Couriers and Messengers
Office and Administrative Support Occupations- O*NET-SOC code
- 43-5021.00
Pick up and deliver messages, documents, packages, and other items between offices or departments within an establishment or directly to other business concerns, traveling by foot, bicycle, motorcycle, automobile, or public conveyance.
- Data source: BLSPublished: 2026-08
Moderate· relative
LowFour relative bandsVery highGroup-level value
Scale, basis and source
Four relative bands (Low / Moderate / High / Very high)
831 detailed occupations in the BLS Employment Projections table. Assigned per National Employment Matrix (NEM) code, so occupations sharing a NEM code carry the same band
- Data source: AnthropicPublished: 2026-03
0.041
0.000Range of values carried here0.745Scale, basis and source
Observed exposure index, 0–1 as published
Mapped onto O*NET tasks
Published per SOC 2018 occupation; every O*NET occupation with the same SOC 2018 code carries this value
- Data source: ILOPublished: 2025
0.21–0.41· 4 ISCO-08 groups
Scale, basis and source
Generative AI exposure index, 0–1 as published
Published per ISCO-08 unit group. Linked to this occupation, wholly or in part, by applying U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics crosswalks (ISCO-08 to 2010 SOC, 2010 SOC to 2018 SOC) as published
What kind of figure this source publishes
The BLS category is a relative rank, not an absolute level, and it is not a first-hand measurement: it groups an occupation's percentile ranks across several published studies into four bands. It is not an employment or wage forecast, not a probability of adoption, and it does not separate automation from augmentation.
ILO value for each linked ISCO-08 group
- ISCO-08 4412Mail Carriers and Sorting Clerks0.41
- ISCO-08 8321Motorcycle Drivers0.25
- ISCO-08 9331Hand and Pedal Vehicle Drivers0.21
- ISCO-08 9621Messengers, Package Deliverers and Luggage Porters0.37
Task-level exposure
Exposed tasks only17 rated tasks · 6 tasks with β ≥ 0.5 (35.3%)
β = direct exposure (E1) + 0.5 × exposure when tools are available (E2), per the source repository's definition.
- Source unit: O*NET 27.2 tasks → O*NET 31.0 occupation code
- 1 rated task is not in the O*NET 31.0 task list; its score is kept as published for O*NET 27.2.
- Source
- OpenAI "GPTs are GPTs" exposure rubric
- Release
- gh-main-0471612
- License
- MIT License, Copyright (c) 2024 OpenAI
Values in this tab are predicted labels, not observations. Eloundou et al. (2023) published two rating regimes — human raters and GPT-4 — and the β shown here is derived from the GPT-4 rater basis alone; the same task can take a different value under the other regime. The unit and the meaning differ from the observed shares (%) in the other tabs, so do not place them on the same axis.
| Task (O*NET 27.2) | βE1 + 0.5 × E2 |
|---|---|
Receive messages or materials to be delivered, and information on recipients, such as names, addresses, telephone numbers, and delivery instructions, communicated via telephone, two-way radio, or in person.O*NET Task ID 7013 | 1.0 |
Record information, such as items received and delivered and recipients' responses to messages.O*NET Task ID 7018 | 1.0 |
Check with home offices after completed deliveries to confirm deliveries and collections and to receive instructions for other deliveries.O*NET Task ID 7019 | 1.0 |
Use telephone to deliver verbal messages.O*NET Task ID 7021 | 1.0 |
Plan and follow the most efficient routes for delivering goods.O*NET Task ID 7014 | 0.5 |
Sort items to be delivered according to the delivery route.O*NET Task ID 7016 | 0.5 |
Walk, ride bicycles, drive vehicles, or use public conveyances to reach destinations to deliver messages or materials.O*NET Task ID 7010 | 0.0 |
Load vehicles with listed goods, ensuring goods are loaded correctly and taking precautions with hazardous goods.O*NET Task ID 7011 | 0.0 |
Unload and sort items collected along delivery routes.O*NET Task ID 7012 | 0.0 |
Deliver messages and items, such as newspapers, documents, and packages, between establishment departments and to other establishments and private homes.O*NET Task ID 7015 | 0.0 |
Obtain signatures and payments, or arrange for recipients to make payments.O*NET Task ID 7017 | 0.0 |
Perform routine maintenance on delivery vehicles, such as monitoring fluid levels and replenishing fuel.O*NET Task ID 7020 | 0.0 |
Open, sort, and distribute incoming mail.O*NET Task ID 7022 | 0.0 |
Perform general office or clerical work, such as filing materials, operating duplicating machines, or running errands.O*NET Task ID 7023 | 0.0 |
Collect, seal, and stamp outgoing mail, using postage meters and envelope sealers.O*NET Task ID 7024 | 0.0 |
Unload goods from large trucks, and load them onto smaller delivery vehicles.O*NET Task ID 7025 | 0.0 |
Deliver and pick up medical records, lab specimens, and medications to and from hospitals and other medical facilities.O*NET Task ID 20903 | 0.0 |
β = E1 + 0.5 × E2 · E1 = tasks where direct LLM access alone cuts time by at least 50%, E2 = tasks where software built on top of an LLM cuts time by at least 50%. Values take only 0 / 0.5 / 1.0.
