Driver/Sales Workers earn a median of $38,770 per year ($18.64/hr) (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Employment is projected to grow 7.9% through 2035, with about 45,500 openings a year (BLS EP, 2025–2035). Typical entry-level education: High school diploma or equivalent.
- Commonly called: Delivery Driver
- SOC 53-3031
- Transportation and Material Moving
- Last updated October 15, 2026
At a glance
Driver/Sales Worker in four numbers
- Median pay
- $38,770a year, or $18.64/hrBLS OEWS, May 2025Lowest 10% $23KTop 10% $60K
US median, all jobs: $50,980
- Projected growth
- +7.9%Much faster than averageBLS EP, 2025–2035This career+7.9%All jobs+3.5%
Projected employment change, 2025–2035 Item Value This career +7.9% All jobs +3.5% - Openings a year
- 45,500442,900 jobs todayBLS EP, 2025–2035
- Jobs in 2025442.9K
- Projected 2035478.1K
Employment, 2025–2035 Item Value Jobs in 2025 442.9K Projected 2035 478.1K - Typical education
- High schoolneeded to enterBLS EP, 2025–2035; mix: O*NET
- Less than high school35.5%
- High school64%
- Certificate0.4%
Highest education held by driver/sales workers Segment Value Less than high school 35.5% High school 64% Certificate 0.4%
Also advertised as: Delivery Man, Driver, Driver Salesman, Pizza Delivery Driver, Route Delivery Driver, Route Driver.
Pay
How much do delivery drivers make?
Driver/Sales Workers earn a median of $38,770 a year ($18.64 an hour, or about $3,230 a month); the lowest-paid 10% earn less than $22,590 and the top 10% more than $59,980 (BLS OEWS, May 2025).
The best-paying state is Alaska, with a median of $48,420. See Delivery driver salary in Alaska and every other state. By city, pay is highest around San Jose ($55,520 average): salary in every city.
Every driver/sales worker in the US, by percentile of annual wage
Median
$38,770
Middle half earn $30,200 to $49,000
- 10th
- $22,590
- 25th
- $30,200
- 75th
- $49,000
- 90th
- $59,980
All US occupations: $50,980
| Percentile | Value |
|---|---|
| 10th | $22,590 |
| 25th | $30,200 |
| Median | $38,770 |
| 75th | $49,000 |
| 90th | $59,980 |
| All US occupations | $50,980 |
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025
- Median annual wage
- $38,770
- Median hourly wage
- $18.64/hr
- Mean annual wage
- $40,730
- People employed
- 409,180
Versus all US occupations
At $38,770, Driver/Sales Workers earn 24% below the $50,980 median across all US occupations, a difference of $12,210 a year.
Versus transportation and material moving occupations
Inside the Transportation and Material Moving group, where the middle occupation pays $62,840, this is 38% below the group median.
Pay range
The top 10% earn $59,980 or more while the bottom 10% earn $22,590, a gap of 2.7×. That is a typical spread for a US occupation.
Rank in the bank
This median pays more than 7% of the 1,741 occupations in the NueCareer career bank.
Cost of living
Alaska posts the highest raw median ($48,420), but once local prices are taken into account Iowa leads at $53,691 in national-average dollars.
Pay by state
Which states pay delivery drivers the most?
State medians come from the same OEWS release as the national figures. The cost-of-living column divides each state median by that state's BEA Regional Price Parity, restating pay in national-average dollars so a high-cost state and a low-cost one can be compared directly.
| State | Median | COL-adjusted | Employed |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1Alaska | $48,420 | $47,304 | 1,270 |
| 2Iowa | $47,120 | $53,691 | 4,400 |
| 3Massachusetts | $46,870 | $44,319 | 3,830 |
| 4Vermont | $46,300 | $47,265 | 510 |
| 5California | $45,600 | $41,185 | 34,480 |
| 6South Dakota | $45,050 | $50,855 | 1,050 |
| 7New Jersey | $44,720 | $41,101 | 9,720 |
| 8Colorado | $43,420 | $42,134 | 10,790 |
| 9Kansas | $43,180 | $47,942 | 1,950 |
| 10New York | $42,730 | $39,594 | 18,990 |
Job outlook
Is delivery driver a growing career?
Employment change over 2025–2035, against every US occupation
Much faster than average. +7.9% projected growth vs 3.5% for all occupations.
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Driver/Sales Workers | +7.9% |
| All US occupations | +3.5% |
Source: BLS EP, 2025–2035
Much faster than average
BLS projects employment of Driver/Sales Workers to change 7.9% over 2025–2035, roughly 2.3× the 3.5% projected for all occupations. That is 35,200 more jobs.
