Delivery Drivers
Overview
Snapshot
Summary
Delivery Drivers drive vans and cars to deliver goods.
Also known as: Van Driver.
Specialisations: Fast Food Delivery Driver, Grocery Deliverer, Meals on Wheels Driver, Taxi Truck Driver.
Formal qualifications are not essential to work as a Delivery Driver. Although some workers have a certificate II or III in driving operations.
Tasks
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determining the destinations of goods and most appropriate delivery routes
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manoeuvring vehicles into position for loading and unloading
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assisting with loading to ensure goods are arranged for ease of delivery and safely secured to avoid damage
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verifying loading documents
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arranging and performing unloading operations and obtaining certification of deliveries
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reporting vehicle maintenance needs
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may receive payments for deliveries and arrange accounts
Characteristics
-
Vocational Education and Training (VET)
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Informal or on-the-job
-
Practical
-
Administrative
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Light
-
Medium
-
Heavy
Outlook
JSA produces employment projections to show where likely future job opportunities may be. The latest data are for the five years from November 2021 to November 2026. Over this period, the number of workers:
- is expected to grow very strongly
- is likely to reach 92,900 by 2026.
Source: Jobs and Skills Australia Employment Projections to 2026.
Notes: The number employed includes people who work in this occupation as their main job. People who work in more than one job are counted against the occupation they work the most hours in.
Employment projections figures are rounded to the nearest 100. Calculations based on these rounded figures may result in differences to the numbers that are displayed on this page. Employment projections data (including occupations) can be downloaded from the Employment Projections page.
Number of Workers
Year | Employment |
---|---|
2011 | 47,300 |
2012 | 43,300 |
2013 | 40,800 |
2014 | 45,100 |
2015 | 45,900 |
2016 | 52,400 |
2017 | 51,500 |
2018 | 62,100 |
2019 | 68,200 |
2020 | 73,300 |
2021 | 80,700 |
2026 | 92,900 |
Source: ABS Labour Force Survey, ABS seasonally adjusted data to November 2021 and Jobs and Skills Australia Employment Projections to 2026.
Earnings and hours
Working arrangements
-
Around 52% of people employed as Delivery Drivers work full-time hours, in all their jobs combined. This is 14 percentage points below the all jobs average (66%).
Full-time workers work an average of 43 hours per week in their main job. This is similar to the all jobs average (44 hours per week).
Median full-time earnings are $1,140 per week, this is much lower than the all jobs median ($1,593):
- 3 in 4 workers earn more than $950
- 1 in 4 earn more than $1,290
Median hourly earnings are $27, this is lower than the all jobs median ($41 per hour).
Sources: Full-time share and full-time hours: ABS, 2016 Census, customised report. Compared to the all jobs average. Full-time median earnings and median hourly earnings: ABS, Survey of Employee Earnings and Hours, May 2021. Compared to all jobs median.
Weekly Earnings (Before Tax)
Earnings | Delivery Drivers | All Jobs Average |
---|---|---|
Full-Time Earnings | 1,140 | 1,593 |
Total Earnings | 0 | 0 |
Source: Based on ABS Survey of Employee Earnings and Hours, May 2021, Customised Report. Median weekly total cash earnings for full-time non-managerial employees paid at the adult rate. Earnings are before tax and include amounts salary sacrificed. Earnings can vary greatly depending on the skills and experience of the worker and the demands of the role. These figures should be used as a guide only, not to determine a wage rate.
Industries
Main industries
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Delivery Drivers work in industries like:
Source: ABS Labour Force Survey, annual average 2021.
Regions
Employment across Australia
NSW
VIC
QLD
SA
WA
TAS
NT
ACT
Employment by State and Territory (% Share)
State | Delivery Drivers | All Jobs Average |
---|---|---|
NSW | 32.8 | 31.6 |
VIC | 24.5 | 25.6 |
QLD | 21.1 | 20.0 |
SA | 7.1 | 7.0 |
WA | 10.3 | 10.8 |
TAS | 2.1 | 2.0 |
NT | 0.7 | 1.0 |
ACT | 1.5 | 1.9 |
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Around 61% of Delivery Drivers live in capital cities, similar to the all jobs average of 62%.
The regions with the largest share of workers are:
Source: Based on ABS Census 2016, Customised Report. Share of workers across Australian states, territories and regions, in this job compared to the all jobs average.
