How To Become A Courier Delivery Driver: What It Is and Career Path

What is a courier delivery driver and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025

4 min read

A courier delivery driver transports packages and documents from one location to another. They typically work for courier companies, delivering goods to businesses and individuals. A courier delivery driver must have a valid driver's license, a reliable vehicle, and time management skills. On the job, they pick up and deliver packages, obtain signatures from recipients, and maintain accurate records of their deliveries. The role requires communication skills and attention to detail.

ScoreCourier Delivery DriverUS Average

Salary

2.9

Avg. Salary $37,495

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability level

5.8

Growth rate 11%

Growth rate 0.3%

Diversity

4.9

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 0.78%

Asian 3.49%

Black or African American 12.41%

Hispanic or Latino 20.62%

Unknown 4.60%

White 58.10%

Gender

female 23.26%

male 76.74%

Age - 49

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%

Asian 7.00%

Black or African American 14.00%

Hispanic or Latino 19.00%

White 57.00%

Gender

female 47.00%

male 53.00%

Age - 49

Stress level

5.8

Stress level is manageable

7.1 - high

Complexity level

6.7

Complexity level is challenging

7 - challenging

Work life balance

4.9

Work life balance is fair

6.4 - fair

What are the pros and cons of being a courier delivery driver?

Pros

Opportunity for overtime pay
No need for advanced education or degrees
Possibility for advancement within the company
Potential for tips and bonuses
Access to employee benefits such as health insurance

Cons

Long hours and physically demanding work
The monotony of driving or walking the same routes frequently
Low pay in comparison to other occupations
Difficulties with finding parking in some areas
The stress of dealing with difficult customers or clients.

Key steps to become a courier delivery driver

Explore courier delivery driver education requirements

Most common courier delivery driver degrees

High School Diploma

37.7 %

Bachelor's

23.8 %

Associate

21.5 %

Start to develop specific courier delivery driver skills

Skills	Percentages
FedEx	29.99%
Excellent Interpersonal	18.29%
Safety Policies	8.03%
Dependability	7.74%
Customer Service	5.73%

Complete relevant courier delivery driver training and internships

Accountants spend an average of Less than 1 month on post-employment, on-the-job training. New courier delivery drivers learn the skills and techniques required for their job and employer during this time. The chart below shows how long it takes to gain competency as a courier delivery driver based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real courier delivery driver resumes.

Research courier delivery driver duties and responsibilities

Hire and manage drivers who run the routes.
Acquire extensive TSA training while doing this.
Maintain CDL and drive multiple types of vehicles.
Assist in cross-country load planning of LTL freight.

Prepare your courier delivery driver resume

When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your courier delivery driver resume.

You can use Zippia's AI resume builder to make the resume writing process easier while also making sure that you include key information that hiring managers expect to see on a courier delivery driver resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.

Choose from 10+ customizable courier delivery driver resume templates

Build a professional courier delivery driver resume in minutes. Browse through our resume examples to identify the best way to word your resume. Then choose from 10+ resume templates to create your courier delivery driver resume.

Apply for courier delivery driver jobs

Now it's time to start searching for a courier delivery driver job. Consider the tips below for a successful job search:

Browse job boards for relevant postings
Consult your professional network
Reach out to companies you're interested in working for directly
Watch out for job scams

How do courier delivery drivers rate their job?

-/5

5 stars

4 stars

3 stars

2 stars

1 star

Courier delivery driver reviews

A zippia user wrote a review on Jan 2023

Pros

Flexible hours, you can kind of control your income, even travel to high demand areas (while traveling) to make bigger money. It’s just nice to be able to go almost anywhere and have an opportunity to make money.

Cons

The pay, benefits, and low tips.

A zippia user wrote a review on Sep 2022

Pros

I get to be on the road. I also enjoy having to pick up at different locations.

Cons

Gas prices

A zippia user wrote a review on Feb 2022

Cons

Cinema

What is a courier delivery driver and how to become one

What are the pros and cons of being a courier delivery driver?

Courier delivery driver career paths

Key steps to become a courier delivery driver

Explore courier delivery driver education requirements

Most common courier delivery driver degrees

Start to develop specific courier delivery driver skills

Complete relevant courier delivery driver training and internships

Research courier delivery driver duties and responsibilities

Prepare your courier delivery driver resume

Choose from 10+ customizable courier delivery driver resume templates

Apply for courier delivery driver jobs

How did you land your first courier delivery driver job

Average courier delivery driver salary

How do courier delivery drivers rate their job?

Courier delivery driver reviews

Courier delivery driver jobs by state