Annual openings
About 45,500 openings are projected each year, 10.3% of the 442,900 jobs that existed in 2025. Most come from workers leaving the occupation, not from growth alone.
Overall employment of delivery truck drivers and driver/sales workers is projected to grow 7 percent from 2025 to 2035, much faster than the average for all occupations.
Many of those openings are expected to result from the need to replace workers who transfer to different occupations or exit the labor force, such as to retire.
Continued growth of e-commerce should increase the need for deliveries, which is expected to create jobs for light truck drivers. In addition, more of these workers will be needed as consumers increasingly demand faster and more convenient delivery services.
Growing demand for local delivery services also is expected to create jobs for driver/sales workers. The use of mobile ordering apps for groceries, takeout food, and other goods should increase demand for these workers to deliver purchases to consumers.
AI exposure: moderate
BLS places this occupation in its moderate relative AI exposure category, below the middle of the pack: some of the work overlaps with what AI can do, much of it does not.
Getting in
How to become a delivery driver
You almost certainly do not need a commercial driver's licence for this job, and that is the most useful thing to know. BLS says all delivery drivers need a driver's licence and lists nothing else. A CDL is only triggered by the vehicle: 26,001 pounds or more, 16 or more passengers, or any size vehicle carrying placarded hazardous materials. But there is a second federal threshold, set 16,000 pounds lower, that catches a lot of route drivers: driving a vehicle rated 10,001 pounds or more in interstate commerce makes you a commercial motor vehicle driver under FMCSA rules, which brings a DOT medical examiner's certificate and a driver qualification file even though no CDL is involved.
The credential path, step by step
- Get a regular driver's licence and a clean record
BLS states that delivery truck drivers and driver/sales workers must have a driver's licence from the state in which they work and have a clean driving record. A high school diploma or equivalent is typical, though BLS notes some opportunities exist for those without one.
- Work out which weight class your route vehicle falls into
Federal rules require a CDL only for a combination vehicle rated 26,001 pounds or more towing a unit over 10,000 pounds (Group A), a heavy straight vehicle rated 26,001 pounds or more (Group B), or a smaller vehicle designed to carry 16 or more passengers including the driver or used to transport placarded hazardous materials (Group C). Most step vans, box trucks and route vehicles used in driver/sales work fall below the 26,001 pound line and need no CDL.
- Get a DOT medical certificate if the truck is over 10,001 pounds
This is the threshold people miss. FMCSA defines a commercial motor vehicle in interstate commerce as a vehicle with a gross vehicle weight rating or gross combination weight rating of 10,001 pounds or more, and federal rules require any person driving one to be medically examined and certified as physically qualified, with re-examination at least every 24 months. A driver on a mid-size box truck crossing a state line can therefore need a medical card, and their employer a driver qualification file on them, without any CDL requirement at all.
- Check for hazardous materials, which override the weight rules
A vehicle of any size used to transport hazardous materials in a quantity requiring placarding is a commercial motor vehicle under both the CDL rules and the wider safety regulations. That matters for route work carrying propane cylinders, industrial gases, fuel or certain chemicals, where a small truck can still require a CDL with the hazardous materials endorsement and the associated background check.
- Expect company training, not a course1 month or less of on-the-job training
BLS says companies train new delivery truck drivers and driver/sales workers on the job in 1 month or less, which may include a driver-mentor riding along to confirm the driver can operate safely on crowded streets, plus company policies on dropoffs, returns, taking payment and damaged goods. Driver/sales workers additionally learn detailed product information and may be taught sales techniques such as how to approach new customers.
Licensing and state variation
Licensed state by state
Only the ordinary driver's licence, and any CDL where the vehicle demands one, are state-issued. CDLs are issued to federal minimum standards so the vehicle groups, endorsement codes and weight thresholds are national while the manual, fees and testing arrangements are not. The federal medical certification and driver qualification requirements attached to vehicles over 10,001 pounds are uniform across states for interstate work; states apply their own, often similar, rules to purely intrastate operations, and some states set a lower minimum age for intrastate driving than the 21 required for interstate.
Who governs the credential
- Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA)
Defines when a driver needs a commercial driver's licence (the 26,001 pound, 16 passenger and placarded hazardous materials tests) and, separately and at a much lower threshold, when a driver of a vehicle over 10,001 pounds in interstate commerce must hold a medical examiner's certificate and be covered by a driver qualification file.
