“220 thousand is not the limit”: Moscow courier announced earnings in December

According to recent research, in December, the earnings of Moscow couriers, due to the high demand for them before the New Year holidays, jumped up sharply and amounted to over 220 thousand rubles. In addition, in bad weather, the income of delivery workers (as well as taxi drivers) also increases significantly. MK spoke with couriers from Moscow and St. Petersburg about their real earnings and working hours during the busy December season. It turned out that 220 thousand during this period is not the limit.

Let us repeat that there is a difference between courier and courier. Firstly, it depends on what system he works in, and secondly, how busy his schedule is. That is why in discussions of couriers under such analytics there are such different reactions, someone writes “nonsense!”, and someone talks about 300 thousand… (but they don’t believe him). Again, it all depends on the endurance or desire of the person.

Vitaly works for a leading delivery service in Moscow. He is 30 years old. We asked him to comment on the December salaries given by hh.ru: bicycle couriers – 200,000 rubles, and auto couriers – 228,000 rubles.

Vitaly is just a car courier, he delivers groceries, food and all sorts of goods in his car.

— In general, couriers and taxi drivers (I also worked as a taxi driver, transporting people) currently earn good money in Moscow. But it really depends on how you work, how many hours a day,” says Vitaly. — And December is, yes, the most profitable month. Prices for the services of couriers and taxi drivers in bad weather (rain, snowfall) increase two or even three times. A courier earns from 5,000 to 12,000 rubles per day. depending on opening hours.

Usually I earn a net 130,000-170,000 rubles a month. And in December it can reach up to 350,000 with a full 12-hour working day.

But there are also bad months – January (from the middle of the month), February, early March, the smallest income comes during this period.

— Do you work seven days a week?

— I work 7/0. From 8 to 14 hours a day, it varies. All couriers have different workloads, they choose it for themselves. In general, we have such a saying – “as you drown, so will you burst.” I left at 5 am and work until 7-8 pm with a break for lunch. And some people drink coffee 7 times a day, which is why we have different incomes. I take all orders, and someone chooses.

Back in 2019, I earned 250-300,000 rubles by taxi in Moscow. clean. But few taxi drivers admit how much they earn; they all “have no money…”. On average, the “minimum wage” per hour for a taxi driver is 1000 rubles, but it can be higher. Yes, it’s clear that it’s hard to drive for 12 hours, but it’s better than freezing at a construction site for the same money.

– But a tired driver is a threat on the road…

– No, everything is fine, I rest for 8-9 hours, that’s enough.

At the same time, Vitaly has a family: a wife and two children.

For comparison, Denis, a courier from St. Petersburg, works in a different system and does not use a car. Denis is registered as self-employed, mainly working in flowers, as well as in delivering orders from one marketplace and a sports chain of stores. In St. Petersburg, the demand for delivery this December was lower than in Moscow.

— This December, unlike others, is very modest in terms of orders. And this applies to all services. Groceries, prepared food, flowers, gifts, household appliances, etc. My income in December this year increased by 30%, whereas in previous years in December the increase was 2 times. This month, as of December 22, my earnings amounted to 99,000 rubles. And in December 2022 – 195,000 rubles. In other months I usually earn about 95,000 rubles.

If last year in our service in December there were 700 orders for about 35 couriers, then this year in December there were 200 orders for 10 couriers. As the number of orders fell, the number of couriers also decreased. The outflow of migrants is very noticeable.

My last working day of the year is December 30th. And on the 31st, all the salads are already cut, they communicate… And only rarely does an order slip through with forgotten peas or crab sticks. And the 10 days of holidays over the past two or three years have been stormy only in prepared food delivery services.