Worker profile
Age and gender
-
The median age of Delivery Drivers is 39 years. This is similar to the all jobs average of 40 years.
A large share of workers are aged 25 to 34 years.
Females make up 10% of the workforce. This is 38 percentage points below the all jobs average of 48%.
Source: Based on ABS Census 2016, Customised Report. Age profile and gender share compared to the all jobs average.
Age Profile (% Share)
Age Bracket | Delivery Drivers | All Jobs Average |
---|---|---|
15-19 | 9.2 | 5.0 |
20-24 | 14.7 | 9.3 |
25-34 | 19.5 | 22.9 |
35-44 | 16.1 | 22.0 |
45-54 | 18.9 | 21.6 |
55-59 | 9.2 | 9.0 |
60-64 | 7.4 | 6.0 |
65 and Over | 5.0 | 4.2 |
Median Age | 39 | 40 |
Source: Based on ABS Census 2016, Customised Report. Age profile of workers in this job compared to the all jobs average.
Employment Pathways
Education, training and experience
Formal qualifications are not essential to work as a Delivery Driver. Although some workers have a certificate II or III in driving operations.
Visit
- My Skills to compare Vocational Education and Training (VET) courses, providers and student outcomes.
- AAPathways website to explore Transport and Logistics Training Package VET training pathways.
Highest Level of Education (% Share)
Type of Qualification | Delivery Drivers | All Jobs Average |
---|---|---|
Post Graduate/Graduate Diploma or Graduate Certificate | 2.4 | 10.1 |
Bachelor degree | 8.5 | 21.8 |
Advanced Diploma/Diploma | 6.4 | 11.6 |
Certificate III/IV | 18.7 | 21.1 |
Year 12 | 31.1 | 18.1 |
Year 11 | 9.2 | 4.8 |
Year 10 and below | 23.8 | 12.5 |
Source: ABS Census 2016, Customised Report. Highest qualification completed by workers in this job (in any field of study). Qualifications needed by new workers might be different from the qualifications of workers already in the job.
Skills and Knowledge
Employers look for Delivery Drivers who are reliable, provide good customer service and can interact well with a variety of people.
Skills
Skills can be improved through training or experience.
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43%
Operation and controlControlling equipment or systems.
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41%
Active listeningListening to others, not interrupting, and asking good questions.
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41%
Critical thinkingThinking about the pros and cons of different ways to solve a problem.
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41%
Time managementManaging your own and other peoples' time to get work done.
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39%
Reading comprehensionReading work related information.
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39%
SpeakingTalking to others.
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36%
MonitoringKeeping track of how well work is progressing so you can make changes or improvements.
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36%
Operation monitoringWatching gauges, dials, or other indicators to make sure a machine is working properly.
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36%
WritingWriting things for co-workers or customers.
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34%
Serving othersLooking for ways to help people.
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32%
Social perceptivenessUnderstanding why people react the way they do.
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32%
Quality control analysisDoing tests and checking products, services, or processes to make sure they are working properly.
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30%
Judgment and decision makingFiguring out the pros and cons of different options and choosing the best one.
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30%
MathematicsUsing maths to solve problems.
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30%
Active learningBeing able to use what you have learnt to solve problems now and again in the future.
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29%
Complex problem solvingNoticing a problem and figuring out the best way to solve it.
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29%
Equipment maintenanceMaintaining equipment and deciding what maintenance will be needed in the future.
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29%
RepairingFixing machines or systems.
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27%
Coordination with othersBeing adaptable and coordinating work with other people.
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27%
TroubleshootingFiguring out why a machine or system went wrong and working out what to do about it.
Knowledge
These are important topics, subjects or knowledge areas.
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59%
Customer and personal serviceUnderstanding customer needs, providing good quality service, and measuring customer satisfaction.
-
48%
TransportationMoving people or goods by air, rail, sea, or road.
-
39%
Public safety and securityUse of equipment, rules and ideas to protect people, data, property, and institutions.
-
38%
Law and governmentHow our laws and courts work. Government rules and regulations, and the political system.
-
37%
English languageEnglish language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
-
35%
MechanicalMachines and tools, including their designs, uses, repair, and maintenance.
-
32%
Administration and managementBusiness principles involved in strategic planning, leadership, and coordinating people and resources.
-
30%
Sales and marketingShowing, promoting, and selling including marketing strategy, product demonstration, sales techniques, and sales control systems.
