How Much Do Delivery Drivers Make in North Carolina? What you need to know!

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Delivery driving takes many forms, from picking up crops in rural areas to delivering packages in the suburbs or bringing food to city dwellers. However, the wages for delivery drivers can vary significantly depending on location.

As of mid-2021, a nationwide shortage of drivers—especially truckers—has disrupted supply chains, potentially driving up wages. Using data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), Circuit ranked the highest-paying states for delivery drivers based on average annual wages.

North Carolina by the Numbers

• Average annual wage: $36,487
• Average hourly wage: $17.54
• Total employment: 105,650

North Carolina’s logging and sawmill industries, which heavily rely on trucking, have faced a driver shortage during the pandemic. This shortage may be pushing wages up, providing drivers with better pay opportunities.

Highest Paying States for Delivery Drivers

1. Alaska: $48,893 (annual), $23.50 (hourly)
2. Washington: $46,173 (annual), $22.20 (hourly)
3. Massachusetts: $45,373 (annual), $21.81 (hourly)

Lowest Paying States for Delivery Drivers

1. Mississippi: $35,653 (annual), $17.14 (hourly)
2. South Carolina: $35,833 (annual), $17.23 (hourly)
3. Florida: $36,323 (annual), $17.47 (hourly)

Delivery drivers in North Carolina fall somewhere in the middle, but the industry’s labor shortage may mean a wage boost in the near future.

What do you think? How has the driver shortage affected wages and employment in your area?