Couriers and Messengers
Job Zone 2 - Some preparation needed
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.
Median pay: $39,200/yr (U.S. national, May 2025)
Typical range nationwide (10th–90th percentile). This is a population snapshot, not a personal prediction - actual pay varies by location, employer, and experience.
Job outlook: +8.2% projected growth, 2024–2034 — faster than average.
About 27,900 openings per year, on average, over the decade.
Typical entry-level education: High school diploma or equivalent.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS and Employment Projections.
• Deliver and pick up medical records, lab specimens, and medications to and from hospitals and other medical facilities.
• 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.
• Walk, ride bicycles, drive vehicles, or use public conveyances to reach destinations to deliver messages or materials.
• Sort items to be delivered according to the delivery route.
• Deliver messages and items, such as newspapers, documents, and packages, between establishment departments and to other establishments and private homes.
What's the median pay for Couriers and Messengers?
The median pay for Couriers and Messengers is $39,200 per year, per the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
What's the job outlook for Couriers and Messengers?
Employment for Couriers and Messengers is projected to change +8.2% from 2024 to 2034 - faster than average.
What education is typically required for Couriers and Messengers?
Typical entry-level education: High school diploma or equivalent.
How many job openings are there each year for Couriers and Messengers?
About 27,900 openings per year, on average, over the decade.