Delivery Driver salary

The median pay for a delivery driver nationally is $21.25 an hour — about $44,200 a year full time. That is based on 12 job postings on LocalWork from the last 12 months that stated pay, so it reflects what employers are advertising rather than verified earnings. Half of the roles pay more than this and half pay less, so treat it as the middle of the market rather than a target.

Most delivery drivers nationally earn between $14.85 an hour and $37.00 an hour — that is the 10th to the 90th percentile. The spread usually reflects experience, shift, certifications and employer size more than anything else.

Pay at the bottom of the range — roughly what someone starting out can expect — is around $14.85 an hour. A quarter of delivery drivers earn below $18.00 an hour, so the first year or two typically sits in that band. This is a role employers routinely fill with people who have no prior experience.

The top 10% of delivery drivers nationally earn about $37.00 an hour or more, roughly 1.7× the median. Getting there usually means experience plus something specific — certifications, supervisory duties, specialised skills or premium shifts.

Delivery drivers transport packages, food or supplies to homes and businesses on set routes. Most roles need only a standard licence, making it a common entry point into driving work. Day to day, that means run a delivery route to a schedule, load and verify packages before setting out, obtain signatures and confirm deliveries and handle customer questions at the door.

The usual route is: (1) apply with a standard licence, (2) build a clean driving and delivery record, (3) move to larger vehicles or better-paying routes, (4) consider a CDL for a substantial pay step. Employers typically look for valid driver's licence with a clean record, usually 21+ for company vehicles and repeated lifting and carrying.

Usually not. Most employers hire delivery drivers without a specific licence, though valid driver's licence with a clean record will widen your options and often your pay.

There are currently 17 open delivery drivers listed on LocalWork. Delivery volume has grown with online ordering and stays high year-round, spiking sharply around holidays when employers hire seasonally.

For most van and light-truck delivery work, a standard driver's licence is enough. You only need a CDL once the vehicle crosses a weight threshold — generally 26,001 lbs — which covers box trucks and tractor-trailers rather than typical delivery vans.