CallataGuidesBusiness phone system for couriers and express delivery services in Massachusetts
203 couriers and express delivery services operated in Massachusetts in 2023. Where they are, how big their teams are, and what phone service costs them.
- Establishments
- 203CBP 2023
- Employees
- 19,454mid-March 2023
- Per 100k residents
- 2.8U.S. 3.2
- State rank
- 18th of 51by count
Couriers and express delivery services in Massachusetts by the numbers
Massachusetts had 203 couriers and express delivery services in 2023, according to Census County Business Patterns (NAICS 492110, Couriers and Express Delivery Services). They employed 19,454 people in mid-March and reported $924.3 million in annual payroll. That is the 18th highest count among the 51 states and DC with published figures. Couriers and express delivery services make up 0.11% of the 183,767 business establishments in the state.
Per 100,000 residents (2024 estimate) Massachusetts has 2.8 couriers and express delivery services, 10.9% below the national rate of 3.2. The average establishment has 95.8 employees against 95.4 nationally. Payroll per employee is $47,510, 11.2% below the U.S. figure of $53,476.
| Measure | Massachusetts | United States |
|---|---|---|
| Establishments | 203 | 10,859 |
| Mid-March employees | 19,454 | 1,036,160 |
| Annual payroll | $924,254,000 (moderate noise) | $55,409,968,000 (moderate noise) |
| Employees per establishment | 95.8 | 95.4 |
| Payroll per employee | $47,510 | $53,476 |
| Establishments per 100,000 residents | 2.8 | 3.2 |
Census County Business Patterns 2023 (mid-March employment; annual payroll). Employees and payroll flagged high-noise are shown but not used in the text. Residents: Census Vintage 2024 estimates.
Massachusetts's largest markets for couriers and express delivery services
Census published courier service counts for 8 metro or micropolitan areas that include part of Massachusetts. The largest is Boston, MA-NH, with 154 establishments (a multi-state area; its count covers every state it spans). Single-state metro and micropolitan areas account for 24% of the statewide total; the rest are outside any published area or in areas Census suppressed.
| Area | Establishments | Employees | Per 100k residents |
|---|---|---|---|
| Boston, MA-NH | 154 | 14,269 | 3.1 |
| Providence, RI-MA | 42 | 3,640 | 2.5 |
| Worcester, MA | 20 | 3,742 | 2.3 |
| Springfield, MA | 14 | 1,249 | 3.0 |
| Barnstable Town, MA | 6 | 383 | 2.6 |
| Greenfield, MA | 3 | — | 4.2 |
| Vineyard Haven, MA | 3 | 55 | 14.2 |
| Nantucket, MA | 3 | 34 | 20.4 |
Source: Census County Business Patterns 2023; population from Census Vintage 2024 estimates.
Team sizes at couriers and express delivery services in Massachusetts
31.2% of Massachusetts's couriers and express delivery services with employees had fewer than five people in March 2023, compared with 34.8% nationally. 43.6% had fewer than ten. At that size the phone is shared, so routing (who rings, when, and what happens after hours) matters more than the number of desk phones.
| Employment size | Establishments | Share | U.S. share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1–4 employees | 63 | 31.2% | 34.8% |
| 5–9 employees | 25 | 12.4% | 9.1% |
| 10–19 employees | 15 | 7.4% | 11.3% |
| 20–49 employees | 24 | 11.9% | 13.3% |
| 50 or more employees | 75 | 37.1% | 31.5% |
Employment-size classes count establishments by mid-March 2023 employment. Establishments with no March employees are excluded from the size classes, so shares are of establishments with employees. Source: Census County Business Patterns 2023.
Why the phone matters for couriers and express delivery services in Massachusetts
Local couriers are booked for time-sensitive deliveries, so a missed call is a missed job. Dispatch and drivers need to stay connected. That holds for couriers and express delivery services in Massachusetts as much as anywhere.
Typical inbound and outbound calls for couriers and express delivery services in Massachusetts:
- A law office calls for a same-day filing delivery.
- A lab calls for a specimen pickup.
- A business calls about recurring routes.
What couriers and express delivery services text about
Couriers text pickup confirmations and proof of delivery.
Texting from a local number in Massachusetts requires carrier registration (10DLC), a one-time $49 fee on Callata.
