Career comparison
Delivery Driver vs. Route Sales Driver
Side-by-side pay, training, growth and day-to-day duties to help you choose between two related careers.
Delivery drivers earn more at the median ($44,860 vs. $38,770), while delivery drivers usually get to work faster (1–2 weeks of training). Delivery drivers deliver packages and goods to homes and businesses on a daily route. Route sales drivers drive a route delivering products and taking orders from customers.
Pay data: BLS OEWS, May 2025 · Outlook: BLS 2025–35 · Checked October 15, 2026
| Delivery Driver | Route Sales Driver | |
|---|---|---|
| Median pay | $44,860 ($21.57/hr) | $38,770 ($18.64/hr) |
| Pay range (10th–90th) | $30,800 – $80,310 | $22,590 – $59,980 |
| Job growth, 2025–35 | +6.3% (faster than average) | +7.9% (much faster than average) |
| Openings per year | 107,200 | 45,500 |
| Typical entry education | High school diploma or equivalent | High school diploma or equivalent |
| Training time | 1–2 weeks | A few weeks of training |
| Key credential | Valid driver’s license | CDL |
| Work setting | Drivers spend most of the day in vans or small trucks, stepping in and out at every stop. | Drivers work in trucks and at customer locations.. |
What each job does
Delivery Driver
- Load and organize the vehicle by stop order
- Follow routes using navigation and route apps
- Scan, deliver and document packages
- Collect signatures and handle pickups and returns
- Inspect the vehicle before and after each shift
Route Sales Driver
- Drive routes
- Deliver products
- Stock shelves
- Take orders
- Collect payments
How they’re similar
Both careers involve working independently, travel, physical work, and in-demand. Both are part of the transportation & logistics field, so many skills transfer between them.
Which should you choose?
Choose delivery driver if…
- I like driving and being on the move
- I enjoy working on my own
- I can lift packages all day
Choose route sales driver if…
- I like driving
- I like customers
- I like sales
Still torn? Take the Delivery Driver fit quiz and the Route Sales Driver fit quiz, or the full Career Match Quiz.
Quick comparisons
Which pays more, delivery driver or route sales driver?
Delivery Drivers earn more at the median: $44,860 versus $38,770 for route sales drivers, based on BLS May 2025 data.
Which takes less time to train for?
Delivery Drivers typically train faster (1–2 weeks) than route sales drivers (A few weeks of training).
Which career has better job growth?
BLS projects route sales drivers to grow +7.9% from 2025–35, compared with +6.3% for delivery drivers.