Credential detail for driver/sales workers is researched by hand from the bodies that issue it, not derived from BLS or O*NET. Sources last checked August 23, 2026. Requirements change: confirm with your own state board before enrolling in anything.
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook — Delivery Truck Drivers and Driver/Sales Workers, How to Become One · checked August 23, 2026
- eCFR, 49 CFR 383.5 — Commercial motor vehicle definition for CDL purposes (Groups A, B and C) · checked August 23, 2026
- eCFR, 49 CFR 390.5 — Commercial motor vehicle definition for the safety regulations (10,001 pounds or more, or any size carrying placarded hazardous materials) · checked August 23, 2026
- eCFR, 49 CFR 391.45 — Persons who must be medically examined and certified · checked August 23, 2026
What the federal data says
Delivery truck drivers and driver/sales workers typically need a high school diploma or equivalent to enter these occupations. However, some opportunities exist for those without a high school diploma. Workers undergo 1 month or less of on-the-job training. They must have a driver’s license from the state in which they work and have a clean driving record.
- 1
Typical entry-level education
High school diploma or equivalent
- 2
Work experience in a related occupation
None
- 3
Typical on-the-job training
Short-term on-the-job training
- 4
Preparation needed (O*NET job zone)
Some preparation
BLS Employment Projections, 2025–2035; job zone from O*NET 31.0 Database.
What education people in the job have
O*NET incumbent survey: the highest level of education reported by people already working as driver/sales workers.
- High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED)64%
- Less than a High School Diploma35.5%
- Post-Secondary Certificate0.4%
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED) | 64% |
| Less than a High School Diploma | 35.5% |
| Post-Secondary Certificate | 0.4% |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
The work
What does a delivery driver do?
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.
Delivery truck drivers and driver/sales workers pick up, transport, and drop off packages and small shipments within a local region or urban area. They drive trucks weighing less than 26,001 pounds total for vehicle, passengers, and cargo. Delivery truck drivers usually transport merchandise from a distribution center to businesses and households.
Day-to-day tasks
- Drive trucks to deliver such items as food, medical supplies, or newspapers.
- Listen to and resolve customers' complaints regarding products or services.
- Record sales or delivery information on daily sales or delivery record.
- Inform regular customers of new products or services and price changes.
- Collect money from customers, make change, and record transactions on customer receipts.
- Maintain trucks and food-dispensing equipment and clean inside of machines that dispense food or beverages.
O*NET core tasks, ordered by reported importance.
Working conditions and hours
Fatal injury rate: 25.7 per 100,000 workers (7.8x the 3.3 average)
BLS Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries, 2024, for the group “Driver/sales workers and truck drivers”: 950 deaths that year.
Most drivers work full time, and some work more than 40 hours per week. Those who have regular routes sometimes must begin work very early in the morning or work late at night. For example, a driver who delivers bread to a deli every day must arrive before the deli opens. Drivers often work weekends and holidays, and their schedules may vary.
Where the work happens
Indoors, climate-controlled
NeverEvery dayOutdoors in all weather
NeverEvery dayOutdoors in all weather at least weekly.
Physical demands
Sitting
NeverAlmost all the timeStanding
NeverAlmost all the timeBending or twisting
NeverAlmost all the timeRegular bending or twisting.
Working with people
Contact with other people
NoneConstantFace-to-face discussions
NeverEvery dayFace-to-face discussions every day.
Dealing with the public
Not importantExtremely importantDealing with customers or the public is very important.
Pressure and stakes
Strict deadlines
NeverEvery dayMeeting strict deadlines at least weekly.
Conflict situations
NeverEvery dayCost of a mistake
Not seriousExtremely serious
Autonomy
Freedom to decide
NoneA lot
Schedules: BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2025–2035 edition. Conditions: O*NET Work Context survey. Each item has its own scale, so each dot is read against the two answers that end its own line.
