- UPS's highest-paid drivers will earn a total of about $170,000 by 2028.
- Some white-collar workers were surprised when they saw the salaries of high-income drivers.
- But don't expect to make $44 an hour in your first four years on the job.
Delivery drivers work all year round delivering packages to people. And a UPS driver at the top of the pay scale is paid six figures for the job he does.
In August, UPS and the Teamsters union ratified a deal that would increase average pay for top-tier drivers to $49 an hour by 2028. Including benefits, a driver's salary would be about $170,000.
Even before the raises begin, UPS drivers are earning what many consider a good salary. UPS drivers' salaries — $2,400 a week for some — have shocked some workers in other industries, but people familiar with the job say they deserve it. doing.
Business Insider asked its 10.9 million LinkedIn followers if they were surprised to learn how much UPS drivers make. Nearly half of the 10,000 voters answered “yes.”
Still, commentator Dawn Zimmerman, whose husband has worked as a UPS driver for 30 years, said, “They make every penny.”
BI spoke with Jenny Rosado, a 30-year UPS driver, and Anissa Zambruno, UPS Talent Acquisition Manager and former UPS Driving School instructor, if you want to drive for UPS or if you want to. We spoke to them about what to expect. I'm just interested in the job.
Here's what you need to know:
1. It is not possible to achieve the top rate from the beginning.
New delivery drivers will start at $23 an hour, UPS told BI. You can expect to reach maximum pay after four years of service. Currently, his top rate is around $44 an hour, but by 2028 he is expected to reach $49 an hour.
As part of their job, UPS drivers “enjoy industry-leading pay and benefits, guaranteed raises, pensions, paid time off, career opportunities, world-class training and more,” the company said in a statement.
For comparison, drivers at Amazon's delivery service partners earn approximately $19.48 per hour.
2. Holidays are the busiest time of the year
Peak season begins as Christmas approaches and people start ordering gifts for their loved ones.
While some may believe this chaotic period will end on December 25th, Rosado told BI that people are sending last-minute gifts, returning gifts they don't like, He said the sale will be extended several weeks into the new year to take advantage of post-holiday sales at online retailers.
3. You're more likely to start in a UPS warehouse than in your own truck.
Becoming a UPS driver is a process. In most cases, the process begins within your warehouse facility. For his first two to three years, he drives and helps other drivers load and unload trucks.
“A lot of people quit because they can't do that, but they really want it quickly,” Zambruno told BI.
4. Not always the best route
Routes are assigned to drivers when they first start driving. As they gain seniority, they can bid on the best route, but that's only for company veterans.
For some people, it can take 10 to 15 years to find a route they like, Rosado told BI.
For example, Plum's route may include areas that don't have many slopes or areas that have houses rather than apartments with lots of steps.
5. Seniority matters at UPS.
Half of UPS delivery drivers have been with the company for more than 10 years, according to the company.
Rosado joined the company in 1989 and has older colleagues.
6. You have 30 days to prove you are a driver
It takes a month of safety training and supervised driving to be able to call yourself a full-fledged UPS driver.
As with other training courses, a supervisor will accompany you on three to four-day drives, Rosado said, but once you get into the rhythm, you'll be expected to run shorter routes on your own.
7. I'll miss being at home
Drivers are expected to work 8-10 hour shifts starting in the early morning and ending in the evening. If you're a new driver, you can be called on at any time to cover a colleague's shift.
“This has to fit into your life schedule,” Zambruno says. “We ask all applicants to be flexible.”
8. Must be able to lift more than the competition
In job postings, UPS requires candidates to be able to lift at least 70 pounds. Fellow delivery drivers at Amazon and FedEx are expected to lift only 50 pounds, according to job postings from both companies.
Correction: December 18, 2023 — An earlier version of this article misspelled UPS driver Jenny Rosado's name.
