.

Salary

The average salary for temperature screeners is between $15-$25 but can vary depending on your exact title and location you are working at.

How to Apply for COVID-19 Screener Positions

At Desert Medical Careers, we have years of connections and experience placing individuals in the medical positions that suit their career goals. We help with reviewing your resume to ensure it matches what employers are looking for and provide interview tips based on our experience placing thousands of people in medical jobs.

If you’d like to be placed in a COVID-19 screener position, contact Desert Medical Careers at (602) 468-6300 or fill out the form below to get contacted by a DMC expert.

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