Profession · Full profile

Delivery Driver

Drives a van or small truck to pick up and deliver packages and goods to homes and businesses.

Average salary

$44,860

Salary range

$30,800 – $80,310

Training time

1 month or less

Job market

Faster than average

8/10

Work-life balance

Demanding

4/10

A delivery driver picks up packages and merchandise, usually at a distribution center, and drives a van or small truck to homes and businesses within a local area. The job includes loading and unloading, checking cargo against shipping papers, planning the route, getting signatures or payments and reporting vehicle problems. Couriers and parcel services employ the most drivers, followed by retail and wholesale companies; 7.2% are self-employed. You need a state driver's license and a clean driving record, but no commercial driver's license for vehicles under 26,001 pounds. In US labor statistics, delivery drivers fall under light truck drivers; the figures on this page cover that whole group. The median annual wage is $44,860, and employment is projected to grow 6% over the next decade, faster than the average for all occupations.

A workday

A day in the life

What does a workday really look like?

A package driver loads once at the distribution center in the morning and works through a long list of residential and business stops.

7:30 AM - 7:45 AM
Morning briefing at the station
Short safety talk and updates on road closures, weather and any changes to the route.
7:45 AM - 8:15 AM
Vehicle check and load verification
Checks tires, lights, brakes and fluids, then confirms the packages on board match the route manifest.
8:15 AM - 8:45 AM
Drive out to the route
Heads to the first neighborhood, keeping to roads where delivery trucks are allowed.
8:45 AM - 12:00 PM
Residential stops
Parks, finds the right package, walks it to the door, records the delivery and moves on, stop after stop.
12:00 PM - 12:30 PM
Lunch break
Usually eaten in or near the van between stops.
12:30 PM - 3:30 PM
Business deliveries and pickups
Delivers to offices and stores before they close and collects outgoing shipments from regular customers.
3:30 PM - 5:00 PM
Final stops and missed deliveries
Finishes the remaining stops and leaves notices where nobody was home to sign.
5:00 PM - 5:30 PM
Return to the distribution center
Drives back through evening traffic with pickups and any undelivered packages.
5:30 PM - 6:00 PM
Check in and report problems
Turns in pickups and paperwork, and reports damaged goods, incidents or mechanical problems with the van.

Task breakdown

A driver for a food and supplies distributor starts before dawn so delis, cafes and restaurants have stock before they open.

3:30 AM - 4:00 AM
Inspect the truck, review load sheet
Checks the vehicle and compares the orders on the load sheet with the shipping papers.
4:00 AM - 4:45 AM
Load the remaining orders
Moves cases and crates from the dock onto the truck in delivery order, using a hand truck.
4:45 AM - 7:00 AM
Deliver before customers open
Drops bread, dairy and supplies at delis and cafes on a fixed daily route before opening time.
7:00 AM - 7:30 AM
Present invoices and collect payments
Gets signatures, takes checks or cash where accounts require it and counts change accurately.
7:30 AM - 8:00 AM
Breakfast break
Break at a regular stop along the route.
8:00 AM - 10:30 AM
Restaurant and grocery stops
Carries heavy cases through back doors and into storerooms and coolers, and takes back damaged items.
10:30 AM - 11:00 AM
Call dispatch about a shortage
Reports a missing item and agrees with the dispatcher and customer how to make it right.
11:00 AM - 11:45 AM
Drive back and unload returns
Returns to the warehouse and unloads empty crates, returns and damaged goods.
11:45 AM - 12:30 PM
Turn in receipts and log the route
Hands in money and receipts and completes vehicle and cargo logs as required.

Salary data

What do you really earn?

Salary by experience, sector and region.

Minimum

$30,800

Average

$44,860

Maximum

$80,310

Salary by region

Region	Min	Avg.	Max
National	$30,800	$44,860	$80,310
California	$36,750	$46,790	$93,280
Texas	$28,120	$42,500	$91,280
Florida	$29,880	$41,810	$62,330
New York	$34,070	$46,330	$72,890
Illinois	$33,130	$47,380	$91,360

Typical benefits

Fast way into a paying job

Training takes 1 month or less, usually with an experienced driver riding along, and no degree or commercial license is needed.

Growing demand from e-commerce

Online shopping and faster delivery expectations keep adding jobs, with about 107,200 openings projected each year over the next decade.

Independence on the road

Once the truck is loaded, drivers work largely on their own and often decide the best order and route for their stops.

