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Delivery driver: pay, job outlook and how to become one

Updated October 26, 2026. Based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and O*NET data. Published by Humblebee.

$44,860median pay per year, or $21.57 an hour, May 2025[1]
  1. $30,800lowest 10% earn less
  2. $37,27025th percentile
  3. $44,860median
  4. $52,31075th percentile
  5. $80,310top 10% earn more
Middle half of workers in the inner band[4]Median for all US jobs, $50,980[5]

Delivery drivers, which BLS counts as light truck drivers, had median pay of $44,860 a year in May 2025[1]. Employment is projected to grow 6.3% from 2025 to 2035, which is faster than the rate for all occupations[2][3].

Job growth, 2025–35
+6.3%[2]
Openings per year
107,200[6]
Typical entry education
High school diploma or equivalent[7]

How much do delivery drivers make?

The median wage for light truck drivers was $44,860 a year, or $21.57 an hour[1]. Half earned more and half earned less. The average was $48,770 a year, or $23.45 an hour[8]. The median for all occupations in the US was $50,980[5], so the typical delivery driver earned less than the typical US worker.

Pay spreads out quite a bit. The lowest-paid 10% earned less than $30,800 a year, and the highest-paid 10% earned more than $80,310[4]. By the hour, those two boundaries were $14.81 and $38.61[9].

Percentile Annual wage Hourly wage
10th[4][9] $30,800 $14.81
25th[4][9] $37,270 $17.92
Median[1] $44,860 $21.57
75th[4][9] $52,310 $25.15
90th[4][9] $80,310 $38.61

A percentile is a boundary, and BLS does not publish a starting salary[10]. These figures cover wage and salary workers only. They leave out the self-employed and do not include benefits or certain bonuses[11]. About 7.2% of light truck drivers were self-employed in 2025[12].

Pay by state and city

Alaska had the highest median wage at $57,190, followed by the District of Columbia at $49,330 and Washington at $49,070[13]. Arkansas was last in the list at $37,080[13].

The most jobs were in California (111,950), Texas (78,540) and Florida (67,390)[14]. Among metro areas, Anchorage, AK had the highest median at $57,250, then Hagerstown-Martinsburg, MD-WV at $53,190 and San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA at $52,100[15]. The New York-Newark-Jersey City area had the most jobs, at 58,140, with a median of $47,440[16].

Show median pay in 50 states and DC
StateMedian per yearJobs
Alaska[13]$57,1901,790
District of Columbia$49,330540
Washington$49,07023,290
Minnesota$48,88017,360
Colorado$48,41015,810
Maryland$48,15018,420
Massachusetts$48,11023,350
North Dakota$47,9501,950
Illinois$47,38047,190
Oregon$47,15011,120
New Jersey$46,82033,900
California$46,790111,950
Montana$46,4202,960
New York$46,33056,490
New Hampshire$46,2604,670
Hawaii$45,9303,690
Utah$45,8609,930
Wisconsin$45,67019,140
Rhode Island$45,6603,110
Missouri$45,50016,210
Arizona$45,14018,400
Vermont$45,0902,050
Tennessee$45,05033,710
Indiana$44,56019,880
Maine$44,5503,120
Connecticut$44,50010,720
Idaho$44,3707,120
Nebraska$44,1204,210
Pennsylvania$44,12042,380
Georgia$44,05026,050
Delaware$43,9904,200
Wyoming$43,7801,450
Nevada$43,7609,520
Kansas$43,7309,140
South Dakota$43,2404,820
Kentucky$43,23015,630
Michigan$43,00026,160
Iowa$42,7509,680
Ohio$42,60035,130
Texas$42,50078,540
Virginia$42,45025,170
New Mexico$42,3604,220
Florida$41,81067,390
North Carolina$39,91031,810
Oklahoma$39,84010,020
Louisiana$39,44014,300
West Virginia$38,8603,330
Alabama$38,49013,980
Mississippi$38,1407,030
South Carolina$37,68011,950
Arkansas$37,0809,340

How to become a delivery driver

The typical path asks for a high school diploma or equivalent, no work experience in a related job, and short-term on-the-job training[7]. The BLS handbook profile covers a wider group of occupations than light truck drivers alone, so the details below describe that group[17].

