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.
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 | Memphis, TN | $44,040 | $37,566 | $40,753 | 1,100 |
| 2 | Knoxville, TN | $42,610 | $36,417 | $39,341 | 620 |
| 3 | Nashville, TN | $42,800 | $36,570 | $37,960 | 1,360 |
| 4 | St. Louis, MO | $42,680 | $35,405 | $37,234 | 540 |
| 5 | Seattle, WA | $48,510 | $41,158 | $37,035 | 660 |
| 6 | Pittsburgh, PA | $42,250 | $34,831 | $36,791 | 600 |
| 7 | Denver, CO | $46,170 | $37,955 | $35,880 | 440 |
| 8 | Oklahoma City, OK | $38,970 | $32,284 | $35,710 | 620 |
| 9 | Salt Lake City, UT | $42,840 | $35,640 | $35,333 | 620 |
| 10 | Madison, WI | $41,080 | $34,161 | $35,114 | 500 |
| 11 | Houston, TX | $40,370 | $34,617 | $35,098 | 1,090 |
| 12 | Dallas, TX | $41,860 | $35,815 | $34,741 | 1,400 |
| 13 | Sacramento, CA | $44,760 | $36,783 | $34,483 | 470 |
| 14 | Portland, OR | $45,650 | $35,695 | $33,860 | 520 |
| 15 | San Francisco, CA | $47,840 | $39,078 | $33,800 | 940 |
| 16 | Washington, DC | $44,840 | $36,685 | $33,691 | 1,010 |
| 17 | Indianapolis, IN | $38,730 | $32,187 | $33,634 | 520 |
| 18 | Charlotte, NC | $39,110 | $32,553 | $33,440 | 1,100 |
| 19 | Boston, MA | $43,830 | $35,426 | $32,721 | 1,070 |
| 20 | Atlanta, GA | $39,720 | $32,656 | $32,637 | 1,380 |
| 21 | Philadelphia, PA | $40,340 | $33,355 | $32,524 | 1,530 |
| 22 | Detroit, MI | $39,670 | $32,620 | $32,523 | 620 |
| 23 | Tampa, FL | $38,100 | $32,793 | $32,504 | 680 |
| 24 | Chicago, IL | $41,130 | $33,337 | $32,180 | 810 |
| 25 | Orlando, FL | $37,820 | $32,568 | $32,113 | 770 |
*Take-home pay in U.S.-average dollars (BEA Regional Price Parities).
Highest-paying cities
- Seattle, WA — $48,510
- San Francisco, CA — $47,840
- Denver, CO — $46,170
- Portland, OR — $45,650
- Washington, DC — $44,840
- Sacramento, CA — $44,760
- Memphis, TN — $44,040
- Boston, MA — $43,830
- Los Angeles, CA — $43,760
- Salt Lake City, UT — $42,840
- Nashville, TN — $42,800
- St. Louis, MO — $42,680
- Knoxville, TN — $42,610
- San Diego, CA — $42,440
- Pittsburgh, PA — $42,250
Courier and Messenger salary by state
| State | Median | Take-home | Range | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nevada | $46,520 | $39,559 | $31,700 – $49,980 | 530 |
| Washington | $46,500 | $39,543 | $38,380 – $55,370 | 1,190 |
| Vermont | $45,600 | $37,726 | $36,190 – $46,140 | 50 |
| District of Columbia | $45,210 | $36,960 | $37,930 – $55,540 | 120 |
| Oregon | $45,170 | $35,351 | $35,110 – $58,960 | 850 |
| Colorado | $45,140 | $37,172 | $30,890 – $60,330 | 640 |
| California | $44,970 | $36,941 | $36,200 – $57,360 | 7,240 |
| Minnesota | $44,860 | $36,644 | $36,640 – $58,480 | 440 |
| Utah | $42,840 | $35,640 | $36,730 – $47,560 | 850 |
| Massachusetts | $42,380 | $34,333 | $35,560 – $56,510 | 1,560 |
| Alaska | $41,720 | $35,702 | $37,100 – $48,180 | 160 |
| Maine | $41,710 | $34,060 | $38,020 – $48,770 | 40 |
| Missouri | $41,410 | $34,444 | $33,560 – $47,950 | 1,060 |