Data sources & licenses — O*NET®, Eloundou et al. (2023): see full notices on the Credits page
All O*NET 31.0 task statements (16)
All O*NET 31.0 task statements for this occupation (English, as published; task type core or supplemental). Exposure values are not listed here; they are in the table above, next to each task statement as worded in the O*NET version each source used.
| Task (O*NET 31.0) | Type |
|---|---|
| Walk, ride bicycles, drive vehicles, or use public conveyances to reach destinations to deliver messages or materials. | Core |
| Load vehicles with listed goods, ensuring goods are loaded correctly and taking precautions with hazardous goods. | Core |
| Unload and sort items collected along delivery routes. | Core |
| Receive messages or materials to be delivered, and information on recipients, such as names, addresses, telephone numbers, and delivery instructions, communicated via telephone, two-way radio, or in person. | Core |
| Plan and follow the most efficient routes for delivering goods. | Core |
| Deliver messages and items, such as newspapers, documents, and packages, between establishment departments and to other establishments and private homes. | Core |
| Sort items to be delivered according to the delivery route. | Core |
| Record information, such as items received and delivered and recipients' responses to messages. | Core |
| Perform routine maintenance on delivery vehicles, such as monitoring fluid levels and replenishing fuel. | Core |
| Deliver and pick up medical records, lab specimens, and medications to and from hospitals and other medical facilities. | Core |
| Obtain signatures and payments, or arrange for recipients to make payments. | Supplemental |
| Check with home offices after completed deliveries to confirm deliveries and collections and to receive instructions for other deliveries. | Supplemental |
| Use telephone to deliver verbal messages. | Supplemental |
| Open, sort, and distribute incoming mail. | Supplemental |
| Perform general office or clerical work, such as filing materials, operating duplicating machines, or running errands. | Supplemental |
| Unload goods from large trucks, and load them onto smaller delivery vehicles. | Supplemental |
1.49/ 3· Robot exposure index
Scale, basis and source
Each physical task is graded 0–3 by the setting in which robots that have been deployed, sold or demonstrated could do it (0 none · 1 purpose-built robot settings such as a fenced machine cell or a bottling line · 2 structured facilities such as a hospital pharmacy or a container port · 3 unstructured settings such as a private home or a construction site), and the grades are averaged by share of working time
Physical tasks among this occupation's O*NET 29.3 tasks
Anthropic estimated the grades and time shares with Claude Opus 5 using web search, as of 2026.
The robot exposure index is a different measure from the AI exposure figures on this site and cannot be added to or compared with them. It does not measure actual adoption or cost, and 0 also covers occupations with no physical tasks.
