Couriers & messengers

Detailed Occupation

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2020 Workforce

282k

Average Age

40.9

Estimated Job Growth

−2.22%

10-year projection

Average Salary

$33,958

Average Male Salary

$36,513

Average Female Salary

$24,445

About

Couriers & messengers are most often employed by the Couriers & messengers industry. The average yearly wage for Couriers & messengers was $33,958 in 2016. The top 3 most similar occupations to Couriers & messengers by wage are Healthcare support workers, all other, including medical equipment preparers, Print binding & finishing workers, and Word processors & typists.

Couriers & messengers are part of the Office & Administrative Support Occupations, along with Firstline supervisors of office & administrative support workers, Switchboard operators, including answering service, Telephone operators, Communications equipment operators, all other, Bill & account collectors, and 45 more.

The top 3 locations that employ the most Couriers & messengers are Jamaica, Hollis & St. Albans PUMA, NY, Greater Fort Myers City PUMA, FL, and Maryvale (West) PUMA, AZ. The top 3 locations with a relatively high concentration of Couriers & messengers are Greater Fort Myers City PUMA, FL, Maryvale (West) PUMA, AZ, and Orlando City (West Downtown) & Pine Hills (Southeast) PUMA, FL.

Information on the businesses and industries that employ Couriers & messengers and on wages and locations for those in the field. Couriers & messengers is the industry that employs the most Couriers & messengers, both by share and by number, though the highest paid industry for Couriers & messengers, by average wage, is Periodical, book, & directory publishers. Couriers & messengers are paid most in Oakland (East) & Piedmont Cities PUMA, CA but are relatively concentrated in Greater Fort Myers City PUMA, FL.

Yearly Wage

$33,958

AVERAGE SALARY

± $1,581

In 2020, Couriers & messengers earned an average of $33,958, $21,996 less than than the average national salary of $55,954.

Print binding & finishing workers make somewhat more than Couriers & messengers while Healthcare support workers, all other, including medical equipment preparers make somewhat less. This chart shows the various occupations closest to Couriers & messengers as measured by average annual salary in the US.

Wage Distribution

0.398

WAGE GINI

In 2015, Couriers & messengers had a wage GINI coefficient of 0.398, which is lower than than the national average of 0.478. In other words, wages are distributed more evenly for Couriers & messengers (shown in red) than for the overall labor force (shown in gray).

Wage by Location

HIGHEST PAYING PUMAS

This map shows the Public Use Microdata Areas (PUMAs) in the United States shaded by average annual wage for Couriers & messengers.

Spatial Concentration

PUMAs with a Relatively High Concentration of Couriers & messengers

This map displays which Public Use Microdata Areas (PUMAs) in the United States have a relatively high population of Couriers & messengers.

Most Common

The most common industries employing Couriers & messengers, by number of employees, are Couriers & messengers, General medical and surgical hospitals, and specialty (except psychiatric and substance abuse) hospitals, Other health care services, Colleges, universities & professional schools, including junior colleges, Restaurants & Food Services, Legal services, Services incidental to transportation, Construction, Banking & related activities, Truck transportation, and Management, scientific & technical consulting services.

Highest Paying

The highest paying industries for Couriers & messengers, by average wage, are Periodical, book, & directory publishers, Water, steam, air-conditioning, & irrigation systems, and Administration of economic programs & space research.

Industries by Share

282k

2020 Workforce

± 13,028

21.3%

1 YEAR GROWTH

± 5.66%

The number of people employed as Couriers & messengers has been growing at a rate of 21.3%, from 232,628 people in 2019 to 282,133 people in 2020.

This graphic shows the share of Couriers & messengers employed by various industries. Couriers & messengers employs the largest share of Couriers & messengers at 71.7%, followed by General medical and surgical hospitals, and specialty (except psychiatric and substance abuse) hospitals with 2.6% and Other health care services with 2.41%.

Diversity

Demographic information on Couriers & messengers in the US. The average age of male Couriers & messengers in the workforce is 41.2 and of female Couriers & messengers is 39.5, and the most common race/ethnicity for Couriers & messengers is White (Non-Hispanic).

Composition by Sex

222k

MALE WORKFORCE

± 11,569

59.7k

FEMALE WORKFORCE

± 5,999

78.8% of Couriers & messengers are Male, making them the more common sex in the occupation. This chart shows the sex breakdown of Couriers & messengers.

Race & Ethnicity

Most Common Race or Ethnicity of Couriers & messengers

White (Non-Hispanic)
Black (Non-Hispanic)
White (Hispanic)

52.5% of Couriers & messengers are White (Non-Hispanic), making that the most common race or ethnicity in the occupation. Representing 19.1% of Couriers & messengers, Black (Non-Hispanic) is the second most common race or ethnicity in this occupation. This chart shows the racial and ethnic breakdown of Couriers & messengers.

Age by Sex

41.2

AVERAGE MALE AGE

± 0.813

39.5

AVERAGE FEMALE AGE

± 1.51

The median age of Couriers & messengers is 40.9, and Male employees are generally 1.72 years older than than their Female counterparts.

Education

Data on higher education choices for Couriers & messengers from The Department of Education and Census Bureau. The most common major for Couriers & messengers is Business but a relatively high number of Couriers & messengers hold a major in Theology.

Majors

ACS PUMS data only shows the major for bachelor's degrees. However, we can filter the data based on highest degree obtained.

MOST COMMON MAJORS

MOST SPECIALIZED MAJORS

Skills

Data on the critical and distinctive skills necessary for Couriers & messengers from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Couriers & messengers need many skills, but most especially Active Listening, Time Management, and Reading Comprehension. The revealed comparative advantage (RCA) shows that Couriers & messengers need more than the average amount of Operation and Control, Service Orientation, and Time Management.

Radar Distribution

Bar Chart

Projections

Projections on job growth for Couriers and Messengers from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The 10-year national workforce is projected to grow 3.71%, but Couriers and Messengers are expected to see a growth of −2.22% over the same period. This occupation is expected to grow less than the national average.

Job Growth

For growth projections, the closest comparible industry reported by the Bureau of Labor Statistics is Couriers and Messengers.

−2.22%

Estimated Job Growth

10-year Projection

3.71%

National Growth

10-year Projection

This line chart shows the projected 10-year growth in the number of jobs for Couriers and Messengers. This profession is expected to grow less than than 3.71%, the average rate of national job growth.