How much does FedEx pay per hour?
FedEx lists a pay range on its U.S. job postings, so current postings are the most reliable answer. Here is what package handler and courier listings for Federal Express Corporation showed on the FedEx careers site on October 8, 2026.
| Role | Location | Posted hourly pay |
|---|---|---|
| Package handler, part time | Knoxville, Tennessee | $17.70 to $18.70 |
| Package handler, part time | Jamestown, New York | $18.60 to $19.10 |
| Package handler | Bloomington, California | $21.65 to $24.15 |
| Package handler, part time | San Francisco, California | $22.75 to $25.75 |
| Courier/DOT, full time | Kernersville, North Carolina | $22.10 |
| Courier/DOT, part time | Norfolk, Virginia | $22.10 to $33.84 |
FedEx postings say actual pay depends on experience, market, schedule and other job-related factors. When a posting covers several job levels, as the Norfolk courier listing does, the range runs from the lowest level to the highest, so ask which level you are being hired into.
For a wider view, BLS reported these national medians for May 2025:
- Hand laborers and freight, stock and material movers: $19.35 an hour
- Light truck drivers, the category for drivers of vans and small trucks that pick up and deliver packages: $21.57 an hour
What does a FedEx package handler do and earn?
Package handlers load, unload and sort packages in a warehouse-like building. FedEx says part-time handlers usually work 3 to 6 hours per shift based on package volume, and seasonal handler jobs open around the holidays. Postings add that part-time handlers work one shift a day, while full-time handlers work two shifts totaling 6 to 10 hours.
Casual package handlers are a separate category. They work up to 24 hours a week when they are available and are not eligible for benefits unless a law requires it.
FedEx is a large part-time employer. Its annual report says it had about 230,000 permanent part-time employees as of May 31, 2026, and that its part-time team members are primarily package handlers at sorting locations.
How much does FedEx pay a year?
Because many handler jobs are part time, weekly hours change your yearly total as much as the rate does. Multiply the hourly rate by weekly hours, then by 52.
| Hourly rate | 15 hours a week | 25 hours a week | 40 hours a week |
|---|---|---|---|
| $17.70 (Knoxville handler start) | $13,806 | $23,010 | $36,816 |
| $21.65 (Bloomington handler start) | $16,887 | $28,145 | $45,032 |
| $22.10 (North Carolina courier) | $17,238 | $28,730 | $45,968 |
| $22.75 (San Francisco handler start) | $17,745 | $29,575 | $47,320 |
Here is how a typical part-time week adds up. Five shifts of 4 hours at the Knoxville starting rate of $17.70 is 20 hours, or $354 a week before taxes. Because FedEx pays handlers weekly, that is roughly what each gross paycheck would show, and it adds up to $18,408 over 52 weeks. A full-time schedule at the same rate is $708 a week.
These are gross figures before taxes. For take-home pay by state near the Knoxville rate, see the $18 an hour salary breakdown.
What do FedEx couriers make?
FedEx couriers drive company vehicles to deliver and pick up packages and handle customer service along the route. The Norfolk posting requires a high school diploma or GED, a license for the vehicle, the ability to lift 50 pounds, a medical exam under federal motor carrier rules and a minimum age of 21.
Not every FedEx delivery driver works for FedEx. The company’s annual report says it uses about 5,300 service providers for certain linehaul and pickup and delivery operations, and that under its Network 2.0 plan it uses both employee couriers and service providers, market by market. FedEx treats those service providers as the direct employers of their drivers, so their pay is set by the contractor and does not appear on the FedEx careers site. If a driver job is not posted at careers.fedex.com under Federal Express Corporation, ask who the employer is.
Package handler or courier: which FedEx job pays more?
In the postings we checked, couriers start higher, but the job comes with stricter requirements.
| Package handler | Courier/DOT | |
|---|---|---|
| Posted pay (October 2026 examples) | $17.70 to $25.75 an hour | $22.10 to $33.84 an hour |
| Typical work | Loading, unloading and sorting packages | Driving a route, delivering and picking up packages, customer contact |
| Schedule | Part time: one shift of 3 to 6 hours a day; full time: two shifts | Full-time and part-time openings |
| Extra requirements | Physical warehouse work | Age 21 or older, a license for the vehicle, a medical exam and the ability to lift 50 pounds |
| BLS national median, May 2025 | $19.35 (hand material movers) | $21.57 (light truck drivers) |
If you meet the driving requirements, a courier role is the bigger pay step. Before you accept either job, ask about the schedule so you can estimate yearly pay:
“Could you tell me the shift start time, the usual hours per shift in a normal week and during peak season, and whether this position is part time, full time or casual?”
What benefits come with FedEx pay?
The Knoxville package handler posting lists these benefits for Federal Express Corporation employees:
- Weekly pay for full-time and part-time openings
- Tuition reimbursement of $5,250 a year with no lifetime cap, available from the first day of employment
- Paid time off that grows to as much as 5 weeks a year
- Medical, dental and vision coverage after a short waiting period
- Paid parental leave for both parents
- Employee discounts and a free career development program called Purple Pathways
FedEx’s annual report adds that the company covers about 70% of total eligible health costs for people enrolled in its plans, and that employee-only medical coverage starts as low as $0 a month in premiums.
How does FedEx pay compare with minimum wage?
Tennessee has no state minimum wage law, so the federal $7.25 applies to most jobs. The Knoxville handler start of $17.70 is more than double that floor. See the Tennessee minimum wage page for the details.
California’s statewide minimum is $16.90 in 2026, and the Bloomington handler start of $21.65 is $4.75 higher. Use the minimum wage by state table to check the floor where you live.
Does FedEx pay overtime?
Yes. FedEx package handler postings say overtime is paid after 40 hours a week. Under federal law, nonexempt workers must receive at least 1.5 times their regular rate for those hours, so $17.70 becomes $26.55 an hour for overtime. Run your own numbers with the overtime calculator.
How can you raise your pay at FedEx?
- Choose the building with care. Starting rates in the postings above differed by $5.05 an hour between Knoxville and San Francisco, so compare nearby facilities.
- Go full time. Full-time handlers work two shifts a day, generally 6 to 10 hours, compared with 3 to 6 hours for part-time handlers.
- Move to a driving role. If you are 21 or older and meet the driving rules, courier postings start at $22.10, compared with a $19.35 national median for hand material movers.
- Use the tuition benefit. $5,250 a year is worth about $5.05 an hour over a year of 20-hour weeks if you are paying for school anyway.
- Compare warehouse employers. See how much Amazon pays for a second set of warehouse and delivery rates.
How do you prepare for a FedEx interview?
Package handler postings describe fast, physical warehouse work with a strong focus on safety, and courier postings add driving rules and customer contact. Expect questions about lifting, working early or late shifts, following safety procedures and showing up reliably during peak season.
FedEx does not have its own quiz on JobQuix, so practice with the warehouse interview quiz, which covers the same kind of work.
Job requirements and benefits can differ by location and employee group, so confirm the details in your offer letter before you accept.
JobQuix is not affiliated with FedEx. Pay and hiring practices change; check the company’s careers site for current details.