Tier of each physical task
Robot environment tiers (E0–E3)
E0 noneDetails
Rated not doable by robots that have been deployed, sold or demonstrated, even in a purpose-built setting
E1 purpose-built robot settingsDetails
Rated doable in a setting built around the machine, such as a fenced machine cell or a bottling line
E2 structured facilitiesDetails
Rated doable in a human work facility that an institution keeps to a working standard, such as a hospital pharmacy or a container port
E3 unstructured settingsDetails
Rated doable in a setting that no institution keeps to a working standard, such as a private home or a construction site
Only tasks classified as physical are listed; other tasks have no tier in the source.
| Task (O*NET 29.3) | Robot environment tier |
|---|---|
| Walk, ride bicycles, drive vehicles, or use public conveyances to reach destinations to deliver messages or materials. | E2 structured facilities |
| Load vehicles with listed goods, ensuring goods are loaded correctly and taking precautions with hazardous goods. | E1 purpose-built robot settings |
| Unload and sort items collected along delivery routes. | E1 purpose-built robot settings |
| Receive messages or materials to be delivered, and information on recipients, such as names, addresses, telephone numbers, and delivery instructions, communicated via telephone, two-way radio, or in person. | E2 structured facilities |
| Plan and follow the most efficient routes for delivering goods. | E2 structured facilities |
| Deliver messages and items, such as newspapers, documents, and packages, between establishment departments and to other establishments and private homes. | E2 structured facilities |
| Sort items to be delivered according to the delivery route. | E1 purpose-built robot settings |
| Perform routine maintenance on delivery vehicles, such as monitoring fluid levels and replenishing fuel. | E2 structured facilities |
| Deliver and pick up medical records, lab specimens, and medications to and from hospitals and other medical facilities. | E2 structured facilities |
| Perform general office or clerical work, such as filing materials, operating duplicating machines, or running errands. | E1 purpose-built robot settings |
| Collect, seal, and stamp outgoing mail, using postage meters and envelope sealers. | E1 purpose-built robot settings |
Occupation information
Employment outlook (BLS)
- Employment, 2025
- 229K
- Projected employment, 2035
- 247K
- Change (2025–35)
- +8%
- Median annual wage, 2025
- $39,200
- Typical education needed for entry
- High school diploma or equivalent
Korea classification links (KSCO)
Links from the current release of the Korea Occupation Direct Crosswalk v1.1, made by AI Changing Work. Relation values are read from the O*NET-SOC occupation side.
| KSCO code | KSCO title | Relation | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| 92230 | 늘찬배달원 | Same scope | confirmed |
| 92220 | 택배원 | Overlapping, not the same | confirmed |
| 92299 | 그 외 배달원 | Overlapping, not the same | confirmed |
| 92242 | 신문 정기배달원 | Related, not a match | confirmed |
| 92249 | 그 외 정기배달원 | Related, not a match | confirmed |
Relation and status definitions(kr-direct v1.1)
ILO occupational description
AI Changing Work links the ISCO-08 unit groups below to this occupation by applying the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics crosswalks (2018 SOC to 2010 SOC, 2010 SOC to ISCO-08) as published, without case-by-case selection; each link may be whole or partial.
- ISCO-08 4412Mail Carriers and Sorting Clerks
- ISCO-08 8321Motorcycle Drivers
- ISCO-08 9331Hand and Pedal Vehicle Drivers
- ISCO-08 9621Messengers, Package Deliverers and Luggage Porters
Sources: ILO ISCO-08 — details: Credits
ESCO occupational vocabulary
Each entry below is matched to this occupation in the published ESCO-O*NET Crosswalk (version 1, 2022). The match types are that crosswalk's; the wording is AI Changing Work's.
- bicycle courierESCO 9331.1This occupation is broader
Bicycle couriers collect and deliver packages and mail by bicycle.
- motorcycle delivery personESCO 8321.1This occupation is broader
Motorcycle delivery persons perform the transportation of all kinds of packets containing objects, loose pieces, prepared meals, medications and documents that require special treatment in terms of urgency, value or fragility. They transport and deliver their packets by motorcycle.
- postman/postwomanESCO 4412.2This occupation is broader
Postmen/Postwomen deliver mails and parcel posts to residences and businesses. They perform mail delivery and collect signatures from the recipients. They perform other duties in connection with mail services from post offices or related organisations.
Source: European Commission, DG EMPL — ESCO API 2026-08-08 (bridge v1.2.1)
License: CC BY 4.0 (EU Reuse Notice)
ESCO reuse terms and the modification notice are in Credits.
