1513-NOC

Couriers, messengers and door-to-door distributors

(NOC 1513)
Annual Earnings
$32,640
Typical Education Background
High School
Job Openings
(2022-2032)
1,590

Career Overview

Couriers, messengers and door-to-door distributors pick up letters, parcels, packages, newspapers, flyers/other items and deliver them to homes, businesses/other establishments. People with these jobs work for local and global courier companies, corporate delivery services and other organizations in the private and public sector. They may also be self-employed.

Some couriers specialize in food delivery services – picking up food from multiple restaurants to deliver to homes, offices and other businesses.

Duties

Couriers, messengers and door-to-door distributors:

  • Pick up messages, letters, envelopes, parcels, packages, cheques, securities and other items from customers and hand-deliver them within a set period of time
  • Collect payment for items delivered
  • Record deliveries
  • Speak with customers and others that they meet on their route
  • May drive a vehicle (car, van or truck) or ride a bicycle
  • Inspect vehicle at the start and end of each shift to report any damage
  • Load and unload packages into vehicle or bicycle
  • Plan delivery schedule and travel routes

Earnings

Earnings is income that workers receive in exchange for their labour. Depending on the type of employment, earnings can be in the form of wages (hourly), salaries (fixed monthly or annual) or self-employed earnings.

Annual Earnings

$32,640

Provincial Hourly Rate

High$31.92/hr
Median$15.65/hr
Low$15.65/hr
Source: B.C. Labour Market Information Office, derived from 2022 Job Bank Wage data

Work Environment

# Workers Employed

4,000

% Employed Full Time

40%
Source: 2016 Census

People in this career do much of their work outdoors and experience different weather conditions. Some couriers and messengers walk or use bicycles to pick up and deliver items. Others may use a vehicle – which can range from a small car to a large truck – and at times may deal with busy traffic conditions. They interact with others, speaking with customers, people on their route and the dispatcher.

Work may be full-time, part-time or seasonal. Shift work may be required on nights and weekends.

Couriers, messengers and door-to-door distributors use technology for many administrative tasks, such as mapping out deliveries, using GPS for directions and providing customers with proof of delivery. People with these careers must be comfortable using technology to record deliveries and document issues that may arise.

Career Pathways

With experience, there is the opportunity to move into dispatcher or supervisory positions. There may also be opportunities to work in other delivery occupations.

Occupational Interests

It’s important to understand what kinds of occupations align with your interests.

For more about occupational interests visit Skills for the Future Workforce > Characteristics.

Here are the top occupational interest(s) for this career profile:

Realistic
Realistic

Job Titles

Bank messenger / runner
Copy runner, courier service
Courier
Courier, mail
Delivery person - parcels / packages
Delivery person, advertising / newspaper
Distributor, bill / flyer / sample
Handbill passer - courier service
Messenger-clerk
Paper boy / paper girl
Runner

Education, Training and Skills

Couriers, messengers and door-to-door distributors are generally required to:

  • Have secondary school education
  • Be bonded
  • Be able to navigate busy streets and follow directions
  • Be physically fit
  • Have a valid driver’s licence for the type of delivery vehicle used

Education programs in B.C.

The following program areas are related to this occupation:

  • Academic/Basic Upgrading
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Find out more information about programs offered specifically for this career.

Skills

Every job calls for a certain set of skills. Knowing those skills is the first step in finding a good career fit.

Here, you will find the 10 most relevant workplace skills. Some are more important to achieving success in a certain career than others. These skills may come naturally to you or you may need to gain them through education, training and experience.

See the list of work-related skills below, ranked in order of importance for this career. Check out the list and see if this career matches your skills—take that first step!

Active Listening

Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.

61%
Speaking

Talking to others to share information effectively.

61%
Service Orientation

Actively looking for ways to help people.

59%
Social Perceptiveness

Being aware of others’ reactions and understanding why they react as they do.

52%
Critical Thinking

Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.

50%
Coordination

Adjusting actions in relation to others' actions.

48%
Monitoring

Keeping track of and assessing your performance, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.

48%
Time Management

Managing one’s own time and the time of others.

47%
Judgment and Decision-Making

Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.

47%
Reading Comprehension

Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work-related documents.

44%

Labour Market Statistics

Discover data, facts and information that have been gathered and analyzed. Learn about the characteristics of the economy and labour market in B.C.

Employment

Find out about employment types and trends by region and industry.

Employment

4,000
Source: 2016 Census

Employment by Region

Map of BC Map of Cariboo region Map of Kootenay region Map of Mainland/Southwest region Map of North Coast and Nechako region Map of Northeast region Map of Thompson-Okanagan region Map of Vancouver Island/Coast region
Cariboo
Kootenay
Mainland/Southwest
North Coast and Nechako
Northeast
Thompson-Okanagan
Vancouver Island/Coast
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Region Employment (2022) % Employment of this Occupation
Cariboo 110 2.6%
Kootenay 120 2.9%
Mainland/Southwest 3,220 58.5%
North Coast and Nechako 50 1.6%
Northeast N/A 1.0%
Thompson-Okanagan 510 12.1%
Vancouver Island/Coast 890 21.1%
Source: 2016 Census and B.C. Labour Market Outlook

Labour Market Outlook

The B.C. Labour Market Outlook is a 10-year forecast of the expected supply and demand for labour in the province. It’s usually updated every year. The purpose is to provide British Columbians with the knowledge to make informed decisions on careers, skills training, education and hiring.

Forecasted Job Openings (2022-2032)

1,590
Source: B.C. Labour Market Outlook

Forecasted Job Openings

Forecasted Employment Growth Rate

Composition of Job Openings

Source: B.C. Labour Market Outlook

Job Openings by Region (2022-2032)

Map of BC Map of Cariboo region Map of Kootenay region Map of Mainland/Southwest region Map of North Coast and Nechako region Map of Northeast region Map of Thompson-Okanagan region Map of Vancouver Island/Coast region
Cariboo
Kootenay
Mainland/Southwest
North Coast and Nechako
Northeast
Thompson-Okanagan
Vancouver Island/Coast
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Region Job Openings Avg. Annual Employment Growth
Cariboo 0 0.0%
Kootenay 20 0.8%
Mainland/Southwest 940 1.0%
North Coast and Nechako 0 3.4%
Northeast N/A N/A
Thompson-Okanagan 210 1.3%
Vancouver Island/Coast 300 1.0%
N/A: Data is not available for this region.
Source: B.C. Labour Market Outlook

Industry Highlights

Learn about the opportunities in B.C.'s major industries, including employment trends, earning potential, locations of work and more.

Forecasted Job Openings by Industry

IndustryJob Openings (2022-2032)
Transportation and Warehousing53,400
Information, Culture and Recreation57,300
Retail Trade115,500
Professional, Scientific and Technical Services148,000
Manufacturing49,200
For additional industry information, visit the Industry Profiles page.
Source: 2016 Census and B.C. Labour Market Outlook

Insights from Industry

Good communication and time management skills are helpful for people in these jobs. The ability to remain calm under pressure is also considered an asset. Couriers, messengers and door-to-door distributors, at times, need to get through heavy traffic, find parking and deal with road closures when delivering time-sensitive items. Having good customer service and people skills is useful when facing frustrated or angry customers.

Resources