Courier/independent contractor demographics and statistics in the US
Courier/independent contractor demographics research summary. Zippia estimates courier/independent contractor demographics and statistics in the United States by using a database of 30 million profiles. Our courier/independent contractor estimates are verified against BLS, Census, and current job openings data for accuracy. Zippia's data science team found the following key facts about courier/independent contractors after extensive research and analysis:
- There are over 5,122 courier/independent contractors currently employed in the United States.
- 24.6% of all courier/independent contractors are women, while 75.4% are men.
- The average courier/independent contractor age is 47 years old.
- The most common ethnicity of courier/independent contractors is White (61.0%), followed by Hispanic or Latino (17.0%), Black or African American (12.5%) and Unknown (4.8%).
- In 2022, women earned 90% of what men earned.
- 4% of all courier/independent contractors are LGBT.
- Courier/independent contractors are 71% more likely to work at private companies in comparison to public companies.
On this page
Courier/independent contractor demographics by:
Courier/independent contractor gender statistics
24.6% of courier/independent contractors are women and 75.4% of courier/independent contractors are men.
- Male, 75.4%
- Female, 24.6%
Courier/independent contractor gender ratio
| Gender | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Male | 75.4% |
| Female | 24.6% |
Courier/independent contractor gender pay gap
Women earn 90¢ for every $1 earned by men
Male income
$32,081
Female income
$28,714
Courier/independent contractor gender ratio over time
This data breaks down the percentage of men and women in courier/independent contractor positions over time. Currently, 24.6% of courier/independent contractors are female.
Courier/independent contractor gender ratio by year
| Year | Male | Female |
|---|---|---|
| 2010 | 81.04% | 18.96% |
| 2011 | 80.54% | 19.46% |
| 2012 | 79.11% | 20.89% |
| 2013 | 78.42% | 21.58% |
| 2014 | 77.77% | 22.23% |
| 2015 | 78.00% | 22.00% |
| 2016 | 77.40% | 22.60% |
| 2017 | 77.03% | 22.97% |
| 2018 | 74.85% | 25.15% |
| 2019 | 75.24% | 24.76% |
| 2020 | 75.61% | 24.39% |
| 2021 | 75.44% | 24.56% |
Courier/independent contractor related jobs gender ratio
We compared courier/independent contractors with similar job titles to see how gender ratios vary. As you can see, diesel truck driver and tank wagon driver have the biggest gender ratio gaps.
| Job title | Male | Female |
|---|---|---|
| Bus Matron | 11% | 89% |
| Bus Escort | 18% | 82% |
| Bus Monitor | 19% | 81% |
| Courier/Independent Contractor | 75% | 25% |
| Wrecker Operator | 99% | 1% |
| Tank Wagon Driver | 99% | 1% |
| Diesel Truck Driver | 100% | 0% |
Male
Female
100%
75%
50%
25%
0%
0%
25%
50%
75%
100%
Courier/independent contractor demographics by race
The most common ethnicity among courier/independent contractors is White, which makes up 61.0% of all courier/independent contractors. Comparatively, 17.0% of courier/independent contractors are Hispanic or Latino and 12.5% of courier/independent contractors are Black or African American.
- White, 61.0%
- Hispanic or Latino, 17.0%
- Black or African American, 12.5%
- Unknown, 4.8%
- Asian, 3.9%
- American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8%
Courier/independent contractor race
| Courier/independent contractor race | Percentages |
|---|---|
| White | 61.0% |
| Hispanic or Latino | 17.0% |
| Black or African American | 12.5% |
| Unknown | 4.8% |
| Asian | 3.9% |
| American Indian and Alaska Native | 0.8% |
Courier/independent contractor race and ethnicity over time
See how courier/independent contractor racial and ethnic diversity trended since 2010 according to the United States Census Bureau data.
Courier/independent contractor race and ethnicity by year
| Year | White | Black or African American | Asian | Hispanic or Latino |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | 69.97% | 11.20% | 2.80% | 13.25% |
| 2011 | 69.61% | 11.58% | 2.82% | 13.14% |
| 2012 | 68.89% | 11.73% | 2.97% | 13.48% |
| 2013 | 68.98% | 11.27% | 2.88% | 14.00% |
| 2014 | 68.70% | 11.71% | 3.06% | 13.65% |
| 2015 | 67.79% | 12.05% | 3.11% | 14.11% |
| 2016 | 67.00% | 11.68% | 3.20% | 14.98% |
| 2017 | 66.80% | 11.81% | 3.23% | 15.15% |
| 2018 | 66.30% | 11.85% | 3.52% | 15.16% |
| 2019 | 66.68% | 11.82% | 3.35% | 15.06% |
| 2020 | 63.90% | 11.80% | 3.58% | 15.35% |
| 2021 | 60.96% | 12.49% | 3.93% | 16.96% |
Courier/independent contractor wage gap by race
According to our data, white courier/independent contractors have the highest average salary compared to other ethnicities. Asian courier/independent contractors have the lowest average salary at $31,828.
| Ethnicity | Salary |
|---|---|
| Unknown | $32,147 |
| White | $32,418 |
| Black or African American | $31,935 |
| Asian | $31,828 |
| Hispanic or Latino | $32,082 |
Average courier/independent contractor age
See how the average age of courier/independent contractors varies based on ethnicity and gender.
Male
Female
Courier/independent contractor age by race and gender
| Race | Male age | Female age |
|---|---|---|
| Black or African American | 49 | 44 |
| Unknown | 46 | 39.5 |
| Asian | 46 | 43 |
| Hispanic or Latino | 45 | 43 |
| White | 51 | 48 |
| American Indian and Alaska Native | 49.5 | 47 |
Courier/independent contractor age breakdown
The average age of courier/independent contractors is 40+ years years old, representing 72% of the courier/independent contractor population.
