Jobs Similar to Couriers and Messengers
The careers below use the most similar skills, knowledge and work activities to couriers and messengers, according to O*NET 31.0. The closest are Parking Attendants, Baggage Porters and Bellhops and Driver/Sales Workers.
Couriers and Messengers: $39,200 median pay · usual preparation: High school.
Updated October 2026 · Data: O*NET 31.0 and BLS OEWS May 2025 · How we match careers
The 20 most similar careers
| # | Career | Similarity | Median pay (vs. Couriers and Messengers) | Usual preparation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Parking Attendants | 80% | $35,150−10% | High school |
| 2 | Baggage Porters and Bellhops | 79% | $37,080−5% | High school |
| 3 | Driver/Sales Workers | 79% | $38,770−1% | High school |
| 4 | Bus Drivers, Transit and Intercity | 78% | $59,050+51% | High school |
| 5 | Postal Service Mail CarriersSame group | 78% | $60,550+54% | High school |
| 6 | Shuttle Drivers and Chauffeurs | 76% | $37,290−5% | High school |
| 7 | Funeral Attendants | 76% | $35,680−9% | High school |
| 8 | Light Truck Drivers | 76% | $44,860+14% | High school |
| 9 | Bus Drivers, School | 75% | $47,920+22% | High school |
| 10 | Postal Service Mail Sorters, Processors, and Processing Machine OperatorsSame group | 74% | $58,470+49% | High school |
| 11 | Railroad Conductors and Yardmasters | 74% | $78,000+99% | High school |
| 12 | Subway and Streetcar Operators | 73% | $86,380+120% | High school |
| 13 | Mail Clerks and Mail Machine Operators, Except Postal Service | 73% | $39,2800% | High school |
| 14 | Parking Enforcement Workers | 73% | $46,730+19% | High school |
| 15 | Aircraft Cargo Handling Supervisors | 72% | $58,170+48% | High school |
| 16 | Orderlies | 72% | $38,290−2% | High school |
| 17 | Postal Service ClerksSame group | 72% | $62,130+58% | High school |
| 18 | Stockers and Order Fillers | 71% | $37,330−5% | High school |
| 19 | Shipping, Receiving, and Inventory ClerksSame group | 71% | $45,260+15% | High school |
| 20 | Aircraft Service Attendants | 71% | $40,450+3% | High school |
- 1Parking Attendants
80% similar · $35,150 (−10%) · High school
- 2Baggage Porters and Bellhops
79% similar · $37,080 (−5%) · High school
- 3Driver/Sales Workers
79% similar · $38,770 (−1%) · High school
- 4Bus Drivers, Transit and Intercity
78% similar · $59,050 (+51%) · High school
- 5Postal Service Mail Carriers
78% similar · $60,550 (+54%) · High school · Same group
- 6Shuttle Drivers and Chauffeurs
76% similar · $37,290 (−5%) · High school
- 7Funeral Attendants
76% similar · $35,680 (−9%) · High school
- 8Light Truck Drivers
76% similar · $44,860 (+14%) · High school
- 9Bus Drivers, School
75% similar · $47,920 (+22%) · High school
- 10Postal Service Mail Sorters, Processors, and Processing Machine Operators
74% similar · $58,470 (+49%) · High school · Same group
- 11Railroad Conductors and Yardmasters
74% similar · $78,000 (+99%) · High school
- 12Subway and Streetcar Operators
73% similar · $86,380 (+120%) · High school
- 13Mail Clerks and Mail Machine Operators, Except Postal Service
73% similar · $39,280 (0%) · High school
- 14Parking Enforcement Workers
73% similar · $46,730 (+19%) · High school
- 15Aircraft Cargo Handling Supervisors
72% similar · $58,170 (+48%) · High school
- 16Orderlies
72% similar · $38,290 (−2%) · High school
- 17Postal Service Clerks
72% similar · $62,130 (+58%) · High school · Same group
- 18Stockers and Order Fillers
71% similar · $37,330 (−5%) · High school
- 19Shipping, Receiving, and Inventory Clerks
71% similar · $45,260 (+15%) · High school · Same group
- 20Aircraft Service Attendants
71% similar · $40,450 (+3%) · High school
Similarity: weighted correlation of O*NET 31.0 transferable skills (35%), knowledge (25%), work activities (15%) and interests (15%). Pay and schooling do not change it. Pay change compares BLS May 2025 national medians; careers with only a broader BLS group wage are not compared. “Same group”: the same BLS occupation group (SOC minor group). Methodology
Similar jobs that pay more
Only careers that usually need no more preparation than couriers and messengers.
- Subway and Streetcar Operators73% similar · $86,380 (+120%)
- Railroad Conductors and Yardmasters74% similar · $78,000 (+99%)
- Postal Service Clerks72% similar · $62,130 (+58%)
- Postal Service Mail Carriers78% similar · $60,550 (+54%)
- Bus Drivers, Transit and Intercity78% similar · $59,050 (+51%)
- Postal Service Mail Sorters, Processors, and Processing Machine Operators74% similar · $58,470 (+49%)
Thinking of a career change?
Similar is not the same as a good next step. Our career-change list for couriers and messengers also weighs pay drops and extra schooling, and puts jobs outside the field first.
Jobs that can lead here
Careers where couriers and messengers is one of the best career-change matches (match score in brackets).
- Driver/Sales Workers (89)
- Baggage Porters and Bellhops (86)
- Light Truck Drivers (84)
- Mail Clerks and Mail Machine Operators, Except Postal Service (83)
- Parking Attendants (80)
- Shuttle Drivers and Chauffeurs (80)
- Funeral Attendants (76)
- Orderlies (72)
- Passenger Attendants (71)
- Ambulance Drivers and Attendants, Except Emergency Medical Technicians (70)
Questions about jobs like couriers and messengers
What jobs are most similar to couriers and messengers?
By O*NET 31.0 data, the closest are Parking Attendants (80% similar), Baggage Porters and Bellhops (79% similar), Driver/Sales Workers (79% similar), Bus Drivers (Transit and Intercity) (78% similar) and Postal Service Mail Carriers (78% similar).
Which jobs like couriers and messengers pay more?
Among the 20 most similar careers, Subway and Streetcar Operators ($86,380, +120%; usually a high school diploma), Railroad Conductors and Yardmasters ($78,000, +99%; usually a high school diploma) and Postal Service Clerks ($62,130, +58%; usually a high school diploma) have the highest BLS median pay compared with couriers and messengers ($39,200). Without more preparation than couriers and messengers usually need: Subway and Streetcar Operators, Railroad Conductors and Yardmasters and Postal Service Clerks.
How is the similarity percentage worked out?
We compare how important each transferable skill, knowledge area, work activity and interest area is in both jobs (O*NET 31.0 ratings) with a weighted correlation. 100% would mean the same profile. Unlike our career-change matches, pay and extra schooling do not lower the similarity on this page.