A UPS worker who made $2,600 in one week explains how he did it

• A UPS worker said he worked 91 hours in the week leading up to Christmas.
• The package handler worked as a seasonal driver to earn over 50 hours of overtime pay.
• In the end, he made $2,670 before taxes for one week of work.

Even part-timers at UPS can make big bucks during the peak holiday season.

The internet seems to love talking about how highly compensated UPS drivers are for their services, and one package handler told BI it's true — if you're willing to work 80-plus hours a week.

Adrian De La Torre, 30, is an Oregon-based package handler (also known as a pre-loader) who earns $21 per hour for the part-time role. In December, he made $2,670 in one week for working 91.33 hours.

He worked an additional 51 hours of overtime between December 17 and December 23 at a rate of $31.50 an hour. After taxes, De La Torre took home closer to $1,850, but he credits his ability to hit such high hours to UPS's seasonal support driver (SSD) program.

Business Insider verified De La Torre's employment and payment information.

From November until the end of January, De La Torre told BI, he had the opportunity to work as both a package handler and delivery driver to earn extra weekly wages.

But, De La Torre said he "spent months preparing my mind and body" for the long workweeks.

In a post to the r/UPSers subreddit, De La Torre advised people to "prep early" by drinking water, doing some cardio, and getting at least six hours of sleep at night.

The package handler said he's lost about 65 pounds since starting at the company four years ago. But he said his preparation for the holiday season is worth it for the big checks.

Other Reddit users weren't so sure.

"Man props to you but they could offer me $10k and I'm not working fucking 91 hours in a single week," one comment read. "And I say that as a single dude with no kids. That's only 11 hours each day you're not working."

"90 hours in one week? I understand you want the money, but bro don't kill yourself," another user commented.

In August, the Teamsters union scored a deal with UPS that promised its top-rate drivers would receive $170,000 annually by the end of their five-year contract in 2028.

One UPS driver previously went viral online for his $2,400 paycheck, but he only worked 49 hours that week.

Since the contract, workers across industries have both admired and complained about the paychecks of UPS employees.