How much does a delivery driver make?
a year · about $19 an hour
A typical delivery driver in the United States makes $38,770 a year, about $19 an hour, below a typical US worker ($50,980) (median, May 2025, US Bureau of Labor Statistics).
What do they do?
They load a truck, follow a local route, and deliver food or other goods to homes and businesses. At stops, they may suggest products, take orders or payment, restock merchandise, and record each sale or delivery.
Did you know? Some U.S. driver/sales workers also run vending-machine routes: they collect coins, refill machines, and remove old products.
Is that a lot?
Compared with jobs you knowIf 100 people had this job
Most earn between $22,590 and $59,980How do you become one?
Most U.S. driver/sales workers have a high school diploma or equivalent, a state license, and a clean driving record; some jobs accept less schooling. They start once licensed and usually learn routes, products, and sales in under a month of training.
School needed: High school plus some training
Good for people who like building and doing and keeping things organized
Why does pay differ?
In the United States, pay can differ with experience and skills, the employer and industry, and the area where a route is based. Tips or sales commissions may add to earnings, and hours worked—including very early or late routes—can change total pay.
Where does it pay most?
Highest in Alaska ($48,420), lowest in South Carolina ($22,240).
See every state
Top 5 and bottom 3 states, typical (median) yearly pay.
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Data table and sources
| Lower earner (10th from bottom) | Typical person (median) | Higher earner (10th from top) | People in this job |
|---|---|---|---|
| $22,590 | $38,770 | $59,980 | about 409,000 |
| State | Typical person (median) | People in this job |
|---|---|---|
| Alaska | $48,420 | about 1,000 |
| Iowa | $47,120 | about 4,000 |
| Massachusetts | $46,870 | about 4,000 |
| Vermont | $46,300 | about 510 |
| California | $45,600 | about 34,000 |
Official definition: Drive truck or other vehicle over established routes or within an established territory and sell or deliver goods, such as food products, including restaurant take-out items, or pick up or deliver items such as commercial laundry. May also take orders, collect payment, or stock merchandise at point of delivery. Excludes “Coin, Vending, and Amusement Machine Servicers and Repairers” (49-9091) and “Light Truck Drivers” (53-3033).
Source: US Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS May 2025 (bls.gov); descriptions and related jobs from O*NET 31.0. Figures as of May 2025, full-time yearly pay (hourly × 2,080 hours). bls.gov/oes · O*NET OnLine
Pages used for the text
- www.bls.gov/ooh/transportation-and-material-moving/delivery-truck-drivers-and-dr
- www.onetonline.org/link/summary/53-3031.00
- www.careeronestop.org/Toolkit/Careers/Occupations/occupation-profile.aspx?keywor
- www.bls.gov/careeroutlook/2015/article/print/wage-differences.htm
Data: US BLS OEWS, May 2025 · 1 USD = 150 JPY