France classification links (ROME)
AI Changing Work's links between this occupation and ROME 4.0 job profiles, judged with AI models. Relations are read from this occupation's side. Links marked “provisional” were adopted on the judgments of two judges from the same model family (Claude) alone, or by an operator rule applied to their judgments, so they rest on weaker evidence than confirmed links.
| ROME code | ROME title (French) | Relation |
|---|---|---|
| N4104 | Coursier / Coursière | This occupation is narrowerprovisional |
| J1311 | Transporteur / Transporteuse de produits de santé | This occupation is broaderprovisional |
| M1615 | Distributeur / Distributrice de prospectus et imprimés | Related, not a match |
| M1603 | Facteur / Factrice | Related, not a matchprovisional |
| M1618 | Agent / Agente de liaison courrier | Related, not a matchprovisional |
Source: France Travail — Répertoire Opérationnel des Métiers et des Emplois (ROME 4.0), version 61, last updated 15 June 2026 (https://www.data.gouv.fr/datasets/repertoire-operationnel-des-metiers-et-des-emplois-rome). Licence Ouverte 2.0.
ROME codes and titles are reproduced unchanged; the links to O*NET-SOC occupations are AI Changing Work's own judgment and are not a France Travail correspondence.
(AI Changing Work link release: fr-direct v1)
Spain classification links (CNO-11)
AI Changing Work's links between this occupation and CNO-11 occupations, judged with AI models. Relations are read from this occupation's side.
| CNO-11 code | CNO-11 title (Spanish) | Relation |
|---|---|---|
| 8440 | Conductores de motocicletas y ciclomotores | This occupation is broaderprovisional |
| 4221 | Empleados de servicios de correos (excepto empleados de mostrador) | Overlapping, not the same |
| 9433 | Repartidores, recadistas y mensajeros a pie | Overlapping, not the same |
Source: Instituto Nacional de Estadística (INE), National Classification of Occupations 2011 (CNO-11, Royal Decree 1591/2010) — www.ine.es · Licensed CC BY 4.0. CNO-11 codes and Spanish titles are reproduced unchanged; the links to O*NET occupations are AI Changing Work's own judgment and are not an INE correspondence.
(AI Changing Work link release: es-direct v1)
Germany classification links (KldB)
AI Changing Work's links between this occupation and KldB occupations, judged with AI models. Relations are read from this occupation's side.
| KldB code | KldB title (German) | Relation |
|---|---|---|
| 52182 | Fahrzeugführer/innen im Straßenverkehr (sonstige spezifische Tätigkeitsangabe) - fachlich ausgerichtete Tätigkeiten | Overlapping, not the sameprovisional |
| 51321 | Berufe für Post- und Zustelldienste - Helfer-/Anlerntätigkeiten | Related, not a match |
| 51322 | Berufe für Post- und Zustelldienste - fachlich ausgerichtete Tätigkeiten | Related, not a match |
| 73231 | Berufe in der Steuerverwaltung - Helfer-/Anlerntätigkeiten | Related, not a matchprovisional |
Source: © Statistik der Bundesagentur für Arbeit — Klassifikation der Berufe 2010 – überarbeitete Fassung 2020, https://statistik.arbeitsagentur.de. KldB codes and titles are reproduced unchanged; the links to O*NET occupations are AI Changing Work's own mapping (eigene Zuordnung) and are not a Bundesagentur für Arbeit correspondence.
(AI Changing Work link release: de-direct v1)
Japan classification links (JSCO)
AI Changing Work's links between this occupation and JSCO occupations, judged with AI models. Relations are read from this occupation's side.
| JSCO code | JSCO title (Japanese) | Relation |
|---|---|---|
| 705 | 配達員 | This occupation is narrower |
Source: Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications (MIC), Japan Standard Occupational Classification (Dec. 2009, MIC Notification No. 555). JSCO codes and Japanese titles are reproduced unchanged; the links to O*NET occupations are AI Changing Work's own judgment and are not a MIC correspondence.
(AI Changing Work link release: jp-direct v1)
Sources, licenses and AI Changing Work's modification and translation notices for this page: Credits & sources