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. Watch the video below to see what it's like to be a courier.
Source: Estimated median employment income based on 2021 Job Bank median hourly wage rate (median annual salary = hourly wage rate x 40 (hours per week) x 52.14 (weeks per year))
Note:Estimated median employment income based on 2021 Job Bank median hourly wage rate (median annual salary = hourly wage rate x 40 (hours per week) x 52.14 (weeks per year))
Source: 2021 Job Bank Wage Report
Source: B.C. Labour Market Outlook
10 year expected job openings: 1,610
Couriers, messengers and door-to-door distributors:
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.
Source: 2016 Census
Couriers, messengers and door-to-door distributors are generally required to:
For more information about programs offered specifically for this career, visit EducationPlannerBC.
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 35 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. You’ll also find the skill strength needed, letting you know how capable you must be in that skill.
Check out the list and see if this career matches your skills—take that first step!
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.
Career paths
With experience, there is the opportunity to move into dispatcher or supervisory positions. There may also be opportunities to work in other delivery occupations.
Additional resources