In an O*NET survey of 24 workers, 74% said a high school diploma or equivalent was required, and 25% said less than a high school diploma[23].

What delivery drivers do

O*NET describes the job as driving a light truck or van to pick up goods or packages at a distribution center and deliver them. The vehicle weighs under 26,001 pounds[24]. Typical tasks include:

The handbook lists customer service, hand-eye coordination, math for making change and patience in traffic as important qualities[26][27][28][29].

Where they work

The handbook calls the work physically demanding, with a lot of lifting, carrying and walking. Heavy traffic and tight delivery deadlines can add stress[30]. Injury and illness rates for light truck drivers are among the highest of any occupation, from handling heavy items and from car accidents[31].

Full-time work is the norm, and some drivers put in more than 40 hours a week[32]. Drivers on set routes may need to start at dawn or finish late, and weekend and holiday shifts are common[32]. In the wider handbook group, couriers and messengers were listed as the largest employer, at 37%[33].

Job outlook

BLS projects employment of light truck drivers to grow 6.3% from 2025 to 2035. That would add about 67,800 jobs, bringing the total to roughly 1,136,400[2]. Projected growth for all occupations is 3.5%[3]. These counts include self-employed workers[2].

BLS expects about 107,200 openings a year on average[6]. Openings come from retirements and moves to other occupations as well as new jobs[6]. Each year, 4% of workers leave the labor force and 5.1% move to a different occupation[34].

Is it a good fit?

The facts point to a job that is easy to enter. It asks for a high school diploma or equivalent and short on-the-job training[7]. Pay is a bit under the all-occupations median[1][5]. Growth is faster than average and openings are plentiful[2][3][6]. The tradeoffs are physical work, stress in traffic and a high injury rate[30][31]. Early, late and weekend shifts can also come with the job[32].

Related occupations from O*NET, with BLS median pay and projected growth[35].

Frequently asked questions

How much does a delivery driver make an hour?
The median was $21.57 an hour in May 2025, and the average was $23.45[1][8].
Do you need a degree to be a delivery driver?
No. The typical entry level is a high school diploma or equivalent[7].
How long does it take to learn the job?
The handbook says training takes a month or less, for the wider group of delivery drivers it covers[18][17].
Is delivery driving in demand?
BLS projects 6.3% growth from 2025 to 2035, against 3.5% for all occupations, with about 107,200 openings a year[2][3][6].
Which state pays delivery drivers the most?
Alaska, with a median of $57,190 a year[13].

