A UPS driver went viral on social media after revealing his weekly paycheck. The video sparked widespread discussion about the earnings of delivery drivers.
Skyler Stutzman, an Oregon-based UPS delivery driver, shared the video to promote pay transparency, and his short clip has accumulated more than 12.4 million views since it was published in October.
“I love when l come across content creators who share their pay stubs […] and the transparency of how their wages are broken down.”
UPS driver’s paycheck goes viral
Stutzman earned $2,004.98 in a week, before tax. He makes $44.26 per hour, and took home approximately $1,313.24 for a 42-hour week (after $487.49 and $204.25 other deductions). The stub was for the period of September 9 to 16.
For that week, he made $1,770 regular pay (40 hours), along with $183.24 in overtime 2.76 hours, and a production bonus of $51.34. Up to that point, Stutzman had worked 1,736 hours for the year, for a total of $76,243.08.
How to become a UPS delivery driver
Stutzman said he started working for UPS in 2008. He worked in the warehouse for six years before being offered a full-time driving position.
He had to attend a one-week driving school class before starting a 30-day probation period. After that, drivers spend four years before progressing to a top-rate tier.
Stutzman says it’s not fair to talk about his wage increase since new UPS drivers “have their own established four-year progression rate before they become top-rate. When you put all the math together, I’m one month shy of ten years before I became a full-scale, full-time UPS driver.”
UPS driver salaries explained
Back in July 2023, a massive UPS strike was averted when the Teamsters union and the shipping giant reached an agreement. The union “demanded the best contract in the history of UPS, and we got it,” said Teamster general president Sean M. O’Brien at the time.
Thanks to this deal, a full-time driver who signs a five-year contract could make roughly $170,000 per year. Part-time union employees already employed “will be making at least $25.75 per hour while receiving full health care and pension benefits,” UPS CEO Carol Tomé said.
Other union demands included air conditioning in larger vehicles, as well as sprinter vans and package cars with fans and air induction vents. UPS also agreed to recognize Martin Luther King Jr Day in January as a holiday, and drivers won’t be required to work overtime on days they are scheduled to have off.
NOW READ: Pizza Hut: Wage hike leads to 1,200 delivery driver layoffs
About the author
Cheryl has contributed to various international publications, with a fervor for data and technology. She explores the intersection of emerging tech trends with logistics, focusing on how digital innovations are reshaping industries on a global scale. When she's not dissecting the latest developments in AI-driven innovation and digital solutions, Cheryl can be found gaming, kickboxing, or navigating the novel niches of consumer gadgetry.
