Courier and express agent (Fachkraft für Kurier-, Express- und Postdienstleistungen)
A job driven by the growth of e-commerce, quick to enter and at the heart of parcel delivery.
The profession
The courier and express agent sorts, routes and delivers parcels, mail and express shipments, and plans delivery tours.
Salary
During the apprenticeship, about 585 to 690 €/month outside a collective agreement, far more at large employers (for example Deutsche Post from about 1,334 €/month). On entry, about 1,500 to 2,000 €/month, mid-career around 2,500 €, up to about 2,900 € (source: gehalt.de, 2025). It is the lowest-paid of the five roles; pay follows a sector agreement, above the statutory minimum wage (13.90 €/h in 2026).
Duration and path
The training lasts 2 years, alternating between the company and the vocational school, and ends with the chamber of commerce (IHK) exam.
Employers hiring
Deutsche Post DHL, Hermes, DPD, GLS, UPS, FedEx, Amazon Logistics.
Prospects
Prospects are supported by the growth of e-commerce and parcel volumes.
Career progression
You can move up to team leader, tour planning or depot management.
Language level
The vocational school, the exam and the work all take place in German. B2 is the standard employers expect, and that is the level we aim for.
Recognition and access
For an Ausbildung, no diploma recognition is required: you train directly in Germany and the qualification is recognised throughout the country. You need an Ausbildung contract, the expected German level and, generally, a secondary school leaving certificate.
Visa
Entry is via the vocational training visa (Ausbildung). Once qualified, you switch to a skilled worker permit to work in Germany. We check your eligibility and prepare the application with you.
Your Karriere Fähre support
We train you in German up to the required level, find the company and the Ausbildung contract, prepare the visa application and support you until you are settled in.
Frequently asked questions
- Is a driving licence useful?
- Yes, a category B licence is a real asset for delivery.
- Is it a physical and fast-paced job?
- Yes, the work is physical and demanding, with delivery tours to keep to.
Indicative gross ranges from public German sources (Federal Employment Agency, Entgeltatlas, Gehalt.de, StepStone, IHK). In logistics and transport, pay follows the collective agreement and the sector minimum wage, and varies by region, employer and experience. Recognition, visa and driving-licence rules change: always check your case with the competent German authorities.