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

Q: How long does it take to become a Courier?

It takes 4 years of professional experience to become a courier. That is the time it takes to learn specific courier skills, but does not account for time spent in formal education.

Q: Can anyone be a courier?

Yes, anyone can be a courier as long as they have a driver's license. To become an independent courier driver, you need to have several qualifications, including an up-to-date driver's license, proper insurance, and excellent customer service skills.

Q: How much does it cost to start a courier business?

It can cost less than $1,000 to start a courier business. If you have a dependable vehicle and a cell phone, you can start a courier service. It's a simple business to start and operate, so you don't need a lot of money to start up.

Q: How to start a courier business

You start a courier business by choosing a reliable vehicle, buying the right equipment, and marketing your services. To start your courier service, you will need a reliable source of transportation to deliver packages.

Q: What do couriers deliver?

Couriers deliver documents and packages. A courier provides door-to-door delivery service for various clients, including law offices, banks, and hospitals. Most workers specialize in local deliveries, often in large urban areas. They offer same-day or one-hour delivery services.

Q: What do you mean by courier service?

A courier service delivers items, documents, goods, etc., to people. Household-name couriers include the United States Postal Service (USPS), the United Postal Service of America (UPS), and FedEx. Other examples of delivery services are Santa Monica Express, DeliverLA, and Ziply courier.

Q: Which delivery drivers get paid the most?

Delivery drivers who get paid the most are delivery truck drivers. They can make an average of about $75,000 yearly (or 36.19 hourly) compared to $28,000 (or $13.85 hourly) for parts delivery drivers.

What is a courier and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025

4 min read

A courier delivers packages, documents, and other items from one location to another. Couriers may work for delivery companies, or they may be self-employed. They use various modes of transportation, including cars, bikes, and even on foot, depending on the distance to be covered and the urgency of the delivery. Couriers must have good time-management skills, be able to navigate different areas quickly and efficiently, and have excellent communication skills.

ScoreCourierUS Average

Salary

2.8

Avg. Salary $36,228

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability level

7.2

Growth rate 11%

Growth rate 0.3%

Diversity

6.9

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 0.60%

Asian 6.16%

Black or African American 13.25%

Hispanic or Latino 19.42%

Unknown 5.75%

White 54.81%

Gender

female 25.90%

male 74.10%

Age - 37

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 - 37

Stress level

7.2

Stress level is high

7.1 - high

Complexity level

6.9

Complexity level is challenging

7 - challenging

Work life balance

6.1

Work life balance is fair

6.4 - fair

What are the pros and cons of being a courier?

Pros

No need for advanced education or training
Can be a good way to explore a city or area
Opportunity to meet new people
Can be a good part-time job or side hustle
Can provide a sense of independence and autonomy

Cons

May have to work in extreme weather conditions
High levels of stress and pressure to meet delivery deadlines
Heavy lifting and physical strain on the body
May have to deal with difficult customers or clients
Can be a lonely job with little social interaction

Key steps to become a courier

Explore courier education requirements

Most common courier degrees

Bachelor's

34.9 %

High School Diploma

27.9 %

Associate

22.4 %

Start to develop specific courier skills

Skills	Percentages
Delivery Service	16.03%
Safety Policies	12.49%
Rehabilitation	12.09%
Traffic Laws	7.66%
Demonstrates Proficiency	7.16%

Complete relevant courier training and internships

Accountants spend an average of Less than 1 month on post-employment, on-the-job training. New couriers 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 based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real courier resumes.

Gain additional courier certifications

Courier certifications can show employers you have a baseline of knowledge expected for the position. Certifications can also make you a more competitive candidate. Even if employers don't require a specific courier certification, having one may help you stand out relative to other applicants.

The most common certifications for couriers include Commercial Driver License (CDL) and Medical Assistant.

More About Certifications

Research courier duties and responsibilities

Operate postage machine and other mailroom office machines.
Train and certify in safe transportation of hazardous materials (HIPAA and OSHA procedures).
Work closely with logistics company to provide superior customer service, ensure prompt and reliable service to all enlist patrons.
Provide customer service skills while transporting emergency medication patients.

Prepare your courier resume

When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your courier 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 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 resume templates

Build a professional courier 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 resume.