Higher pay at the top end

The top 10% earn more than $80,310, far above the $44,860 median, so pay can differ a lot from one driving job to the next.

Benefits depend heavily on the employer

Employees of large carriers and distributors often get health and retirement benefits, and some are unionized. Self-employed and app-based drivers get no employer benefits and cover their own vehicle costs.

Pathways

Education pathways

Which paths lead to this profession?

On-the-job training

1 month or less

High school diploma plus company driver training

Companies train new drivers on the job, often with a driver-mentor who rides along to make sure the new driver can handle a truck safely on crowded streets. Training also covers drop-off and return policies, taking payment and handling damaged goods. Some jobs are open to people without a diploma.

Costs: Paid by the employer; the trainee earns a wage.
Entry requirements: Typically a high school diploma or equivalent, a valid state driver's license and a clean driving record.
High school subjects: English, mathematics, driver's education

License

Most applicants already hold a license; a DOT medical certificate, where needed, is valid for up to 24 months

State driver's license (no CDL under 26,001 pounds)

All delivery drivers need a driver's license from the state where they work, which includes passing a state vision test. A commercial driver's license is not required for vehicles under 26,001 pounds. Drivers of vehicles of 10,001 pounds or more in interstate commerce also need a DOT medical examiner's certificate. The DOT medical exam must be done by a medical examiner listed on the FMCSA National Registry. Drivers of these vehicles in interstate commerce must be at least 21.

Costs: Driver's license fees are set by each state; the DOT medical exam fee is set by the medical examiner
Entry requirements: Minimum age and testing rules set by your state; employers check your driving record.
High school subjects: Exam topics: Traffic laws, road signs, safe driving practices, vision test

On-the-job training

Varies; months to years

Start as a package loader or driver helper

Some drivers begin as package loaders at warehouse facilities, especially at large companies, and move into a driving job once a route opens up. It is a common way in for people who do not yet meet a company's driving requirements.

Costs: No training cost; loaders and helpers are paid an hourly wage
Entry requirements: Usually no formal credential; ability to lift and move packages.
High school subjects: Training topics: Package handling, safe lifting, scanning and sorting, warehouse safety

License

Commercial learner's permit held at least 14 days before the skills test, plus entry-level driver training

Class B commercial driver's license (CDL) for heavier trucks

Optional, for delivery jobs with trucks of 26,001 pounds or more, such as beverage, furniture or freight routes. You first get a commercial learner's permit by passing knowledge tests, complete Entry-Level Driver Training (ELDT) with a provider listed on the FMCSA Training Provider Registry, then pass a skills test. A DOT medical certificate is required, and CDL drivers are subject to drug and alcohol testing.

Costs: Training tuition varies by school; some employers pay for training. CDL permit, test and license fees are set by each state
Entry requirements: A valid state driver's license; at least 18 to drive within one state and 21 to drive across state lines.
High school subjects: Exam topics: Vehicle inspection, air brakes, cargo securement, basic vehicle control, hours of service

Profile

Skills & personality

Is this a good fit for you?

Hard skills

Safe defensive drivingObeying traffic laws and handling a van or small truck safely in congested streets, tight parking and bad weather.
Route planning and navigationReading maps and directions, knowing which roads allow trucks and putting stops in an efficient order.
Loading and safe liftingLoading cargo in delivery order and lifting, carrying and moving heavy items without injury.
Vehicle inspectionChecking gas, oil, water, tires, lights and brakes, and reporting mechanical problems before they become breakdowns.
Delivery records and cargo checksVerifying loads against shipping papers and keeping vehicle logs, cargo records and delivery confirmations accurate.
Payments and cash handlingPresenting bills, collecting payment, counting cash and making change quickly and correctly.

Soft skills

Customer serviceMaking a good impression at every stop, which keeps business customers coming back.
Time managementHitting delivery windows and opening times while traffic, weather and missed stops throw off the plan.
Composure in trafficStaying calm and patient in heavy congestion and under tight deadlines.
Clear communicationReporting incidents, shortages and delays to dispatchers and customers promptly and accurately.

Is this a good fit for you?

✓
DependabilityCustomers plan around the delivery; the driver has to show up on time, every day, with the right goods.
✓
PatienceTraffic jams, slow loading docks and hard-to-find addresses are daily events, not exceptions.
✓
AccuracyA wrong package, a missed signature or a miscounted payment creates problems that land back on the driver.
✓
Physical staminaLong days of driving, lifting, carrying and walking up steps take real endurance.
✓
Self-relianceDrivers spend most of the day alone and must solve problems on the route without a manager nearby.

