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The differences between delivery drivers and couriers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a delivery driver has an average salary of $38,785, which is higher than the $36,228 average annual salary of a courier.
The top three skills for a delivery driver include math, basic math and CDL. The most important skills for a courier are delivery service, safety policies, and rehabilitation.
| Delivery Driver | Courier | |
| Yearly salary | $38,785 | $36,228 |
| Hourly rate | $18.65 | $17.42 |
| Growth rate | 11% | 11% |
| Number of jobs | 1,002,317 | 13,088 |
| Job satisfaction | 3 | 5 |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 45% | Bachelor's Degree, 35% |
| Average age | 48 | 39 |
| Years of experience | - | 12 |
A delivery driver's general responsibility is to ensure that the packages are being delivered to the destination safely and timely. Delivery drivers must be able to communicate well with the delivery team for the most convenient routes and assigned schedule. A delivery driver also has to check with the customer should there be any concerns regarding the items delivered to guarantee satisfaction and accurate service. Delivery drivers should also have basic knowledge of engines in case of any system malfunctions on the road.
A courier, also known as a messenger, is an individual who delivers goods to consumers or businesses. Those could be important documents, special packages, items, and even messages from one person to another. Their means of transportation vary from roller skates, bicycles, motorcycles, automobiles, trucks, and airplanes. Some even travel by foot or any public transportation depending on the target location. Some are employees dedicated to companies, while others are freelancers who provide delivery services.
Delivery drivers and couriers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Delivery Driver | Courier | |
| Average salary | $38,785 | $36,228 |
| Salary range | Between $26,000 And $56,000 | Between $29,000 And $44,000 |
| Highest paying City | Boston, MA | Seattle, WA |
| Highest paying state | Alaska | Connecticut |
| Best paying company | Trifecta Technologies | Columbia University in the City of New York |
| Best paying industry | Manufacturing | Transportation |
There are a few differences between a delivery driver and a courier in terms of educational background:
| Delivery Driver | Courier | |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 45% | Bachelor's Degree, 35% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | - | - |
Here are the differences between delivery drivers' and couriers' demographics:
| Delivery Driver | Courier | |
| Average age | 48 | 39 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 83.3% Female, 16.7% | Male, 74.1% Female, 25.9% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 12.1% Unknown, 4.6% Hispanic or Latino, 19.0% Asian, 3.5% White, 60.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8% | Black or African American, 13.3% Unknown, 5.8% Hispanic or Latino, 19.4% Asian, 6.2% White, 54.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.6% |
| LGBT Percentage | 4% | 8% |