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UPS Truck Driver Salary

UPS Truck Driver Salary

UPS is one of the leading shipping carriers in North America. Offering job security and room for growth, many new drivers head straight for this company when searching for employment. But does UPS offer a competitive salary? What about home time and benefits? There are many things to consider before diving in and applying for a job.

About UPS

UPS (United Parcel Service) first launched in 1907 as a messenger service. Two teenagers with a $100 loan started what would come to be the largest package delivery service in the world.

Since opening its doors more than a hundred years ago, the company has grown to deliver 15 million packages per day to nearly eight million customers in over 200 countries.


UPS offers 27 services and employs over 444,000 people.

UPS Trucking Jobs

how-much-do-ups-drivers-makeAs the largest package delivery company in the world, there are numerous jobs available at the United Parcel Service. From UPS freight jobs to package delivery drivers, you’re sure to find a position that meets your skill level and needs.

There are two primary driver positions available with the company:

  • Tractor-trailer drivers
  • Package delivery drivers
  • UPS Freight

Tractor Trailer Drivers

Drivers who work for this division may be offered a full-time, seasonal or temporary position. The position will require you to drive the tractor-trailer to one or several destinations, and return to the starting point in a single shift.

Tractor-trailer drivers who work seasonally will work Monday through Friday, and will be required to meet UPS’ driver appearance standards. Work typically begins in the evening and ends the following morning.

To be considered for this position, you’ll need to pass a DOT physical as well as a drug test and the UPS road test. Additional qualifications include:

  • Valid CDL Class A license
  • Doubles endorsement preferred, but not required

UPS Freight Drivers

UPS freight drivers work full-time. Drivers will be required to drive a tractor-trailer for OTR freight delivery to at least two service centers before returning home. Some positions are also available for city freight drivers, which will require daily pickup and delivery from commercial and residential customers.

To qualify for this position, you must:

  • Pass the DOT physical
  • Pass the UPS road test
  • Possess a valid CDL Class A license
  • Have Haz-Mat and Twin Trailer endorsements
  • Be at least 21 years of age
  • Have at least a year of tractor-trailer experience
  • Meet DOT and UPS physical and mental requirements

Package Delivery Drivers

UPS package delivery drivers must be able to handle a demanding, physical and fast-paced work environment. This outdoor position requires continual carrying, lifting and lowering of packages that weigh 25-35 pounds on average (some packages may weigh as much as 70 pounds).

To be considered for this position, you must meet the following requirements:

  • Pass the DOT physical exam
  • Have excellent driving and customer contact skills
  • Ability to drive manual transmission (some locations)
  • Valid driver’s license

Package delivery drivers work weekdays and at least eight hours per day.

 

How Much Do UPS Drivers Make?

ups-driver-salarySome consider UPS to be one of the best trucking companies to work for simply because they offer consistent schedules, overtime during the holiday season and sufficient home time.

But how much do drivers really make?

UPS Driver Salary Guide

Official UPS truck driver salary numbers are hard to come by. The company only lists the pay for one position on their website:

  • Tractor-trailer drivers: $26 per hour

What about package delivery drivers, OTR drivers or city freight drivers? Let’s compare the numbers from the top salary websites.

Delivery Drivers

  • Payscale (89 salaries reported): $29,095 – $91,602
  • Glassdoor (59 reported salaries): $78,173 per year
  • Indeed (964 reported salaries): $14.13 per hour

As you can see, the salary ranges for delivery drivers (i.e. package delivery) varies greatly. Indeed has the most reported salaries, and $14.13 per hour is the most commonly reported figure.

We poked around on forums with UPS drivers, and most report that the $14.13 figure is starting pay for seasonal workers. Senior package drivers earn around $28 an hour, and get plenty of overtime at a rate of around $42 an hour. When considering overtime pay, many report earning around the $70,000/year mark.

Glassdoor’s figure appears to be in line with what senior drivers are paid (with overtime included), while Indeed’s figure is in line with starting salaries.

Freight Drivers

Freight drivers have a more demanding schedule, and are paid well for their services. As per UPS’ truckload mileage chart, freight drivers are paid as follows:

Domestic Drivers

  • Starting $0.32/mile
  • 10-years+: $0.435/mile

Dedicated Drivers

  • Starting: $0.31/mile
  • 10-years+: $0.43/mile

Team Drivers

  • Starting: $0.37/mile
  • 10-years+: $0.46/mile

All drivers receive a one-cent pay raise each year up until the tenth year of service. If you have at least five years of qualifying experience, you can may start at 5-year rate: $0.39/mile for domestic drivers, $0.38/mile for dedicated drivers and $0.42/mile for team drivers.

When digging through forum posts, we found that most freight drivers say they bring in about $27 an hour. With overtime, many generate salaries of $90,000 – $100,000 per year.

UPS says it pays tractor-trailer drivers $26 an hour, but we’ve seen many drivers reporting pay of $28 an hour.


As for benefits, UPS offers a solid package of medical insurance, life insurance, retirement, and tuition assistance benefits. Their Earn and Learn Program is also offers a great opportunity for college students to get the education they desire while earning good money. Drivers get to work part-time for UPS, while the company provides up to $5,250 per year in assistance (maximum $25,000). For anyone thinking of attending college, this is a great incentive to work for UPS.

For drivers looking for a solid company to work with, UPS may be a great option. The pay is competitive, drivers receive an adequate amount of downtime outside the holiday season, and the benefits are generous. If you have experience in the field, you stand a much better chance of being hired, but UPS is also known to take on rookie drivers.