Couriers & Messengers (CEU4348400003) average hourly earnings with DSP benchmark overlay. Hover the chart for loaded hourly rate, daily cost, and per-stop calculations.
The BLS Couriers & Messengers series (CEU4348400003) reports $33.29/hr — but this blends FedEx Ground, UPS, and LTL carriers whose CDL-A drivers earn $28–$38/hr. DSP delivery drivers operating non-CDL vans (ProMaster, Transit, Sprinter under 26,001 lbs) earn significantly less: the $19–$23/hr benchmark band shown on the chart.
Pexara's capacity model uses the DSP-specific band, not the raw BLS headline. The “sector wage gap” annotation on the chart illustrates the $10+/hr difference between the BLS average and actual DSP pay — a critical distinction for accurate per-stop cost modeling.
BLS hourly earnings for Couriers & Messengers have risen from $31.10 to $33.29 over the past two years — a 7.0% increase. The acceleration steepened in H2 2025, with $0.53 added in Sep '25 alone (the largest single-quarter jump in this series).
For DSP operators, the headline number overstates actual labor cost because the series includes CDL-A carriers. However, the trend direction still matters: when sector-wide wages rise, DSP pay follows with a lag of 1–2 quarters. Operators who plan for $22–$23/hr non-CDL rates by mid-2026 will avoid margin surprises.
The loaded hourly rate (base × 1.27 burden factor for FICA, workers' comp, unemployment insurance, and benefits) currently sits at $42.28/hr for the BLS headline. At the DSP midpoint, loaded cost is approximately $27.94/hr.