Courier and Messenger Salary in Houston, TX
Couriers and Messengers in the Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX metro area earn a median $40,370 a year — 3% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $34,617 take-home, or $2,885 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median courier and messenger salary in Houston, TX. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$2,664
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,503
- Medicare (1.45%)$585
- Texas income tax$0
- Take-home pay$34,617
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 0.00% state
Courier and Messenger pay by experience in Houston, TX
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $33,990 | $16.34 | $29,491 | $2,458 |
| 25th percentile | $37,830 | $18.19 | $32,576 | $2,715 |
| Median (50th) | $40,370 | $19.41 | $34,617 | $2,885 |
| 75th percentile | $45,100 | $21.68 | $38,418 | $3,201 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $50,500 | $24.28 | $42,757 | $3,563 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Texas resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $40,370 buys in Houston, TX
Prices in Houston, TX are 1.4% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.05× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median courier and messenger's $34,617 take-home pay has the buying power of $35,098 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 less concentrated in Houston, TX than nationally (location quotient 0.75), so openings may be scarcer.
Best-paying cities for couriers and messengers, adjusted for cost of living
Houston, TX ranks #11 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 |
| 11 | Houston, TX | $40,370 | $34,617 | $35,098 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 33 metros →
Courier and Messenger salaries elsewhere in Texas
- Dallas, TX — $41,860
Frequently asked questions
How much does a courier and messenger make in Houston, TX?
The median courier and messenger salary in the Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX metro area is $40,370 a year, or about $19.41 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $37,830 and $45,100.
What is a courier and messenger’s take-home pay in Houston, TX?
On the median $40,370 salary, a single filer living in Texas takes home about $34,617 a year ($2,885 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare in 2026.
Is Houston, TX a good place to work as a courier and messenger?
Pay here is 3% above the national median of $39,200. Local prices are 1.4% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $35,098 would in a typical U.S. city. Houston, TX ranks #11 of 33 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a courier and messenger afford rent in Houston, TX?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Houston, TX is $1,316 a month ($1,558 for two bedrooms) — 46% of a median courier and messenger’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Houston, TX
- Executive Secretary and Executive Administrative Assistant — $74,850
- First-Line Supervisor of Office and Administrative Support Workers — $65,990
- Postal Service Clerk — $64,670
- Postal Service Mail Carrier — $62,070
- Production, Planning, and Expediting Clerks — $57,600
- Postal Service Mail Sorters, Processors, and Processing Machine Operators — $55,350
- Financial Clerks, All Other — $54,680
- Payroll and Timekeeping Clerk — $54,090
- Cargo and Freight Agent — $50,220
- Public Safety Telecommunicator — $50,200
- Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks — $49,460
- Loan Interviewer and Clerk — $49,220