Couriers in Russia began to earn more than doctors and IT specialists

The authors of the study associate this level of income with the great shortage of delivery drivers. In January-November alone, the number of open courier vacancies increased by more than 36% compared to the same period last year, while there were 9% fewer applicants.

In addition to high salaries, employers also offer couriers a flexible schedule with the ability to choose shifts, bonuses and additional benefits. The companies also expanded the portrait of the applicant: in addition to men between 25 and 40 years old, they began to hire students and retirees between 18 and 60 years old, analysts say.

The largest number of vacancies in couriers (44.5 thousand) during the indicated period was occupied by the logistics industry, among the top three are also retailers (21.6 thousand) and IT companies (14.2 thousand ). The highest salaries (150 thousand rubles) are offered to couriers by companies that provide services to the public. In all these sectors, salaries in January-November of this year grew at double-digit rates: in retail the average salary increased by 31%, in IT by 29% and in logistics by 27%.

The demand for mobile delivery drivers has almost doubled (by 98%), but the market need for car couriers has remained practically unchanged compared to 2023. According to business courier service Dalli, at least 200,000 are missing in Russia couriers and in the autumn-winter season companies need several times more employees.

Previously, the Ministry of Industry and Trade stated that delivery services pose a threat to the Russian economy as they drive employees away from important industries. According to the agency, at least 1.5 million couriers work in Russia, as well as approximately 500,000 packers, order pickers and other delivery people. These are “healthy and physically strong people” who are lacking in other economic sectors, said Nikita Kuznetsov, director of the internal trade development department at the Ministry of Industry and Trade.