Courier and Messenger Salary in St. Louis, MO
Couriers and Messengers in the St. Louis, MO-IL metro area earn a median $42,680 a year — 9% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $35,405 take-home, or $2,950 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median courier and messenger salary in St. Louis, MO. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$2,942
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,646
- Medicare (1.45%)$619
- Missouri income tax$1,069
- Take-home pay$35,405
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 4.70% state
The St. Louis, MO-IL metro spans Missouri, Illinois. Pick the state you live in — state income tax follows your residence.
Courier and Messenger pay by experience in St. Louis, MO
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $35,330 | $16.99 | $29,844 | $2,487 |
| 25th percentile | $38,660 | $18.59 | $32,364 | $2,697 |
| Median (50th) | $42,680 | $20.52 | $35,405 | $2,950 |
| 75th percentile | $46,970 | $22.58 | $38,650 | $3,221 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $47,950 | $23.05 | $39,392 | $3,283 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Missouri resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $42,680 buys in St. Louis, MO
Prices in St. Louis, MO are 4.9% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 21% below the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median courier and messenger's $35,405 take-home pay has the buying power of $37,234 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 St. Louis, MO as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.92).
Best-paying cities for couriers and messengers, adjusted for cost of living
St. Louis, MO ranks #4 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 |
*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 St. Louis, MO?
The median courier and messenger salary in the St. Louis, MO-IL metro area is $42,680 a year, or about $20.52 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $38,660 and $46,970.
What is a courier and messenger’s take-home pay in St. Louis, MO?
On the median $42,680 salary, a single filer living in Missouri takes home about $35,405 a year ($2,950 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $1,069 in Missouri taxes in 2026.
Is St. Louis, MO a good place to work as a courier and messenger?
Pay here is 9% above the national median of $39,200. Local prices are 4.9% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $37,234 would in a typical U.S. city. St. Louis, MO ranks #4 of 33 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a courier and messenger afford rent in St. Louis, MO?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in St. Louis, MO is $989 a month ($1,211 for two bedrooms) — 34% of a median courier and messenger’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in St. Louis, MO
- First-Line Supervisor of Office and Administrative Support Workers — $68,590
- Executive Secretary and Executive Administrative Assistant — $63,500
- Postal Service Mail Carrier — $62,070
- Postal Service Clerk — $61,050
- Payroll and Timekeeping Clerk — $59,190
- Postal Service Mail Sorters, Processors, and Processing Machine Operators — $56,390
- Public Safety Telecommunicator — $56,250
- Production, Planning, and Expediting Clerks — $51,260
- Information and Record Clerks, All Other — $51,210
- Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks — $49,970
- Loan Interviewer and Clerk — $49,790
- Dispatchers, Except Police, Fire, and Ambulance — $49,650