Career comparison
Delivery Driver vs. Vending Machine Technician
Side-by-side pay, training, growth and day-to-day duties to help you choose between two related careers.
Vending machine technicians earn more at the median ($47,450 vs. $44,860), 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. Vending machine technicians service and repair vending, kiosk and arcade machines on a route.
Pay data: BLS OEWS, May 2025 · Outlook: BLS 2025–35 · Checked October 15, 2026
| Delivery Driver | Vending Machine Technician | |
|---|---|---|
| Median pay | $44,860 ($21.57/hr) | $47,450 ($22.81/hr) |
| Pay range (10th–90th) | $30,800 – $80,310 | $34,320 – $66,370 |
| Job growth, 2025–35 | +6.3% (faster than average) | -3.4% (a projected decline) |
| Openings per year | 107,200 | 3,800 |
| Typical entry education | High school diploma or equivalent | High school diploma or equivalent |
| Training time | 1–2 weeks | A few weeks on the job |
| Key credential | Valid driver’s license | EPA 608 |
| Work setting | Drivers spend most of the day in vans or small trucks, stepping in and out at every stop. | Technicians drive routes to offices, schools, arcades and factories.. |
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
Vending Machine Technician
- Repair vending machines
- Fix payment readers
- Service refrigeration
- Install machines
- Update software
How they’re similar
Both careers involve working independently and travel. They sit in different fields, transportation & logistics and mechanics, maintenance & manufacturing, but share transferable skills such as time management and reliability.
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 vending machine technician if…
- I like fixing machines
- I like driving routes
- I like working alone
Still torn? Take the Delivery Driver fit quiz and the Vending Machine Technician fit quiz, or the full Career Match Quiz.
Quick comparisons
Which pays more, delivery driver or vending machine technician?
Vending Machine Technicians earn more at the median: $47,450 versus $44,860 for delivery drivers, based on BLS May 2025 data.
Which takes less time to train for?
Delivery Drivers typically train faster (1–2 weeks) than vending machine technicians (A few weeks on the job).
Which career has better job growth?
BLS projects delivery drivers to grow +6.3% from 2025–35, compared with -3.4% for vending machine technicians.