Market

Job market & outlook

What does the market look like?

Openings per year

107,200

Trend

Growth

+6.3%

AI impact

4/10

Software already handles much of the planning and paperwork, such as routing, delivery confirmations, records and payments, and further automation of those tasks is likely. The physical last step, loading, carrying goods to the door and dealing with customers in person, is much harder to automate.

Regional demand

California

About 111,950 jobs; median pay $46,790 a year.

5/10

Texas

About 78,540 jobs; median pay $42,500 a year.

4/10

Florida

About 67,390 jobs; median pay $41,810 a year.

5/10

New York

About 56,490 jobs; median pay $46,330 a year.

5/10

Illinois

About 47,190 jobs; median pay $47,380 a year.

6/10

Growth

Career paths

Where can this profession take you?

Vertical growth

Package loader or driver helper
0-1 years
Loads and sorts packages in the warehouse or rides along with drivers, learning routes and procedures.
Delivery driver
0-3 years
Runs a route independently, handling loading, deliveries, pickups, payments and paperwork.
Driver trainer or senior route driver
3-5 years
Rides along with new drivers as a mentor or takes on larger, more complex routes and key accounts.
Delivery supervisor or station manager
5+ years
Manages a team of drivers, route planning, safety performance and daily operations at a delivery station.

Horizontal move

Truck driver
With a commercial driver's license, delivery drivers can move to heavy and tractor-trailer trucks, which have a median wage of $58,640.
View Truck Driver
Mail carrier
Route experience carries over to delivering mail; postal service workers earn a median $59,880.
Dispatcher
Drivers who know the routes and customers can move off the road into scheduling and coordinating drivers.

Good to know

Practical info

Working hours: Mostly full time, and 72% work more than 40 hours a week. Drivers with regular routes may start very early in the morning or work late at night, and weekends, holidays and changing schedules are common.
Remote work: None. The job is done in the vehicle (85% of workers every day) and at customers' doors.
Physical requirements: High. Lots of lifting, carrying and walking when loading and unloading, plus long hours behind the wheel. Light truck drivers have one of the highest injury and illness rates of all occupations, from heavy lifting and from traffic accidents. A state vision test is required.
Typical employers: Couriers and messengers, such as parcel delivery companies (37% of jobs), retail trade (17%) and wholesale trade (14%); 7% are self-employed.
Professional associations: No professional association or certification is required. Many package drivers at large carriers are represented by a union, such as the Teamsters package division.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

How much do delivery drivers make?

Light truck drivers, the occupational group that includes most delivery drivers, earn a median annual wage of $44,860, or $21.57 per hour. The lowest-paid 10% earn less than $30,800 and the top 10% more than $80,310. Drivers who deliver takeout food are usually counted as driver/sales workers, whose median is lower, at $38,770.

Do you need a CDL to be a delivery driver?

No, not for most delivery jobs. Light delivery trucks and vans weigh under 26,001 pounds, the threshold at which a commercial driver's license is required. You do need a regular driver's license from your state, a clean driving record and a passed state vision test. Drivers of vehicles of 10,001 pounds or more in interstate commerce also need a DOT medical certificate.

How long does it take to become a delivery driver?

Usually a month or less. New delivery drivers get 1 month or less of on-the-job training, often with a driver-mentor who rides along to make sure they can drive the truck safely on crowded streets. Training also covers company rules on drop-offs, returns, payments and damaged goods. A high school diploma is typical, but some jobs do not require one.

Is delivery driving a good job?

It is an accessible job with steady demand, but a hard one. Light truck driver employment is projected to grow 6% over the next decade, faster than average, with about 107,200 openings a year, driven by e-commerce. The median wage is $44,860. The downsides: 72% of drivers work more than 40 hours a week, and injury rates are among the highest of any occupation.

What hours do delivery drivers work?

Most delivery drivers work full time, and many work more than 40 hours a week. Drivers with regular routes sometimes start very early in the morning or work late at night, for example to stock a deli before it opens. Weekends and holidays are common, and schedules may change from week to week, especially during busy shopping seasons.

What is the difference between a delivery driver and a truck driver?

A delivery driver drives a van or small truck on local routes and is usually home every night; a truck driver drives heavy or tractor-trailer trucks, often over long distances. Heavy truck drivers need a commercial driver's license and typically a postsecondary nondegree award. The median wage is $58,640 for heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers and $44,860 for light truck drivers.

