Courier and Messenger Salary in Milwaukee, WI
Couriers and Messengers in the Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI metro area earn a median $36,560 a year — 7% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $30,728 take-home, or $2,561 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median courier and messenger salary in Milwaukee, WI. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$2,207
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,267
- Medicare (1.45%)$530
- Wisconsin income tax$828
- Take-home pay$30,728
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 4.40% state
Courier and Messenger pay by experience in Milwaukee, WI
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $29,770 | $14.31 | $25,571 | $2,131 |
| 25th percentile | $35,770 | $17.20 | $30,128 | $2,511 |
| Median (50th) | $36,560 | $17.58 | $30,728 | $2,561 |
| 75th percentile | $43,690 | $21.00 | $36,144 | $3,012 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $46,680 | $22.44 | $38,414 | $3,201 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Wisconsin resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $36,560 buys in Milwaukee, WI
Prices in Milwaukee, WI are 3.1% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 3% below the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median courier and messenger's $30,728 take-home pay has the buying power of $31,699 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Milwaukee, WI has 2.6× the national concentration of courier and messenger jobs — a strong local market for this occupation.
Best-paying cities for couriers and messengers, adjusted for cost of living
Milwaukee, WI ranks #29 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 |
| 29 | Milwaukee, WI | $36,560 | $30,728 | $31,699 |
*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 Wisconsin
- Madison, WI — $41,080
Frequently asked questions
How much does a courier and messenger make in Milwaukee, WI?
The median courier and messenger salary in the Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI metro area is $36,560 a year, or about $17.58 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $35,770 and $43,690.
What is a courier and messenger’s take-home pay in Milwaukee, WI?
On the median $36,560 salary, a single filer living in Wisconsin takes home about $30,728 a year ($2,561 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $828 in Wisconsin taxes in 2026.
Is Milwaukee, WI a good place to work as a courier and messenger?
Pay here is 7% below the national median of $39,200. Local prices are 3.1% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $31,699 would in a typical U.S. city. Milwaukee, WI ranks #29 of 33 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a courier and messenger afford rent in Milwaukee, WI?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Milwaukee, WI is $1,119 a month ($1,338 for two bedrooms) — 44% of a median courier and messenger’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Milwaukee, WI
- Executive Secretary and Executive Administrative Assistant — $74,240
- First-Line Supervisor of Office and Administrative Support Workers — $73,970
- Public Safety Telecommunicator — $62,130
- Postal Service Mail Carrier — $61,130
- Payroll and Timekeeping Clerk — $60,510
- Legal Secretary and Administrative Assistant — $59,830
- Production, Planning, and Expediting Clerks — $59,190
- Postal Service Mail Sorters, Processors, and Processing Machine Operators — $58,300
- Insurance Claim and Policy Processing Clerk — $53,980
- Dispatchers, Except Police, Fire, and Ambulance — $51,860
- Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks — $50,920
- Bill and Account Collector — $50,360