-
29%
Education and trainingCurriculum and training design, teaching and instruction for individuals and groups, and the measurement of training effects.
-
28%
MathematicsArithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, or statistics.
-
24%
GeographyDescribing land, sea, and air, including their physical characteristics, locations, how they work together, and the location of plant, animal, and human life.
-
24%
Computers and electronicsCircuit boards, processors, chips, electronic equipment, and computer hardware and software, including applications and programming.
-
21%
Communications and mediaMedia production, communication, and dissemination. Includes written, spoken, and visual media.
-
20%
Production and processingRaw materials, production processes, quality control, costs, and ways of making and distributing goods.
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19%
PsychologyHuman behaviour; differences in ability, personality, and interests; learning and motivation; research methods; assessing and treating disorders.
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18%
ClericalWord processing, managing files and records, stenography and transcription, designing forms, and other office work.
-
17%
TelecommunicationsTransmission, broadcasting, switching, control, and operation of telecommunications systems.
-
16%
Personnel and human resourcesRecruiting and training people, managing pay and other entitlements (like sick leave), and negotiating pay and conditions.
-
14%
PhysicsThe physical laws of matter, motion and energy, and how they interact through space and time.
-
9%
Building and constructionMaterials, and methods used to construct or repair houses, buildings, or other structures like highways and roads.
Abilities
Workers use these physical and mental abilities..
-
54%
Oral expressionCommunicate by speaking.
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52%
Static strengthLift, push, pull, or carry things.
-
48%
Far visionSee details that are far away.
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46%
Oral comprehensionListen to and understand what people say.
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45%
Near visionSee details that are up-close (within a few feet).
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45%
Spatial orientationKnow where things are around you.
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45%
Response orientationQuickly choose the right movement of the hand, foot, or other body part when there are two or more different signals (lights, sounds, pictures).
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43%
Multilimb coordinationUse your arms and/or legs at the same time while sitting, standing, or lying down.
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43%
Control precisionQuickly change the controls of a machine, car, truck or boat.
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43%
MultitaskingDo two or more things at the same time.
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43%
Reaction timeQuickly move your hand, finger, or foot when a sound, light, picture or something else appears.
-
43%
Written comprehensionRead and understand written information.
-
41%
Extent flexibilityBend, stretch, twist, or reach with your body, arms, and/or legs.
-
41%
Manual dexterityQuickly move your hand to grasp, manipulate, or assemble objects.
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41%
Selective attentionPay attention to something without being distracted.
-
39%
Deductive reasoningUse general rules to find answers or solve problems logically.
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39%
Depth perceptionDecide which thing is closer or further away from you, or decide how far away it is.
-
39%
Problem spottingNotice when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong, even if you can't solve the problem.
-
39%
Sorting or orderingOrder or arrange things in a pattern or sequence (e.g., numbers, letters, words, pictures, mathematical operations).
-
39%
Speech claritySpeak clearly so others can understand you.
Activities
These are kinds of activities workers regularly do in this job.
-
70%
Handling and moving objectsUsing hands and arms in handling, installing, positioning, moving and manipulating objects.
-
60%
Building good relationshipsBuilding good working relationships and keeping them over time.
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56%
Communicating with the publicGiving information to the public, business or government by telephone, in writing, or in person.
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55%
Looking for changes over timeComparing objects, actions, or events. Looking for differences between them or changes over time.
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55%
Communicating within a teamGiving information to co-workers by telephone, in writing, or in person.
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54%
Planning and prioritising workDeciding on goals and putting together a detailed plan to get the work done.
-
53%
Monitoring people, processes and thingsChecking objects, actions, or events, and keeping an eye out for problems.
-
52%
Researching and investigatingLooking for, getting and understanding different kinds of information.
-
51%
Working with the publicGreeting or serving customers, clients or guests, and public speaking or performing.
-
51%
Driving vehicles or equipmentRunning, manoeuvring, navigating, or driving things like forklifts, vehicles, aircraft, or water craft.
-
48%
Doing physically active workUse your arms, legs and whole body, such as climbing, lifting, balancing, walking, stooping, and handling objects.
-
47%
Collecting and organising informationCompiling, coding, categorizing, calculating, tabulating, auditing, or checking information or data.
-
42%
Checking for errors or defectsInspecting equipment, structures, or materials for errors, problems or defects.