Which states pay delivery drivers the most?

Alaska has the highest median wage for light truck drivers at $57,190, followed by the District of Columbia at $49,330 and Washington at $49,070. California has the most jobs, 111,950, with a median of $46,790. Illinois stands out for concentration: its location quotient of 1.22 means light truck driving makes up a larger share of jobs there than nationally.

Are app-based food delivery drivers included in these figures?

Mostly not. Drivers who use their own vehicles to deliver goods such as takeout food are counted under driver/sales workers, a separate occupation with a median wage of $38,770. In addition, the official wage data cover employees only, so independent drivers who find jobs through smartphone apps are not reflected in the wage figures on this page.

Explore further

Related professions

Truck Driver
Drives a tractor-trailer or heavy truck to move freight between cities, ports, warehouses and stores.

In depth

All about delivery driver

The background, context and details.

What the title covers in US statistics

"Delivery driver" covers several different jobs, and US labor statistics split them. Most fall under occupation 53-3033, light truck drivers, often called pickup and delivery or P&D drivers. They drive vans or small trucks with a gross vehicle weight under 26,001 pounds, mainly from a distribution center to homes and businesses. That group holds 1,068,500 jobs and has a median wage of $44,860. Sample job titles show the range: package car driver, route driver, bulk delivery driver, warehouse driver.

Drivers who also sell, such as route sales drivers for snack or beverage companies, and drivers who deliver takeout in their own cars are counted separately as driver/sales workers. That group has about 442,900 jobs and a lower median wage, $38,770. Keep this split in mind when you compare job ads: a parcel van job and an app-based food delivery gig share a title but not much else.

How the job differs by employer

Couriers and messengers, which includes parcel delivery companies, employ 37% of light truck drivers. These are the classic route jobs. Some drivers stop at the distribution center only once, in the morning, and then make many stops through the day; others make several trips between the depot and their delivery area. Retail trade employs 17%, where drivers bring furniture, appliances or online orders from a store to customers. Wholesale trade employs 14%; these drivers supply restaurants, stores and other businesses, often on a fixed daily schedule that starts before customers open. Self-employed drivers make up 7.2%.

The routine also differs. Many drivers get a list of deliveries with time windows and decide the best route themselves. Others repeat the same route every day or week and get to know their customers well, which is where the customer-service side of the job matters most.

Where the jobs and the pay are

California has the most light truck driver jobs (111,950, median $46,790), followed by Texas (78,540, median $42,500), Florida (67,390, median $41,810), New York (56,490, median $46,330) and Illinois (47,190, median $47,380). Illinois has the highest concentration of the five, with a location quotient of 1.22. Alaska pays the highest median ($57,190), ahead of the District of Columbia ($49,330) and Washington ($49,070).

The national pay spread is unusual. The middle half earn between $37,270 and $52,310, but the top 10% earn more than $80,310. Official pay data are not broken down by employer or experience, so the reason for that gap is unclear, but it means two delivery jobs in the same town can pay very differently. Compare the hourly rate, guaranteed hours, overtime rules and benefits before you accept an offer.

Getting hired

The requirements are short: a state driver's license, a clean driving record and, in most cases, a high school diploma. You do not need a commercial driver's license for vehicles under 26,001 pounds, though drivers of vehicles of 10,001 pounds or more in interstate commerce need a DOT medical certificate. Employers will check your driving record, so tickets and accidents matter more than anything else on your application.

If you cannot get a driving job right away, you can start as a package loader at a warehouse facility, as some drivers do, especially at large companies. Training after hiring is short, 1 month or less, and often includes a driver-mentor riding along. Route sales jobs add product training and sales techniques, such as how to approach new customers, because those drivers are expected to recommend products and add clients along their route. Good resumes for this job show reliability: years with a clean record, on-time attendance, experience handling cash or customers, and any physical work such as warehouse or moving jobs.

The honest downsides

The work is physically demanding. Light truck drivers have one of the highest rates of injuries and illnesses of all occupations, from lifting and moving heavy objects and from traffic accidents. About 72% of workers put in more than 40 hours a week, and regular routes may mean very early starts or late nights, plus weekends and holidays. Congested traffic and strict delivery windows add stress. Self-employed and app-based drivers carry their own vehicle costs and get no employer benefits. The upside is real too: e-commerce and demand for faster delivery are expected to keep creating jobs, with about 107,200 openings a year over the next decade.