The package carrier UPS said Monday that it will hire 2,000 seasonal and permanent employees in the Boston area in anticipation of a busy holiday season.
More than 700 of the openings are at a Chelmsford warehouse. The company said hourly wages for drivers' helpers start at $9.50; delivery drivers, at $18.75. Seasonal package handlers, who start at between $10 and $11 per hour, will get a $100-per-week bonus through early January.
Last year, UPS was caught off-guard by a rush in last-minute orders in the days before Christmas. Nationally, the company expects to hire 90,000 to 95,000 temporary employees to deal with the sharp rise in demand that's expected this holiday season.