All About Couriers and Messengers
Job Description & Duties 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.
List of Courier or Messenger Job Duties
- Perform routine maintenance on delivery vehicles, such as monitoring fluid levels and replenishing fuel.
- Check with home offices after completed deliveries to confirm deliveries and collections and to receive instructions for other deliveries.
- Unload and sort items collected along delivery routes.
- Record information, such as items received and delivered and recipients’ responses to messages.
- Obtain signatures and payments, or arrange for recipients to make payments.
- Deliver and pick up medical records, lab specimens, and medications to and from hospitals and other medical facilities.
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Skills Needed to be a Courier or Messenger
Couriers and Messengers state the following job skills are important in their day-to-day work.
Time Management: Managing one’s own time and the time of others.
Active Listening: Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
Speaking: Talking to others to convey information effectively.
Writing: Communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience.
Service Orientation: Actively looking for ways to help people.
Critical Thinking: Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
Types of Courier or Messenger Jobs
- Copy Chaser
- Copy Worker
- Circular Distributor
- Copy Messenger
- Merchandise Deliverer
Job Demand for Couriers and Messengers
In the United States, there were 95,000 jobs for Courier or Messenger in 2016. New jobs are being produced at a rate of 11.5% which is above the national average. The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts 10,900 new jobs for Courier or Messenger by 2026. Due to new job openings and attrition, there will be an average of 10,100 job openings in this field each year.
The states with the most job growth for Courier or Messenger are Colorado, Utah, and Florida. Watch out if you plan on working in Kansas, Mississippi, or Alaska. These states have the worst job growth for this type of profession.
Do Couriers and Messengers Make A Lot Of Money?
Couriers and Messengers make between $20,390 and $44,400 a year.
Couriers and Messengers who work in Washington, Maryland, or Oregon, make the highest salaries.
How much do Couriers and Messengers make in each U.S. state?
| State | Annual Mean Salary |
|---|---|
| Alabama | $25,540 |
| Alaska | $32,840 |
| Arizona | $30,440 |
| Arkansas | $24,990 |
| California | $34,620 |
| Colorado | $32,470 |
| Connecticut | $34,410 |
| Delaware | $30,420 |
| District of Columbia | $38,280 |
| Florida | $30,320 |
| Georgia | $28,270 |
| Hawaii | $30,680 |
| Idaho | $24,770 |
| Illinois | $29,280 |
| Indiana | $27,780 |
| Iowa | $27,730 |
| Kansas | $29,620 |
| Kentucky | $28,300 |
| Louisiana | $24,970 |
| Maine | $29,920 |
| Maryland | $34,090 |
| Massachusetts | $32,750 |
| Michigan | $28,110 |
| Minnesota | $30,530 |
| Mississippi | $26,260 |
| Missouri | $29,120 |
| Montana | $26,870 |
| Nebraska | $27,050 |
| Nevada | $27,080 |
| New Hampshire | $27,480 |
| New Jersey | $33,620 |
| New Mexico | $27,710 |
| New York | $33,620 |
| North Carolina | $28,460 |
| North Dakota | $28,680 |
| Ohio | $28,750 |
| Oklahoma | $29,290 |
| Oregon | $34,160 |
| Pennsylvania | $29,270 |
| Rhode Island | $35,010 |
| South Carolina | $25,380 |
| South Dakota | $25,380 |
| Tennessee | $33,450 |
| Texas | $27,390 |
| Utah | $28,760 |
| Vermont | $31,840 |
| Virginia | $32,490 |
| Washington | $35,720 |
| West Virginia | $25,990 |
| Wisconsin | $24,900 |
Tools & Technologies Used by Couriers and Messengers
Below is a list of the types of tools and technologies that Couriers and Messengers may use on a daily basis:
- Microsoft Excel
- Microsoft Word
- Microsoft Office
- Route mapping software
Becoming a Courier or Messenger
Learn what Courier or Messenger education requirements there are.
How many years of work experience do I need?
Couriers and Messengers Sector
Couriers and Messengers work in the following industries:
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References:
More about our data sources and methodologies.
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