Courier and Messenger Salary in Boston, MA
Couriers and Messengers in the Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH metro area earn a median $43,830 a year — 12% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $35,426 take-home, or $2,952 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median courier and messenger salary in Boston, MA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$3,080
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,717
- Medicare (1.45%)$636
- Massachusetts income tax$1,972
- Take-home pay$35,426
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 5.00% state
The Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH metro spans Massachusetts, New Hampshire. Pick the state you live in — state income tax follows your residence.
Courier and Messenger pay by experience in Boston, MA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $37,080 | $17.83 | $30,340 | $2,528 |
| 25th percentile | $38,640 | $18.58 | $31,515 | $2,626 |
| Median (50th) | $43,830 | $21.07 | $35,426 | $2,952 |
| 75th percentile | $48,370 | $23.25 | $38,847 | $3,237 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $60,800 | $29.23 | $48,213 | $4,018 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Massachusetts resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $43,830 buys in Boston, MA
Prices in Boston, MA are 8.3% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.48× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median courier and messenger's $35,426 take-home pay has the buying power of $32,721 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Courier and Messenger jobs are about as common in Boston, MA as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.90).
Best-paying cities for couriers and messengers, adjusted for cost of living
Boston, MA ranks #19 of 33 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Memphis, TN | $44,040 | $37,566 | $40,753 |
| 2 | Knoxville, TN | $42,610 | $36,417 | $39,341 |
| 3 | Nashville, TN | $42,800 | $36,570 | $37,960 |
| 4 | St. Louis, MO | $42,680 | $35,405 | $37,234 |
| 5 | Seattle, WA | $48,510 | $41,158 | $37,035 |
| 6 | Pittsburgh, PA | $42,250 | $34,831 | $36,791 |
| 7 | Denver, CO | $46,170 | $37,955 | $35,880 |
| 8 | Oklahoma City, OK | $38,970 | $32,284 | $35,710 |
| 19 | Boston, MA | $43,830 | $35,426 | $32,721 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 33 metros →
Frequently asked questions
How much does a courier and messenger make in Boston, MA?
The median courier and messenger salary in the Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH metro area is $43,830 a year, or about $21.07 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $38,640 and $48,370.
What is a courier and messenger’s take-home pay in Boston, MA?
On the median $43,830 salary, a single filer living in Massachusetts takes home about $35,426 a year ($2,952 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $1,972 in Massachusetts taxes in 2026.
Is Boston, MA a good place to work as a courier and messenger?
Pay here is 12% above the national median of $39,200. Local prices are 8.3% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $32,721 would in a typical U.S. city. Boston, MA ranks #19 of 33 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a courier and messenger afford rent in Boston, MA?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Boston, MA is $2,276 a month ($2,762 for two bedrooms) — 77% of a median courier and messenger’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Boston, MA
- Executive Secretary and Executive Administrative Assistant — $85,260
- First-Line Supervisor of Office and Administrative Support Workers — $77,990
- Eligibility Interviewers, Government Programs — $67,320
- Payroll and Timekeeping Clerk — $66,930
- Brokerage Clerk — $64,000
- Court, Municipal, and License Clerks — $62,850
- Legal Secretary and Administrative Assistant — $62,690
- Public Safety Telecommunicator — $62,660
- Postal Service Clerk — $62,610
- Postal Service Mail Carrier — $62,090
- Procurement Clerk — $61,700
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