Business & Finance
Couriers and Messengers
Pick up and deliver messages, documents, packages, and other items between offices or departments within an establishment or directly to other business concerns, traveling by foot, bicycle, motorcycle, automobile, or public conveyance.
Median salary (BLS)
$39,200
10th–90th percentile (BLS)
$32k – $50k
Job outlook
+8% (faster than average)
AI exposure
Plan a path to Couriers and Messengers
Education
Typical entry: No degree required
Plan my path to this →How to qualify
EstimateCost to qualify
$500–$3,150
Time to qualify
1 yr
Renewal
—
- 1
High school diploma or GED
CourseExpected by most employers; if you need the GED, test fees run $0–$150 depending on the state.
$0–$150 · 3 months · varies by state source
- 2
On-the-job training
ExperienceEmployer-provided and typically paid — days to a few months for most no-degree roles.
Cost varies · 3 months source
- 3
Industry certification (optional for many roles)
CertificationRole-dependent — e.g. CPA, Series 7/65, PMP, SHRM. Not always required, but often expected for advancement.
$500–$3,000 · 6 months source
Estimated typical U.S. route for "Couriers and Messengers" — built from BLS education requirements and College Board 2024–25 average published prices (public, in-state tuition + fees + books). Not yet verified against a specific state's licensing rules — confirm with your state licensing board or program.
Typical progression
Junior Couriers and Messengers
Entry / Junior
$31,550
~2 yrs to advance
Couriers and Messengers
Established
$39,200
~3 yrs to advance
Senior Couriers and Messengers
Senior
$44,765
Key skills
A typical day
- •Deliver and pick up medical records, lab specimens, and medications to and from hospitals and other medical facilities.
- •Obtain signatures and payments, or arrange for recipients to make payments.
- •Record information, such as items received and delivered and recipients' responses to messages.
- •Receive messages or materials to be delivered, and information on recipients, such as names, addresses, telephone numbers, and delivery instructions, communicated via telephone, two-way radio, or in person.
- •Load vehicles with listed goods, ensuring goods are loaded correctly and taking precautions with hazardous goods.
Fields of study
Any field
Top colleges for Business & Finance
Explore all- University of Pennsylvania6% admit · $112,000 grad pay
- Massachusetts Institute of Technology4% admit · $124,000 grad pay
- Harvard University4% admit · $119,000 grad pay
- University of California, Berkeley11% admit · $97,000 grad pay
- New York University12% admit · $84,000 grad pay
Reputation-based selection; stats shown are outcome data per school.