Courier and Messenger Salary
Couriers and Messengers earn a median $39,200 a year nationally. Office and Administrative Support Occupations
U.S. median
$39,200
$18.85 per hour
Range
$31,550 – $50,330
10th to 90th percentile
Employed
68,640
across the U.S.
▲2.2%
Pay trend: The median for couriers and messengers in the U.S. rose from $38,340 (May 2024) to $39,200 (May 2025). That roughly kept pace with inflation (2.4%).
What couriers and messengers do
Pick up and deliver messages, documents, packages, and other items between offices or departments within an establishment or directly to other business concerns, traveling by foot, bicycle, motorcycle, automobile, or public conveyance.
- Typical education
- High school diploma or equivalent
- Work experience
- None required
- On-the-job training
- Short-term on-the-job training
- Job outlook, 2025–35
- +8.0% (faster than average)
- Openings per year
- 23,800
- Self-employed
- 70%
Employment of couriers and messengers is projected to grow 8.0% from 2025 to 2035, faster than the 3.5% average for all occupations. About 23,800 openings are expected each year, on average, including jobs left by workers who retire or switch careers.
Source: BLS Standard Occupational Classification and Employment Projections, 2025–35.
Courier and Messenger take-home pay calculator
Starts at the national median. Pick your state to see your real paycheck.
Your take-home pay
$33,677
per year · effective tax rate 14.1%
$2,806Monthly
$1,403Twice a month
$1,295Every 2 weeks
$16.19Hourly
- Federal income tax$2,524
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,430
- Medicare (1.45%)$568
- Texas income tax$0
- Take-home pay$33,677
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 0.00% state
Pay by experience
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home (no state tax) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $31,550 | $15.17 | $27,530 |
| 25th percentile | $36,070 | $17.34 | $31,162 |
| Median (50th) | $39,200 | $18.85 | $33,677 |
| 75th percentile | $45,280 | $21.77 | $38,562 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $50,330 | $24.20 | $42,620 |
Best cities for couriers and messengers (after tax & cost of living)
| # | Metro area | Median | Take-home | Real value* | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Los Angeles, CA | $43,760 | $36,033 | $31,728 | 3,030 |
| 2 | New York, NY | $41,140 | $33,611 | $29,860 | 6,690 |
*Take-home pay in U.S.-average dollars (BEA Regional Price Parities).
Highest-paying cities
- Los Angeles, CA — $43,760
- New York, NY — $41,140
Courier and Messenger salary by state
| State | Median | 1-yr change | Take-home | Range | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nevada | $46,520 | +9.5% | $39,559 | $31,700 – $49,980 | 530 |
| Washington | $46,500 | +5.3% | $39,543 | $38,380 – $55,370 | 1,190 |
| Vermont | $45,600 | +15.2% | $37,726 | $36,190 – $46,140 | 50 |
| District of Columbia | $45,210 | +2.7% | $36,960 | $37,930 – $55,540 | 120 |
| Oregon | $45,170 | +7.9% | $35,351 | $35,110 – $58,960 | 850 |
| Colorado | $45,140 | +1.2% | $37,172 | $30,890 – $60,330 | 640 |
| California | $44,970 | +0.8% | $36,941 | $36,200 – $57,360 | 7,240 |
| Minnesota | $44,860 | +2.2% | $36,644 | $36,640 – $58,480 | 440 |
| Utah | $42,840 | +3.0% | $35,640 | $36,730 – $47,560 | 850 |
| Massachusetts | $42,380 | +0.3% | $34,333 | $35,560 – $56,510 | 1,560 |
| Alaska | $41,720 | +6.5% | $35,702 | $37,100 – $48,180 | 160 |
| Maine | $41,710 | +4.2% | $34,060 | $38,020 – $48,770 | 40 |
| Missouri | $41,410 | +4.8% | $34,444 | $33,560 – $47,950 | 1,060 |
| New Jersey | $40,870 | +2.9% | $34,306 | $34,150 – $51,590 | 2,100 |
| New Hampshire | $40,630 | +5.2% | $34,826 | $26,350 – $53,980 | 190 |
| Tennessee | $40,270 | +9.8% | $34,537 | $33,360 – $46,940 | — |
| Montana | $40,080 | +3.4% | $33,257 | $27,040 – $50,500 | 60 |
| Pennsylvania | $39,700 | +5.6% | $32,860 | $30,520 – $48,950 | 3,330 |
