How much does a delivery driver make?
The median delivery driver in the United States earns $44,860 per year, about $21.57 an hour. That is the midpoint of the profession: half of all delivery drivers earn more, and half earn less.
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025. SOC code 53-3033.
Delivery driver salary range
Pay for delivery drivers spans a wide band. The lowest paid 10 percent earn under $30,800 a year, while the highest paid 10 percent take home more than $80,310. The average (mean) wage of $48,770 runs a bit higher than the median, which is normal for jobs where a group of top earners pulls the average up.
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $30,800 | $14.81 | Lowest paid |
| 25th percentile | $37,270 | $17.92 | |
| Median (50th) | $44,860 | $21.57 | Midpoint |
| 75th percentile | $52,310 | $25.15 | |
| 90th percentile | $80,310 | $38.61 | Highest paid |
Figures are national wage estimates for light truck drivers (SOC 53-3033), U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS, May 2025.
Delivery driver salary by state
Where you work changes the paycheck. Delivery drivers earn the most in Alaska at $57,190 a year, and the least in Arkansas at $37,080. The table below lists every state with published data, ranked by median annual salary.
| State | Median annual | Employed |
|---|---|---|
| Alaska | $57,190 | 1,790 |
| District of Columbia | $49,330 | 540 |
| Washington | $49,070 | 23,290 |
| Minnesota | $48,880 | 17,360 |
| Colorado | $48,410 | 15,810 |
| Maryland | $48,150 | 18,420 |
| Massachusetts | $48,110 | 23,350 |
| North Dakota | $47,950 | 1,950 |
| Illinois | $47,380 | 47,190 |
| Oregon | $47,150 | 11,120 |
| New Jersey | $46,820 | 33,900 |
| California | $46,790 | 111,950 |
| Montana | $46,420 | 2,960 |
| New York | $46,330 | 56,490 |
| New Hampshire | $46,260 | 4,670 |
| Hawaii | $45,930 | 3,690 |
| Utah | $45,860 | 9,930 |
| Wisconsin | $45,670 | 19,140 |
| Rhode Island | $45,660 | 3,110 |
| Missouri | $45,500 | 16,210 |
| Arizona | $45,140 | 18,400 |
| Vermont | $45,090 | 2,050 |
| Tennessee | $45,050 | 33,710 |
| Indiana | $44,560 | 19,880 |
| Maine | $44,550 | 3,120 |
| Connecticut | $44,500 | 10,720 |
| Idaho | $44,370 | 7,120 |
| Nebraska | $44,120 | 4,210 |
| Pennsylvania | $44,120 | 42,380 |
| Georgia | $44,050 | 26,050 |
| Delaware | $43,990 | 4,200 |
| Wyoming | $43,780 | 1,450 |
| Nevada | $43,760 | 9,520 |
| Kansas | $43,730 | 9,140 |
| South Dakota | $43,240 | 4,820 |
| Kentucky | $43,230 | 15,630 |
| Michigan | $43,000 | 26,160 |
| Iowa | $42,750 | 9,680 |
| Ohio | $42,600 | 35,130 |
| Texas | $42,500 | 78,540 |
| Virginia | $42,450 | 25,170 |
| New Mexico | $42,360 | 4,220 |
| Florida | $41,810 | 67,390 |
| North Carolina | $39,910 | 31,810 |
| Oklahoma | $39,840 | 10,020 |
| Louisiana | $39,440 | 14,300 |
| West Virginia | $38,860 | 3,330 |
| Alabama | $38,490 | 13,980 |
| Mississippi | $38,140 | 7,030 |
| South Carolina | $37,680 | 11,950 |
| Arkansas | $37,080 | 9,340 |
State median wages for light truck drivers (SOC 53-3033), U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS state files, May 2025. States where the BLS does not publish a median are not shown.
Job outlook for delivery drivers
The BLS projects employment of delivery drivers to grow 6.3% from 2025 to 2035. That is faster than the 3.5% average for all occupations. That works out to roughly 1,068,500 jobs in 2025 moving toward 1,136,400 by 2035.
Across the decade, the BLS expects about 107,200 openings a year for delivery drivers. Most come from the need to replace workers who move to other jobs or leave the workforce, on top of any new positions from growth.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections program, 2025-35 (Table 1.2, Occupational projections and worker characteristics).
How to become a delivery driver
The typical entry-level education for delivery drivers is a high school diploma or equivalent, according to the BLS. New hires typically complete short-term on-the-job training to reach full competency.
A four-year college degree is usually not required to start, which makes this one of the jobs you can enter without a bachelor's degree. See more high paying jobs without a degree .
Education, training, and experience data: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections program.
What affects how much a delivery driver earns
Route type, employer, endorsements, and hours behind the wheel drive pay. Long-haul, specialized freight, and union employers tend to sit at the top of the range, while local and entry-level roles start lower.
Location is one of the clearest factors. The gap between the top paying state (Alaska, $57,190) and the lowest (Arkansas, $37,080) shows how much geography alone can move the number, before experience or specialization.
About 983,300 people work as delivery drivers in the United States. At $44,860 a year, the job pays below the $50,980 median for all U.S. jobs.
Delivery driver salary FAQ
How much does a delivery driver make an hour?
The median hourly wage for a delivery driver is $21.57. The middle half of delivery drivers earn between $17.92 and $25.15 per hour.
What is the highest delivery driver salary?
The highest paid 10 percent of delivery drivers earn more than $80,310 per year. Top earners usually have the most experience and work in the best paying regions and industries.
How much does a delivery driver make a year?
The median annual salary for a delivery driver is $44,860. The average (mean) wage of $48,770 runs a bit higher than the median, which is normal for jobs where a group of top earners pulls the average up.
Is being a delivery driver a well paid job?
At $44,860 a year, a delivery driver earns below the $50,980 median for all U.S. jobs. About 983,300 people work as delivery drivers in the United States.
Which state pays delivery drivers the most?
Alaska has the highest median salary for delivery drivers at $57,190 a year. District of Columbia ($49,330) and Washington ($49,070) follow. State medians come from the BLS OEWS state files, May 2025.
Is being a delivery driver a good career?
Employment of delivery drivers is projected to grow 6.3% from 2025 to 2035, faster than the 3.5% average for all occupations. The BLS projects about 107,200 openings each year, from growth and from workers leaving the occupation.
Do you need a degree to become a delivery driver?
No. The BLS lists the typical entry-level education for delivery drivers as a high school diploma or equivalent, so a four-year degree is usually not required to start.
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