Facts and sources

  1. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median wage for Light Truck Drivers in the US was $44,860 per year and $21.57 per hour. Half of workers earned more and half earned less. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  2. BLS Employment Projections: employment of Light Truck Drivers is projected to grow 6.3% from 2025 to 2035, from about 1,068,500 to 1,136,400 jobs (a change of +67,800). These counts include self-employed workers. BLS Employment Projections
  3. BLS Employment Projections: employment in all occupations is projected to grow 3.5% from 2025 to 2035. BLS Employment Projections
  4. BLS OEWS, May 2025, annual wage percentiles for Light Truck Drivers: 10th percentile $30,800, 25th percentile $37,270, 75th percentile $52,310, 90th percentile $80,310. The 10th percentile means 10% of workers earned less. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  5. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median annual wage for all occupations in the US was $50,980. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  6. BLS Employment Projections: about 107,200 openings for Light Truck Drivers are projected each year, on average, from 2025 to 2035. Openings include jobs that open when workers retire or move to other occupations, not only new jobs. BLS Employment Projections
  7. BLS Employment Projections, typical path into Light Truck Drivers: education needed for entry: High school diploma or equivalent; work experience in a related occupation: None; typical on-the-job training: Short-term on-the-job training. BLS Employment Projections
  8. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the mean (average) wage for Light Truck Drivers was $48,770 per year and $23.45 per hour. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  9. BLS OEWS, May 2025, hourly wage percentiles for Light Truck Drivers: 10th percentile $14.81, 25th percentile $17.92, 75th percentile $25.15, 90th percentile $38.61. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  10. BLS OEWS FAQ: a percentile wage is a boundary. The median (50th percentile) separates the highest-paid 50% from the lowest-paid 50% of workers in the occupation. OEWS publishes percentile wages, not a starting salary. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  11. BLS OEWS FAQ: OEWS covers part-time and full-time workers paid a wage or salary. It does not cover the self-employed, owners and partners in unincorporated firms, household workers or unpaid family workers. OEWS wages do not include nonproduction bonuses or employer costs of benefits such as health insurance or retirement contributions. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  12. BLS Employment Projections: 7.2% of Light Truck Drivers were self-employed in 2025. BLS Employment Projections
  13. Median annual wage for Light Truck Drivers in every state with published data, May 2025 (table on this page). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  14. BLS OEWS, May 2025, states with the most Light Truck Drivers jobs: California 111,950; Texas 78,540; Florida 67,390; New York 56,490; Illinois 47,190. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  15. BLS OEWS, May 2025, metro areas with the highest median annual wage for Light Truck Drivers (areas with at least 100 jobs): Anchorage, AK $57,250; Hagerstown-Martinsburg, MD-WV $53,190; San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA $52,100; Lewiston-Auburn, ME $50,870; San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA $50,820; Kokomo, IN $50,790; Fairbanks-College, AK $50,480; Dalton, GA $50,340. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  16. BLS OEWS, May 2025, metro areas with the most Light Truck Drivers jobs: New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ 58,140 (median $47,440); Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA 40,900 (median $46,500); Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN 34,680 (median $47,950); Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX 25,890 (median $44,050); Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD 20,930 (median $45,740); Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL 20,000 (median $42,750). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  17. The BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook profile "Delivery Truck Drivers and Driver/Sales Workers" covers Light Truck Drivers together with other related occupations, so its text describes the wider group. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  18. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  19. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Licenses, Certifications, and Registrations. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  20. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Training. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  21. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Training. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  22. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Other Experience. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  23. O*NET 53-3033.00 survey of workers (24 respondents), education level they say is required: High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED) 74%, Less than a High School Diploma 25% (levels under 5% not listed). O*NET OnLine
  24. O*NET description of Light Truck Drivers. O*NET OnLine
  25. O*NET task list for Light Truck Drivers. O*NET OnLine
  26. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Important Qualities. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  27. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Important Qualities. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  28. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Important Qualities. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  29. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Important Qualities. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  30. Occupational Outlook Handbook, Work Environment. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  31. Occupational Outlook Handbook, Work Environment: Injuries and Illnesses. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  32. Occupational Outlook Handbook, Work Environment: Work Schedules. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  33. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook, largest employers of delivery truck drivers and driver/sales workers in 2025: Couriers and messengers 37%. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  34. BLS Employment Projections, 2025-35 annual average for Light Truck Drivers: 4% of workers leave the labor force each year and 5.1% move to a different occupation. BLS Employment Projections
  35. Related occupations (O*NET) with BLS pay, growth and entry education. O*NET OnLine

Notes are for reading the data only. They are not facts and cannot be cited: use the wage_scope and percentile_meaning facts instead. OEWS employment (jobs in May 2025) and Employment Projections employment (2025, includes self-employed) are different measures and can differ. O*NET education shares come from a small survey of workers in the occupation, not from all workers. The Occupational Outlook Handbook text covers a wider group of occupations than this page.

This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. CareerFacts has modified all or some of this information. USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.