UPS vs. FedEx: Which Employer Pays Best?

Boy, I don't know what all these people complaining about working at FedEx are talking about. I was a part time dock worker and made more money doing that than I ever made a any full time jobs I had before. Now I'm a driver, and even as an extra board bid I going to make a minimum of 55k. If just one or 2 of our guys retire then I will be in the 65 to 75 range, and if 3 guys retire then I'll be over 80k. I've only been driving since February, and I already make more than most of my supervisors.

My college age son is working at FedEx and from what I see, FedEx is not a business I would give a thumbs up as an employer. I've spent 35 years as a stockbroker and you guys treat your help like dogs.

I'm an open markets type of guy, a right to work type but in this instance, I would applaud a Union moving in to push back at the strange management style of the lower managers. I have no idea how upper management is at FedEx but lower management is terrible.

My college age son is working at FedEx and from what I see, FedEx is not a business I would give a thumbs up as an employer. I've spent 35 years as a stockbroker and you guys treat your help like dogs. I'm an open markets type of guy, a right to work type but in this instance, I would applaud a Union moving in and pushing back at the strange management style of the lower managers.

Not sure where your numbers come from. I'm a driver for UPS and I made $77,000 last year and will be very close to $80,000 this year. That's about average for my building. Of course I also average 47 hours a week. 8 hour days don't happen.

Ground and Home Delivery drivers do NOT work for Fedex. Though Fedex can terminate them whenever they feel necessary. In fact, I am a little leery posting this for I could lose my job due to slander. I will not go too much into detail. Just know, UPS and Fedex drivers do the SAME job but are treated differently. No package is treated any differently. Does anyone stop to consider the MANY hands those packages go through before making it to your front door? To the masses, make sure your address is correct BEFORE shipping it. Make sure your house numbers are easy to read from the road. Keep your dogs CONTAINED. And for god's sake, cut down low hanging branches if you have a long driveway! I've been doing this for 6 years and these are my biggest complaints. I deal with the company's horrid policies and I am able to pay my bills. I have no security, but I have a job. Make it easier on us drivers, or go to the store and get your merchandise....

also ups vaca is 1 additional week every 5 years ending at 6 weeks per year. Though I think after 1 year you do get a second week.

Honestly in my 8 years at ups 6 in management, I've never heard of any job called "courier" or "messenger" So I'd love to know exactly what job that salary data was taken from. Also why isn't Feeder driver (Big rig driver) listed here? I would think that is a pretty big job segment also. (Though one very hard to get at UPS without 10+ years in the company, and not easy until you have 20+ under your belt)

That being said, package car drivers (Brown trucks) can change alot, for at while it was a 7 year wait, but back in 2005 my hub (large processing center) had a slew of retirements and the wait list got down to people who had only worked for UPS for 2 years.

Most package car drivers have between 175 and 225 stops per 8 hour day. So yeah they are pretty busy though some I have spoken with have said they still manage a route that supposed to take 8 hours in 6 or 7 when they really try-- but still get paid for the 8 hours (That is the bonus spoken of by other posters).

Please explain some of these job classifications. Also why not include management? I've heard UPS's Full time management turnover is incredibly low, and I've only ever seen one full time supervisor quit or get fired (he quit, never seen one fired) in the whole time I have been there.

UPS counts loader/unloaders as package handlers... if Fedex isn't counting them as such... what exactly do those categorised as package handlers do?

Most UPS people who are package handlers and NOT loaders/unloaders make 1 dollar per hour MORE than the loaders/unloaders.

For pilots and account execs ok I can see it being apples to apples but on these two job classifications there needs to be clarification before a statement should be made.

Also I don't know if Fedex calls those who drive the delivery truck "couriers" or what but I know at UPS they are "Service Providers"

I know the top rate which every Service Provider is paid after 2.5years yields 60K a year, and the tractor trailer drivers usually clear 100K a year

What's the difference between a courier and a driver?

....UPS is a company that got to big for its own good...UPS can not handle thier work, so what they do is load the drivers up with excess stops and have them stay out untill 9pm or later....And the next day the driver is in the office for working too slow, [never because too much work] The low level mgrs. [on car sup] are too afraid to tell thier bosses that thier is too much work, so it will always be the drivers fault. Not a good place too work..If they did not pay well [and thank the union for that] most drivers would not stay with the UPS for long..........