Courier and Messenger Salary in Los Angeles, CA
Couriers and Messengers in the Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA metro area earn a median $43,760 a year — 12% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $36,033 take-home, or $3,003 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median courier and messenger salary in Los Angeles, CA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$3,071
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,713
- Medicare (1.45%)$635
- California income tax$740
- CA State Disability Insurance (SDI)$569
- Take-home pay$36,033
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 4.00% state
Got an offer somewhere else? Compare it with this one after taxes and rent →
Courier and Messenger pay by experience in Los Angeles, CA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $37,210 | $17.89 | $31,117 | $2,593 |
| 25th percentile | $39,530 | $19.00 | $32,858 | $2,738 |
| Median (50th) | $43,760 | $21.04 | $36,033 | $3,003 |
| 75th percentile | $47,940 | $23.05 | $39,151 | $3,263 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $54,910 | $26.40 | $44,242 | $3,687 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, California resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $43,760 buys in Los Angeles, CA
Prices in Los Angeles, CA are 13.6% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.70× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median courier and messenger's $36,033 take-home pay has the buying power of $31,728 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 Los Angeles, CA as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 1.09).
Best-paying cities for couriers and messengers, adjusted for cost of living
Los Angeles, CA ranks #1 of 2 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Los Angeles, CA | $43,760 | $36,033 | $31,728 |
| 2 | New York, NY | $41,140 | $33,611 | $29,860 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 2 metros →
About the job: couriers and messengers
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)
Source: BLS Standard Occupational Classification and Employment Projections, 2025–35.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a courier and messenger make in Los Angeles, CA?
The median courier and messenger salary in the Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA metro area is $43,760 a year, or about $21.04 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $39,530 and $47,940.
What is a courier and messenger’s take-home pay in Los Angeles, CA?
On the median $43,760 salary, a single filer living in California takes home about $36,033 a year ($3,003 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $1,309 in California taxes in 2026.
Is Los Angeles, CA a good place to work as a courier and messenger?
Pay here is 12% above the national median of $39,200. Local prices are 13.6% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $31,728 would in a typical U.S. city. Los Angeles, CA ranks #1 of 2 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a courier and messenger afford rent in Los Angeles, CA?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Los Angeles, CA is $2,245 a month ($2,755 for two bedrooms) — 75% of a median courier and messenger’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
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