-
41%
Assessing and evaluating thingsWorking out the value, importance, or quality of things, services or people.
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41%
Keeping your knowledge up-to-dateKeeping up-to-date with technology and new ideas.
-
39%
Making decisions and solving problemsUsing information to work out the best solution and solve problems.
-
39%
Checking compliance with standardsDeciding whether events or processes comply with laws, regulations, or standards.
-
38%
Estimating amounts, costs and resourcesWorking out sizes, distances, amounts, time, costs, resources, or materials needed for a task.
-
36%
Documenting or recording informationEntering, transcribing, recording, storing, or maintaining information in written or electronic/magnetic form.
-
35%
Making sense of information and ideasLooking at, working with, and understanding data or information.
Interests and demands
Learn about the daily activities, and physical and social demands faced by workers. Explore the values and work styles that workers rate as most important.
Interests
Interests are the style or type of work we prefer to do. All interest areas are shown below.
-
100%
PracticalPractical, hands-on work. Often with plants and animals, or materials like wood, tools, and machinery.
-
76%
AdministrativeFollowing set procedures and routines. Working with numbers and details more than with ideas, usually following rules.
-
43%
EnterprisingStarting up and carrying out projects. Leading people and making many decisions. Sometimes require risk taking and often deal with business.
-
38%
AnalyticalIdeas and thinking. Searching for facts and figuring out problems in your head.
-
14%
CreativeWorking with forms, designs and patterns. Often need self-expression and can be done without following rules.
-
14%
HelpingWorking with people. Helping or providing service to others.
Values
-
67%
SupportSupportive management that stands behind employees. Workers are treated fairly by their company, they are supported by management, and have supervisors who train them well.
-
43%
IndependenceWork alone and make decisions. Workers are able to try out their own ideas, make decisions on their own, and work with little or no supervision.
-
38%
Working conditionsJob security and good working conditions. There is usually a steady flow of interesting work, and the pay and conditions are generally good.
-
33%
RelationshipsServe and work with others. Workers usually get along well with each other, do things to help other people, and are rarely pressured to do things that go against their sense of right and wrong.
-
29%
AchievementResults oriented. Workers are able to use their strongest abilities, giving them a feeling of accomplishment.
-
29%
RecognitionAdvancement and the potential to lead. Workers are recognised for the work that they do, they may give directions and instructions to others, and they are looked up to in their company and their community.
Demands
-
93%
Contact with peopleHave contact with people by telephone, face-to-face, or any other way.
-
92%
In an enclosed vehicle or equipmentWork in a closed vehicle (e.g., car).
-
89%
Time pressureWork to strict deadlines.
-
84%
Face-to-face discussionsTalk with people face-to-face.
-
82%
Frequent decision makingFrequently make decisions that impact other people.
-
82%
Outdoors, exposed to weatherWork outdoors, exposed to the weather.
-
77%
Contact with the publicWork with customers or the public.
-
77%
Being exact or accurateBe very exact or highly accurate.
-
76%
Impact of decisionsMake decisions that have a large impact on other people.
-
76%
Exposure to contaminantsBe exposed to pollutants, gases, dust or odours.
-
75%
Freedom to make decisionsHave freedom to make decision on your own.
-
75%
TeamworkWork with people in a group or team.
-
74%
TelephoneTalk on the telephone.
-
73%
Physically close to peopleWork physically close to other people.
-
70%
Using your hands to handle, control, or feelSpend time using your hands to handle, control, or feel objects, tools or controls.
-
70%
Very hot or cold temperaturesWork in very hot or cold temperatures.
-
68%
Unstructured workHave freedom to decide on tasks, priorities, and goals.
-
67%
Consequence of errorWork where mistakes have serious consequences.
-
66%
CompetitionCompete with others, or be aware of competitive pressures.
-
66%
Making repetitive motionsSpend time making repetitive motions.
O*NET is a trademark of the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration.
The skills and importance ratings on this page are derived from the US Department of Labor O*NET Database Version 21.2, 53-3033.00 - Light Truck or Delivery Services Drivers.
Links and downloads
Research and reports
The Skills Priority List provides a current labour market rating and a future demand rating for nearly 800 occupations nationally. Current labour market ratings are available for occupations at a state and territory level.
Downloads
-
Occupation profiles data are available for download.
The Employment Projections are available for download.