Phone system pricing for a 96-person courier service
Couriers and express delivery services in Massachusetts average 95.8 employees, so the comparison uses a 96-person team. Priced per seat, 96 users would run $2,880.00 a month on RingCentral RingEX Core and $2,395.20 on Ooma Office Pro (month-to-month list prices, checked September 28, 2026). Callata comes to $1,919.00 a month for 96 users ($99 a month with 5 users included, then $20 per additional user), below both.
Over a year, that is $11,532 less than RingCentral for a courier service in Massachusetts of that size. Annual contracts lower some competitors' prices, so compare the plan you would actually sign.
| Provider (plan) | Pricing basis | Per month | Per year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Callata (Callata Office) | $99 incl. 5 users, $20 per extra user | $1,919.00 | $23,028.00 |
| Quo (Starter) | $19.00 per user | $1,824.00 | $21,888.00 |
| Nextiva (Core) | $23.00 per user | $2,208.00 | $26,496.00 |
| Ooma (Office Pro) | $24.95 per user | $2,395.20 | $28,742.40 |
| Dialpad (Standard) | $27.00 per user | $2,592.00 | $31,104.00 |
| RingCentral (RingEX Core) | $30.00 per user | $2,880.00 | $34,560.00 |
Competitor prices are each vendor's published month-to-month list price per user for its lowest plan that includes business calling and texting, checked September 28, 2026: Quo Starter $19, Nextiva Core $23, Ooma Office Pro $24.95 (Essentials excludes texting; one-time $29.95 activation not included), Dialpad Standard $27, RingCentral RingEX Core $30 ($20 billed annually). Prices exclude taxes and fees and may change; annual contracts lower some competitors' prices.
Area codes in Massachusetts
Massachusetts has 9 geographic area codes in service according to NANPA. Callata includes up to 3 local numbers, so a courier service can hold a number in more than one of them.
| Area code | Exchanges | Time zone | In service since | Overlay with |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 978 | 773 | Eastern | 1997 | 351 |
| 781 | 769 | Eastern | 1997 | 339 |
| 617 | 768 | Eastern | 1947 | 857 |
| 508 | 749 | Eastern | 1988 | 774 |
| 413 | 602 | Eastern | 1947 | none |
| 774 | 524 | Eastern | 2001 | 508 |
| 857 | 362 | Eastern | 2001 | 617 |
| 339 | 104 | Eastern | 2001 | 781 |
| 351 | 92 | Eastern | 2001 | 978 |
Exchanges are NANPA-assigned central office codes (NPA-NXX) in the rate centers matched to the area's named places. Source: NANPA utilized code and NPA reports.
How Callata works for couriers and express delivery services in Massachusetts
Callata Office costs $99 per month for up to 5 people, and each additional user is $20 a month. That covers up to 3 local numbers, calling from a browser or your cell, transcribed voicemail, recorded calls with AI summaries, after-hours routing and E911 on each number.
Porting a number you already use in Massachusetts is free, and business texting is available once the carrier registration (10DLC) is approved; the registration carries a one-time $49 fee. Which specific numbers are open in a given area code depends on carrier inventory at the time you sign up.
AI agents are optional: an AI receptionist or scheduler can pick up when the team is busy or closed, take a message, send a text or email, or transfer the call. They draw on prepaid AI minutes ($0.25/minute), disclose that they are AI, and outbound AI calls require prior consent and are limited to 8am–9pm.
Frequently asked questions
How many couriers and express delivery services are in Massachusetts?
203 in 2023, according to Census County Business Patterns. They employed 19,454 people in mid-March.
Which Massachusetts metro area has the most couriers and express delivery services?
Boston, MA-NH, with 154 establishments in 2023.
What does a phone system cost a 96-person courier service?
$2,880.00 a month on RingCentral RingEX Core or $2,395.20 on Ooma Office Pro at month-to-month list prices (checked September 28, 2026); $1,919.00 on Callata ($99 a month with 5 users included, then $20 per additional user).
Do I need to register to text customers from a Massachusetts number?
Yes. US carriers require business texting from local numbers to be registered (10DLC). On Callata the registration is a one-time $49 fee, and texting turns on once it is approved.