| New Jersey | $40,870 | $34,306 | $34,150 – $51,590 | 2,100 |
| New Hampshire | $40,630 | $34,826 | $26,350 – $53,980 | 190 |
| Tennessee | $40,270 | $34,537 | $33,360 – $46,940 | — |
| Montana | $40,080 | $33,257 | $27,040 – $50,500 | 60 |
| Pennsylvania | $39,700 | $32,860 | $30,520 – $48,950 | 3,330 |
| Connecticut | $39,480 | $33,051 | $35,300 – $54,980 | 650 |
| Georgia | $39,400 | $32,416 | $29,340 – $47,900 | 2,100 |
| Texas | $39,260 | $33,725 | $30,900 – $49,490 | 4,710 |
| Maryland | $39,140 | $32,133 | $33,850 – $49,850 | 770 |
| Illinois | $39,100 | $31,806 | $32,520 – $47,550 | 1,340 |
| North Carolina | $39,100 | $32,545 | $28,120 – $47,280 | 3,350 |
| Arizona | $38,980 | $32,735 | $31,200 – $46,330 | 820 |
| Oklahoma | $38,910 | $32,239 | $29,470 – $44,170 | 1,220 |
| Delaware | $38,760 | $31,849 | $33,960 – $46,810 | 170 |
| New York | $38,740 | $31,813 | $35,190 – $56,840 | 7,320 |
| Hawaii | $38,580 | $31,705 | $36,410 – $45,250 | 270 |
| New Mexico | $38,570 | $32,480 | $28,310 – $43,240 | 400 |
| Iowa | $38,460 | $32,273 | $32,180 – $42,840 | 580 |
| Kansas | $38,370 | $31,669 | $28,210 – $48,000 | 580 |
| Ohio | $38,320 | $32,699 | $31,200 – $44,860 | 1,710 |
| North Dakota | $38,090 | $32,785 | $31,740 – $48,150 | 40 |
| Michigan | $37,940 | $31,303 | $30,830 – $45,420 | 1,500 |
| Virginia | $37,820 | $31,208 | $31,180 – $54,910 | 2,010 |
| Florida | $37,740 | $32,504 | $31,100 – $46,270 | 4,910 |
| Indiana | $37,270 | $31,056 | $31,640 – $50,910 | 990 |
| Arkansas | $37,070 | $30,733 | $27,600 – $43,690 | 300 |
| Wisconsin | $36,910 | $30,994 | $29,770 – $45,960 | 2,560 |
| Rhode Island | $36,810 | $30,993 | $31,200 – $47,290 | 160 |
| South Carolina | $36,710 | $30,631 | $25,000 – $46,040 | 1,380 |
| Idaho | $36,110 | $30,389 | $26,150 – $45,660 | 410 |
| Kentucky | $35,880 | $29,871 | $25,580 – $42,390 | 750 |
| Mississippi | $35,780 | $30,230 | $25,700 – $42,550 | 590 |
| West Virginia | $34,890 | $29,285 | $29,640 – $39,440 | 240 |
| Alabama | $34,820 | $28,682 | $27,020 – $45,230 | 720 |
| Nebraska | $34,600 | $29,286 | $28,790 – $46,420 | 470 |
| Louisiana | $33,490 | $28,471 | $22,980 – $44,630 | 1,030 |
| Wyoming | $31,680 | $27,635 | $23,000 – $57,510 | 70 |
| South Dakota | $31,650 | $27,611 | $30,260 – $40,910 | 80 |
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, Memphis, TN 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.
All 33 cities
- Atlanta, GA
- Boston, MA
- Buffalo, NY
- Charlotte, NC
- Chicago, IL
- Dallas, TX
- Denver, CO
- Detroit, MI
- Houston, TX
- Indianapolis, IN
- Jacksonville, FL
- Knoxville, TN
- Los Angeles, CA
- Madison, WI
- Memphis, TN
- Miami, FL
- Milwaukee, WI
- Nashville, TN
- New York, NY
- Oklahoma City, OK
- Orlando, FL
- Philadelphia, PA
- Phoenix, AZ
- Pittsburgh, PA
- Portland, OR
- Sacramento, CA
- Salt Lake City, UT
- San Diego, CA
- San Francisco, CA
- Seattle, WA
- St. Louis, MO
- Tampa, FL
- Washington, DC