Don’t be fooled by the myth of the $49 hourly wage of UPS full-time employees. That’s just a very few lucky people. Many small platform couriers earn 20 dollars per hour, deliver more than 200 parcels for 12 hours a day, and earn only 3,000 dollars a month.
After deducting the fuel cost, vehicle insurance and maintenance fee, there is only about 2,500 US dollars left. But the rent will account for 1,200 US dollars, plus nearly 1,000 US dollars for medical insurance and car insurance, which is just enough to cover the basic expenses, and I dare not even think about asking for sick leave. Inflation is still rising in 2025, and daily food prices are rising steadily, but their wage growth rate is far from catching up with the price increase.
What’s more chilling is that they don’t have paid leave, no unemployment protection, and it is difficult to defend their rights in labor disputes. Rumors of couriers who earn $8,000 a month are just the “facade” of the industry. Most low-level couriers travel on the streets for more than ten hours a day, earning hard-earned money, but they can’t even get a stable life.
This job seems to be free, but in fact it is helpless to be held hostage by life. With a meager salary and high costs and risks, this is the real survival status of countless low-level couriers in the United States.
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