Courier/independent contractor age breakdown
| Courier/Independent Contractor Years | Percentages |
|---|---|
| 40+ years | 72% |
| 30-40 years | 19% |
| 20-30 years | 9% |
Courier/independent contractor educational attainment
The most common degree for courier/independent contractors is bachelor's degree, with 31% of courier/independent contractors earning that degree. The second and third most common degree levels are high school diploma degree at 29% and high school diploma degree at 23%.
- Bachelor's, 31%
- High School Diploma, 29%
- Associate, 23%
- Diploma, 10%
- Other Degrees, 7%
Courier/independent contractors by degree level
| Courier/independent contractor degree | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Bachelor's | 31% |
| High School Diploma | 29% |
| Associate | 23% |
| Diploma | 10% |
| Other Degrees | 7% |
Courier/independent contractor jobs you might like
Courier/independent contractor wage gap by degree level
According to the data, courier/independent contractors with a Associate degree earn more than those without, at $33,703 annually. With a Bachelor's degree, courier/independent contractors earn a median annual income of $33,339 compared to $33,059 for courier/independent contractors with an High School Diploma degree.
| Education | Salary |
|---|---|
| Master's Degree | $30,297 |
| High School Diploma or Less | $33,059 |
| Bachelor's Degree | $33,339 |
| Some College/ Associate Degree | $33,703 |
Courier/independent contractor employment statistics
Most courier/independent contractors work for a private in the transportation industry.
Company size where courier/independent contractors work
Below, you can see the size of companies where courier/independent contractors work.
Courier/independent contractor jobs by employer size
| Company size | Percentages |
|---|---|
| < 50 employees | 13% |
| 50 - 100 employees | 20% |
| 100 - 500 employees | 25% |
| 500 - 1,000 employees | 8% |
| 1,000 - 10,000 employees | 19% |
| > 10,000 employees | 14% |
Courier/independent contractor jobs by company type
Employees with the courier/independent contractor job title have their preferences when it comes to working for a company. For instance, most courier/independent contractors prefer to work at private companies over public companies.
Courier/independent contractor jobs by sector
| Company type | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Education | 2% |
| Public | 23% |
| Private | 71% |
| Government | 3% |
Courier/independent contractor jobs by industry
The most common industries for courier/independent contractors are transportation, media and health care.
Courier/independent contractor industry statistics
| Industry | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Transportation | 20% |
| Media | 11% |
| Fortune 500 | 9% |
| Health Care | 7% |
| Finance | 6% |
| Professional | 6% |
| Internet | 5% |
| Retail | 5% |
| Start-up | 5% |
| Technology | 5% |
| Manufacturing | 4% |
| Government | 3% |
| Hospitality | 3% |
| Construction | 2% |
| Energy | 2% |
| Telecommunication | 2% |
| Education | 2% |
| Automotive | 1% |
| Utilities | 1% |
| Non Profits | 1% |
| Real Estate | 1% |
| Insurance | 1% |
Courier/independent contractor turnover and employment statistics
Courier/independent contractor unemployment rate over time
The unemployment rate for courier/independent contractors between 2008 and the most recent data has varied, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Courier/independent contractor unemployment rate by year
| Year | Courier/independent contractor unemployment rate |
|---|---|
| 2010 | 10.33% |
| 2011 | 8.73% |
| 2012 | 7.76% |
| 2013 | 6.88% |
| 2014 | 5.54% |
| 2015 | 4.98% |
| 2016 | 4.17% |
| 2017 | 4.08% |
| 2018 | 3.68% |
| 2019 | 3.45% |
| 2020 | 5.26% |
| 2021 | 5.44% |
Average courier/independent contractor tenure
The average courier/independent contractor stays at their job for 1-2 years, based on the 1,756 courier/independent contractors resumes in Zippia's database.
Courier/independent contractor tenure statistics
| Number of years | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Less than 1 year | 20% |
| 1-2 years | 28% |
| 3-4 years | 15% |
| 5-7 years | 21% |
| 8-10 years | 7% |
| 11+ years | 10% |
Courier/independent contractor LGBT ratio compared to similar jobs
Review the percent of courier/independent contractors that are members of the LGBT community. You can see how this compares to similar jobs in the chart below.
| Job title | LGBT | Job openings |
|---|---|---|
| Starting Gate Driver | 1.73% | 6,045 |
| Courier/Independent Contractor | 3.95% | - |
| Cab Driver | 6.17% | 318,105 |
| Transit Operator | 8.69% | 30,489 |
| Bus Matron | 8.77% | 6,907 |
Similar courier/independent contractor jobs LGBT demographics
| Profession | Percentages of LGBT | Job openings |
|---|---|---|
| Starting Gate Driver | 1.73% | 6,045 |
| Cab Driver | 6.17% | 318,105 |
| Transit Operator | 8.69% | 30,489 |
| Bus Matron | 8.77% | 6,907 |
Foreign languages spoken by courier/independent contractors
The most common foreign language among courier/independent contractors is Spanish at 69.7%. The second-most popular foreign language spoken is French at 15.2% and Italian is the third-most popular at 6.1%.
- Spanish, 69.7%
- French, 15.2%
- Italian, 6.1%
- Portuguese, 3.0%
- German, 3.0%
- Other, 3.0%
Courier/independent contractor languages spoken
| Foreign language | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Spanish | 69.7% |
| French | 15.2% |
| Italian | 6.1% |
| Portuguese | 3.0% |
| German | 3.0% |
| Other | 3.0% |
