Couriers and Messengers
Pick up and deliver messages, documents, packages, and other items between offices or departments within an establishment or directly to other business concerns, traveling by foot, bicycle, motorcycle, automobile, or public conveyance.
Also called: Courier · Driver · Laboratory Courier · Mail Carrier · Mailroom Courier · Messenger
Median pay (national)
$38,340
$29,880–$50,590 (10th–90th)
Employed (US)
71,920
BLS OEWS, May 2024
Outlook 2024–34
+8.2%
~27,900 openings/yr
Typical entry
High school diploma or equivalent
What the numbers say
Refit analysis ·Pay for couriers and messengers shows a relatively narrow range: the top 10% earn $50,590 versus $29,880 at the bottom 10% — 1.7x. The median of $38,340 leaves roughly 32% of headroom to the 90th percentile, which is where seniority, specialization, and the skills below tend to pay off.
Refit analysis ·Employment is projected to change +8.2% from 2024 to 2034 — much faster than the 3% average for all occupations. Even so, BLS projects about 27,900 openings a year, mostly to replace workers who retire or change careers.
Refit analysis ·Where you work moves the number a lot. Across the 53 states with released data, Colorado pays the most for this role (median $44,610, +16% vs the national median), while Puerto Rico sits lowest at $22,010 — a 103% spread for the same job title.
Refit analysis ·O*NET rates Active Listening, Speaking, Reading Comprehension as the highest-importance skills here — so a resume aimed at this role should lead with evidence of those, not a generic skills list.
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Top skills employers ask for
Ranked by O*NET importance for this occupation.
- Active Listening
- Speaking
- Reading Comprehension
- Writing
- Critical Thinking
- Monitoring
- Active Learning
- Mathematics
- Learning Strategies
- Science
What they actually do
Core O*NET tasks for this role.
- Obtain signatures and payments, or arrange for recipients to make payments.
- Record information, such as items received and delivered and recipients' responses to messages.
- Receive messages or materials to be delivered, and information on recipients, such as names, addresses, telephone numbers, and delivery instructions, communicated via telephone, two-way radio, or in person.
- Load vehicles with listed goods, ensuring goods are loaded correctly and taking precautions with hazardous goods.
- Sort items to be delivered according to the delivery route.
- Plan and follow the most efficient routes for delivering goods.
- Perform routine maintenance on delivery vehicles, such as monitoring fluid levels and replenishing fuel.
- Deliver and pick up medical records, lab specimens, and medications to and from hospitals and other medical facilities.
- Walk, ride bicycles, drive vehicles, or use public conveyances to reach destinations to deliver messages or materials.
- Check with home offices after completed deliveries to confirm deliveries and collections and to receive instructions for other deliveries.
Tools & technology
- Route mapping software
- Microsoft Excel
- Microsoft Office software
- Microsoft Outlook
- Microsoft Word
Knowledge areas
- Customer and Personal Service
- Transportation
- English Language
- Public Safety and Security
- Administrative
- Geography
- Law and Government
- Medicine and Dentistry