| Connecticut | $39,480 | — | $33,051 | $35,300 – $54,980 | 650 |
| Georgia | $39,400 | +6.1% | $32,416 | $29,340 – $47,900 | 2,100 |
| Texas | $39,260 | +5.2% | $33,725 | $30,900 – $49,490 | 4,710 |
| Maryland | $39,140 | +3.0% | $32,133 | $33,850 – $49,850 | 770 |
| Illinois | $39,100 | −1.5% | $31,806 | $32,520 – $47,550 | 1,340 |
| North Carolina | $39,100 | +2.2% | $32,545 | $28,120 – $47,280 | 3,350 |
| Arizona | $38,980 | +4.7% | $32,735 | $31,200 – $46,330 | 820 |
| Oklahoma | $38,910 | −0.5% | $32,239 | $29,470 – $44,170 | 1,220 |
| Delaware | $38,760 | +3.2% | $31,849 | $33,960 – $46,810 | 170 |
| New York | $38,740 | −2.6% | $31,813 | $35,190 – $56,840 | 7,320 |
| Hawaii | $38,580 | +2.9% | $31,705 | $36,410 – $45,250 | 270 |
| New Mexico | $38,570 | +4.8% | $32,480 | $28,310 – $43,240 | 400 |
| Iowa | $38,460 | +1.9% | $32,273 | $32,180 – $42,840 | 580 |
| Kansas | $38,370 | +8.0% | $31,669 | $28,210 – $48,000 | 580 |
| Ohio | $38,320 | +1.7% | $32,699 | $31,200 – $44,860 | 1,710 |
| North Dakota | $38,090 | +4.6% | $32,785 | $31,740 – $48,150 | 40 |
| Michigan | $37,940 | +2.2% | $31,303 | $30,830 – $45,420 | 1,500 |
| Virginia | $37,820 | −1.5% | $31,208 | $31,180 – $54,910 | 2,010 |
| Florida | $37,740 | +2.7% | $32,504 | $31,100 – $46,270 | 4,910 |
| Indiana | $37,270 | −0.5% | $31,056 | $31,640 – $50,910 | 990 |
| Arkansas | $37,070 | +4.6% | $30,733 | $27,600 – $43,690 | 300 |
| Wisconsin | $36,910 | −0.7% | $30,994 | $29,770 – $45,960 | 2,560 |
| Rhode Island | $36,810 | −4.2% | $30,993 | $31,200 – $47,290 | 160 |
| South Carolina | $36,710 | +3.8% | $30,631 | $25,000 – $46,040 | 1,380 |
| Idaho | $36,110 | −3.3% | $30,389 | $26,150 – $45,660 | 410 |
| Kentucky | $35,880 | −1.3% | $29,871 | $25,580 – $42,390 | 750 |
| Mississippi | $35,780 | +2.4% | $30,230 | $25,700 – $42,550 | 590 |
| West Virginia | $34,890 | −6.4% | $29,285 | $29,640 – $39,440 | 240 |
| Alabama | $34,820 | +9.3% | $28,682 | $27,020 – $45,230 | 720 |
| Nebraska | $34,600 | +17.0% | $29,286 | $28,790 – $46,420 | 470 |
| Louisiana | $33,490 | +13.4% | $28,471 | $22,980 – $44,630 | 1,030 |
| Wyoming | $31,680 | −17.1% | $27,635 | $23,000 – $57,510 | 70 |
| South Dakota | $31,650 | −5.2% | $27,611 | $30,260 – $40,910 | 80 |
Related jobs
| Job | Median salary | Education | Growth 2025–35 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shipping, Receiving, and Inventory Clerks | $45,260 | High school diploma or equivalent | -7.6% |
| Weighers, Measurers, Checkers, and Samplers, Recordkeeping | $46,380 | High school diploma or equivalent | -4.8% |
| Meter Readers, Utilities | $48,150 | High school diploma or equivalent | -10.5% |
| Dispatchers, Except Police, Fire, and Ambulance | $50,340 | High school diploma or equivalent | -0.7% |
| Cargo and Freight Agent | $52,260 | High school diploma or equivalent | +6.2% |
| Public Safety Telecommunicator | $53,040 | High school diploma or equivalent | +3.7% |
| Postal Service Mail Sorters, Processors, and Processing Machine Operators | $58,470 | No formal educational credential | -5.3% |
| Production, Planning, and Expediting Clerks | $59,650 | High school diploma or equivalent | -1.3% |
| Postal Service Mail Carrier | $60,550 | No formal educational credential | -0.3% |
| Postal Service Clerk | $62,130 | No formal educational credential | -0.3% |
Frequently asked questions
How much does a courier and messenger make?
The national median salary for couriers and messengers is $39,200 a year ($18.85 an hour). The lowest-paid 10% earn under $31,550 and the top 10% earn over $50,330. Source: BLS, May 2025.
Which state pays couriers and messengers the most?
Nevada has the highest median pay at $46,520. After taxes and local prices, Los Angeles, CA offers the best real take-home pay of any metro area.
How many couriers and messengers are there in the U.S.?
About 68,640 people work as couriers and messengers nationwide.