Where driver/sales workers work
Share of jobs by employer type
- Food services and drinking places39%
- Wholesale trade25%
- Retail trade9%
- Self-employed workers7%
- Transportation and warehousing6%
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Food services and drinking places | 39% |
| Wholesale trade | 25% |
| Retail trade | 9% |
| Self-employed workers | 7% |
| Transportation and warehousing | 6% |
Source: BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2025–2035 edition
Core skills
O*NET importance, 1 to 5
- Active Listening3.8
- Speaking3.6
- Critical Thinking3.1
- Reading Comprehension3.0
- Monitoring2.9
- Writing2.8
- Active Learning2.8
- Mathematics2.6
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Active Listening | 3.8 |
| Speaking | 3.6 |
| Critical Thinking | 3.1 |
| Reading Comprehension | 3.0 |
| Monitoring | 2.9 |
| Writing | 2.8 |
| Active Learning | 2.8 |
| Mathematics | 2.6 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
Transferable skills
O*NET importance, 1 to 5
- Service Orientation3.1
- Social Perceptiveness3.0
- Complex Problem Solving3.0
- Time Management3.0
- Persuasion2.9
- Judgment and Decision Making2.9
- Coordination2.8
- Negotiation2.8
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Service Orientation | 3.1 |
| Social Perceptiveness | 3.0 |
| Complex Problem Solving | 3.0 |
| Time Management | 3.0 |
| Persuasion | 2.9 |
| Judgment and Decision Making | 2.9 |
| Coordination | 2.8 |
| Negotiation | 2.8 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
Tools and software
- Office suite software · in demand
- Spreadsheet software · in demand
- Communications server software
- Data base user interface and query software
- Inventory management software
- Map creation software
- Project management software
“In demand” marks an O*NET Employer-Based Hot Technology, software named in real job postings for this occupation.
The workforce
Who works as a delivery driver?
Women make up 7.7% of driver/sales workers, against 47.1% of all employed people: a heavily male-dominated occupation.
30.8% are 55 or older (23.2% across all jobs), so a larger-than-usual share of the workforce reaches retirement age over the next decade. Those exits are counted in the BLS openings figure.
The median worker is 46.4 years old (all workers: 42.1).
- Women
- 7.7%All workers 47.1% · BLS CPS, 2025
- Median age
- 46.4All workers 42.1 · BLS CPS, 2025
- Aged 55+
- 30.8%All workers 23.2% · BLS CPS, 2025
- Employed (CPS)
- 3,583,000Driver/sales workers and truck drivers · BLS CPS, 2025
| Group | Share of driver/sales workers | All employed people |
|---|---|---|
| Women | 7.7% | 47.1% |
| White | 72.1% | 75.7% |
| Black or African American | 20.2% | 12.7% |
| Asian | 4.5% | 7.5% |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 25.8% | 20.0% |
| Aged 55 and over | 30.8% | 23.2% |
| Aged 16 to 24 | 6.9% | 12.2% |
Current Population Survey annual averages, 2025 (BLS tables 11 and 11b). Race groups can overlap with Hispanic or Latino ethnicity, so they do not sum to 100%. CPS reports this occupation only within the wider Census group “Driver/sales workers and truck drivers”, so these figures are for that group.
Personality fit
What personality type suits a delivery driver?
O*NET Occupational Interests (RIASEC), scored 1 to 7
| Axis | Driver/Sales Worker |
|---|---|
| Realistic | 5 |
| Investigative | 1 |
| Artistic | 1 |
| Social | 2 |
| Enterprising | 4 |
| Conventional | 5 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
What the work is built around
Day to day this is work built around hands-on, practical work with tools, machines or the outdoors, combined with organising, following procedures and working precisely with data.
- Realistic5.3
- Conventional4.7
- Enterprising3.7
- Social2.4
- Investigative1.0
- Artistic1.0
Closest MBTI types
NueCareer fit scores: cosine similarity between each MBTI type's interest vector and this occupation's O*NET interest profile. Not a BLS or O*NET figure; the method is documented on our methodology page.
Explore further
Careers related to Driver/Sales Worker
O*NET related occupations
- Transportation and Material Moving
- Office and Administrative Support
- Sales and Related
Door-to-Door Sales Worker, News and Street Vendor, and Related Worker
$41,380median a year
Most earn $32K to $51K
−10.4%No formal credential - Sales and Related
- Office and Administrative Support
- Transportation and Material Moving
More transportation and material moving careers
Median annual pay, with driver/sales workers highlighted
- Airline Pilot$232,140
- Commercial Pilot$123,220
- Locomotive Engineer$81,410
- Railroad Conductor and Yardmaster$78,000
- Crane and Tower Operator$68,080
- Flight Attendant$63,580
- Truck Driver$58,640
- Refuse and Recyclable Material Collector$49,690
- Driver/Sales Worker$38,770
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Airline Pilot | $232,140 |
| Commercial Pilot | $123,220 |
| Locomotive Engineer | $81,410 |
| Railroad Conductor and Yardmaster | $78,000 |
| Crane and Tower Operator | $68,080 |
| Flight Attendant | $63,580 |
| Truck Driver | $58,640 |
| Refuse and Recyclable Material Collector | $49,690 |
| Driver/Sales Worker | $38,770 |
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025
Lists Driver/Sales Worker appears on
Questions
Driver/Sales Worker: frequently asked questions
How much do delivery drivers make?
