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What You Need to Know About Courier or Messenger

Courier or Messenger Job Description Pick up and deliver messages, documents, packages, and other items between offices or departments within an establishment or directly to other business concerns, traveling by foot, bicycle, motorcycle, automobile, or public conveyance.

Daily Life Of a Courier or Messenger

  • Deliver messages and items, such as newspapers, documents, and packages, between establishment departments, and to other establishments and private homes.
  • Record information, such as items received and delivered and recipients’ responses to messages.
  • Perform routine maintenance on delivery vehicles, such as monitoring fluid levels and replenishing fuel.
  • Sort items to be delivered according to the delivery route.
  • Obtain signatures and payments, or arrange for recipients to make payments.
  • Deliver and pick up medical records, lab specimens, and medications to and from hospitals and other medical facilities.

What a Courier or Messenger Should Know

These are the skills Couriers and Messengers say are the most useful in their careers:

Active Listening: Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.

Speaking: Talking to others to convey information effectively.

Time Management: Managing one’s own time and the time of others.

Reading Comprehension: Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.

Writing: Communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience.

Critical Thinking: Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.

Types of Courier or Messenger Jobs

  • Outside Deliverer
  • Courier Delivery Driver
  • Bicycle Messenger
  • Call Person
  • Message Clerk

What Kind of Courier or Messenger Job Opportunities Are There?

In the United States, there were 95,000 jobs for Courier or Messenger in 2016. New jobs are being produced at a rate of 11.5% which is above the national average. The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts 10,900 new jobs for Courier or Messenger by 2026. Due to new job openings and attrition, there will be an average of 10,100 job openings in this field each year.

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The states with the most job growth for Courier or Messenger are Colorado, Utah, and Florida. Watch out if you plan on working in Kansas, Mississippi, or Alaska. These states have the worst job growth for this type of profession.

Salary for a Courier or Messenger

Couriers and Messengers make between $20,390 and $44,400 a year.

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Couriers and Messengers who work in Washington, Maryland, or Oregon, make the highest salaries.

Below is a list of the median annual salaries for Couriers and Messengers in different U.S. states.

State Annual Mean Salary
Alabama $25,540
Alaska $32,840
Arizona $30,440
Arkansas $24,990
California $34,620
Colorado $32,470
Connecticut $34,410
Delaware $30,420
District of Columbia $38,280
Florida $30,320
Georgia $28,270
Hawaii $30,680
Idaho $24,770
Illinois $29,280
Indiana $27,780
Iowa $27,730
Kansas $29,620
Kentucky $28,300
Louisiana $24,970
Maine $29,920
Maryland $34,090
Massachusetts $32,750
Michigan $28,110
Minnesota $30,530
Mississippi $26,260
Missouri $29,120
Montana $26,870
Nebraska $27,050
Nevada $27,080
New Hampshire $27,480
New Jersey $33,620
New Mexico $27,710
New York $33,620
North Carolina $28,460
North Dakota $28,680
Ohio $28,750
Oklahoma $29,290
Oregon $34,160
Pennsylvania $29,270
Rhode Island $35,010
South Carolina $25,380
South Dakota $25,380
Tennessee $33,450
Texas $27,390
Utah $28,760
Vermont $31,840
Virginia $32,490
Washington $35,720
West Virginia $25,990
Wisconsin $24,900

What Tools & Technology do Couriers and Messengers Use?

Below is a list of the types of tools and technologies that Couriers and Messengers may use on a daily basis:

  • Microsoft Excel
  • Microsoft Word
  • Microsoft Office
  • Route mapping software

How do I Become a Courier or Messenger?

What education or degrees do I need to become a Courier or Messenger?

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How many years of work experience do I need?

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Where do Couriers and Messengers Work?

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The table below shows some of the most common industries where those employed in this career field work.

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You May Also Be Interested In…

Those thinking about becoming a Courier or Messenger might also be interested in the following careers:

Are you already one of the many Courier or Messenger in the United States? If you’re thinking about changing careers, these fields are worth exploring:

References:

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More about our data sources and methodologies.

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