All About Couriers and Messengers
Example of Courier or Messenger Job 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.
Life As a Courier or Messenger: What Do They Do?
- Unload goods from large trucks, and load them onto smaller delivery vehicles.
- Load vehicles with listed goods, ensuring goods are loaded correctly and taking precautions with hazardous goods.
- Record information, such as items received and delivered and recipients’ responses to messages.
- Open, sort, and distribute incoming mail.
- Call by telephone to deliver verbal messages.
- Plan and follow the most efficient routes for delivering goods.
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What Every Courier or Messenger Should Know
Couriers and Messengers state the following job skills are important in their day-to-day work.
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.
Time Management: Managing one’s own time and the time of others.
Reading Comprehension: Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.
Writing: Communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience.
Critical Thinking: Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
Other Courier or Messenger Job Titles
- Messenger
- Bill Distributor
- Distributor
- Pick Up Man
- Telegraph Messenger
What Kind of Courier or Messenger Job Opportunities Are There?
There were about 95,000 jobs for Courier or Messenger in 2016 (in the United States). 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.
Courier or Messenger Average Salary
The average yearly salary of a Courier or Messenger ranges between $20,390 and $44,400.

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 |
What Tools & Technology do Couriers and Messengers Use?
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
How to Become a Courier or Messenger
Individuals working as a Courier or Messenger have obtained the following education levels:

What work experience do I need to become a Courier or Messenger?

Where Couriers and Messengers Work

Couriers and Messengers work in the following industries:

You May Also Be Interested In…
Those interested in being a Courier or Messenger may also be interested in:
Career changers with experience as a Courier or Messenger sometimes find work in one of the following fields:
References:
More about our data sources and methodologies.
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