Driver/Sales Workers earn a median of $38,770 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025), 24% below the $50,980 median for all US occupations. That works out at $18.64/hr. The middle half earn between $30,200 and $49,000. The top 10% earn $59,980 or more.
How much do delivery drivers make an hour?
The median hourly wage for driver/sales workers is $18.64 (BLS OEWS, May 2025). On a full-year basis the $38,770 annual median works out to about $3,230 a month before tax.
What is the starting salary for a delivery driver?
BLS does not publish a starting salary. The nearest measure is the low end of the pay range: the lowest-paid 10% of driver/sales workers earn less than $22,590 a year and the bottom quarter less than $30,200 (BLS OEWS, May 2025). New workers often start near that end, but where a particular job starts depends on the employer, the state and the credentials you bring, so read these as the bottom of the range rather than a guaranteed entry wage.
Which states pay delivery drivers the most?
The highest state medians for Driver/Sales Workers are Alaska ($48,420), Iowa ($47,120), Massachusetts ($46,870) (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Adjusted for local prices using BEA Regional Price Parities, Iowa moves to the top at $53,691.
What kind of delivery driver earns the most?
BLS does not split driver/sales workers' pay by specialty or employer, but its range shows how far the top end runs: the highest-paid 10% earn more than $59,980, against a median of $38,770 (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Location moves pay the most in the published data: the best-paying states are Alaska ($48,420), Iowa ($47,120), Massachusetts ($46,870).
Do you need a degree to become a delivery driver?
No. A bachelor's degree is not the norm: BLS reports a high school diploma or equivalent as the typical entry-level education for Driver/Sales Workers. BLS also lists short-term on-the-job training as typical on-the-job training. In O*NET's survey of people already doing the job, 64.0% hold high school diploma or the equivalent (such as a ged).
How long does it take to become a delivery driver?
BLS does not publish a fixed length; it depends on the route. What it does publish: the typical way in for delivery drivers is a high school diploma or equivalent. Once hired, BLS lists short-term on-the-job training as typical. O*NET classes the work as needing some preparation.
Is delivery driver a growing career?
Yes, strongly. Employment is projected to grow 7.9% over 2025–2035, more than double the 3.5% projected for all occupations (BLS EP, 2025–2035). BLS still projects about 45,500 openings a year, mostly from workers retiring or moving to other work.
What does a delivery driver do?
Delivery truck drivers and driver/sales workers pick up, transport, and drop off packages and small shipments within a local region or urban area. A core O*NET task: drive trucks to deliver such items as food, medical supplies, or newspapers. Employers most often ask for Office suite software, Spreadsheet software.
Do delivery drivers work 40 hours a week?
Most work more than 40. In O*NET's survey of people in the job, 81% of driver/sales workers usually work more than 40 hours a week, 14% work exactly 40 and 5% work fewer. 82% say their schedule is regular and 18% irregular. Source: O*NET 31.0 Database, Work Context.
What personality type suits a delivery driver?
O*NET scores Driver/Sales Workers highest on the Realistic, Conventional and Enterprising interest areas, so the work mixes hands-on, practical work with tools, machines or the outdoors with organising, following procedures and working precisely with data. On NueCareer's MBTI-to-interest mapping the closest types are ESTJ, ISTJ. Personality is a fit signal, not a gate. The free NueCareer quiz scores your own profile against all 1,731 careers in the bank.
Do you need a license to work as a delivery driver?
Yes, and it is issued by the state you work in, not nationally. Only the ordinary driver's licence, and any CDL where the vehicle demands one, are state-issued. CDLs are issued to federal minimum standards so the vehicle groups, endorsement codes and weight thresholds are national while the manual, fees and testing arrangements are not. The federal medical certification and driver qualification requirements attached to vehicles over 10,001 pounds are uniform across states for interstate work; states apply their own, often similar, rules to purely intrastate operations, and some states set a lower minimum age for intrastate driving than the 21 required for interstate.
What percentage of delivery drivers are women?
Women make up 7.7% of driver/sales workers, against 47.1% of all employed people: a heavily male-dominated occupation. 30.8% are 55 or older (23.2% across all jobs), so a larger-than-usual share of the workforce reaches retirement age over the next decade. Those exits are counted in the BLS openings figure. The median worker is 46.4 years old (all workers: 42.1). Source: BLS Current Population Survey, 2025 annual averages, for the Census group "Driver/sales workers and truck drivers".