43 Series · SOC 43-5021

Couriers and Messengers Salary

National pay, percentile range, growth outlook, and state-by-state detail from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS survey (May 2025).

$39,200
Median / year
$50,330
Top 10% earn
+8.2%
Growth '23–'33
68,640
US workers

Couriers and Messengers earn a median of $39,200 per year.

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS survey, the median annual wage is $39,200, based on the most recent survey of employers. Reported pay ranges from $31,550 (10th percentile) to $50,330 (90th percentile) nationally, across roughly 68,640 US workers. Nevada pays the most ($46,520), since pay varies by state and metro area.

43 Series · Source: BLS OEWS Compare with another job →
Share: Post LinkedIn

The pay verdict

Couriers and Messengers earn a median of $39,200, putting them among the lower-paid US occupations and higher than 11% of the 825 occupations with a published BLS median. Within Office and Administrative Support, it ranks #49 of 54 by median pay. Employment is projected to grow 8.2% by 2033.

$39,200
Median annual wage
Top 89%
of 825 US occupations with published wages
#49 of 54
in Office and Administrative Support
1.6×
90th-to-10th pay spread

Highest-paying state: Nevada at $46,520. Typical entry-level education: High school diploma or equivalent.

Couriers and Messengers (SOC 43-5021) pays a national median of $39,200 per year according to the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey released in May 2025. Full-range compensation stretches from $31,550 at the 10th percentile to $50,330 at the 90th, with a mean of $40,970 indicating a right-skew where top earners pull the average above the midpoint. An estimated 68,640 Americans work in this occupation across 54 reporting states and 277 metro areas.

BLS Employment Projections forecast a +8.2% change in employment from 2024 to 2034, which the agency classifies as much faster than average relative to the 5% all-occupations baseline. About 27,900 openings are projected per year, combining new positions with replacement needs from retirements and occupation-switchers. Typical entry-level preparation is High school diploma or equivalent and short-term on-the-job training of on-the-job training. The BLS Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries (CFOI) and Survey of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses (SOII) produce a workplace-safety grade of A for this role, with a fatality rate of 0.5 per 100,000 and injury rate of 1 per 100.

Geographic variation matters as much as the headline median. Nevada pays the highest state median at $46,520, which is +19% above the national figure. The top metro is San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA at $55,680 - metro premiums typically reflect higher cost of living, industry concentration, or specialized employer demand. When using this page for negotiation or career planning, pair the national median with the state and metro rows below, remember that BLS wages exclude benefits, bonuses, and overtime, and revisit after each May OEWS release since percentiles shift with cost-of-living cycles and industry demand. See our methodology for exactly how these figures are sourced, computed, and verified.

BLS OEWS May 2025 68,640 jobs Median $39,200/yr

Median Salary

$39,200

per year

Median Hourly

$18.85/hr

per hour

Mean Salary

$40,970

average

Employment

68,640

jobs nationwide

How does this pay compare nationally?

Where Couriers and Messengers pay sits nationally

Median annual wage vs. 825 detailed BLS occupations with a published median

$39,200 Bottom 11% higher than 11% of 825 US occupations

$0–$20,000: 0 US occupations (0%). Below this entry. $20,000–$40,000: 98 US occupations (12%). This entry sits in this band. $40,000–$60,000: 298 US occupations (36%). Above this entry. $60,000–$80,000: 209 US occupations (25%). Above this entry. $80,000–$100,000: 82 US occupations (10%). Above this entry. $100,000–$120,000: 58 US occupations (7%). Above this entry. $120,000–$140,000: 32 US occupations (4%). Above this entry. $140,000–$160,000: 14 US occupations (2%). Above this entry. $160,000–$180,000: 9 US occupations (1%). Above this entry. $180,000–$200,000: 25 US occupations (3%). Above this entry. This job $0 $200,000 every BLS occupation, bucketed by value

Each bar is a $20K-wide band; taller bars hold more US occupations. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.

Source U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS · May 2025

Does this job pay well and grow?

Each dot is a 43-series occupation, placed by projected 2024–2034 growth and median pay. The highlighted dot is Couriers and Messengers; the upper-right quadrant is the sweet spot (high pay + fast growth).

Among 24 43-series occupations with growth data, Couriers and Messengers sits on the faster-growing side at +8.2% growth and $39,200 median pay.

Among 24 43-series occupations with growth data, Couriers and Messengers sits on the faster-growing side at +8.2% growth and $39,200 median pay. Scatter plot of 24 data points. $30000$40000$50000$60000$70000$80000 -20%-10%0%10% Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) Median annual wage
Among 24 43-series occupations with growth data, Couriers and Messengers sits on the faster-growing side at +8.2% growth and $39,200 median pay.

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS (wages, May 2025) and Employment Projections (2024–2034).

Job Outlook (2024–2034)

Projected Growth

+8.2%

Much faster than average

Annual Openings

27,900

per year (projected)

Typical Education

High school diploma or equivalent

On-the-Job Training

Short-term on-the-job training

Source: BLS Employment Projections, 2024–2034

Workplace Safety

All safety ratings →
A

Very Safe

Safety Grade (BLS 2023)

Fatality Rate

0.5/100K

Injury Rate

1/100

Danger Index

4.3/100

Source: BLS Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries (CFOI) & Survey of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses (SOII), 2023

Career Intelligence

Skills, knowledge, and tasks most important for Couriers and Messengers roles, ranked by importance. Source: O*NET.

Top Skills

Active Listening 3.3
Speaking 3.3
Time Management 3.3
Reading Comprehension 3.0
Writing 3.0
Critical Thinking 3.0
Service Orientation 3.0
Judgment and Decision Making 2.9
Monitoring 2.8
Social Perceptiveness 2.8

Knowledge Areas

Customer and Personal Service 3.8
Transportation 3.8
English Language 3.5
Public Safety and Security 2.4
Administrative 2.3
Geography 2.2
Law and Government 2.1
Medicine and Dentistry 1.9
Administration and Management 1.9
Computers and Electronics 1.9

Key Tasks

  • Deliver and pick up medical records, lab specimens, and medications to and from hospitals and other medical facilities.
  • Obtain signatures and payments, or arrange for recipients to make payments.
  • Record information, such as items received and delivered and recipients' responses to messages.
  • Receive messages or materials to be delivered, and information on recipients, such as names, addresses, telephone numbers, and delivery instructions, communicated via telephone, two-way radio, or in person.
  • Load vehicles with listed goods, ensuring goods are loaded correctly and taking precautions with hazardous goods.
  • Walk, ride bicycles, drive vehicles, or use public conveyances to reach destinations to deliver messages or materials.
  • Sort items to be delivered according to the delivery route.
  • Deliver messages and items, such as newspapers, documents, and packages, between establishment departments and to other establishments and private homes.
  • Unload and sort items collected along delivery routes.
  • Plan and follow the most efficient routes for delivering goods.

Source: O*NET Online, National Center for O*NET Development. Data represents typical importance ratings for this occupation.

Salary Range

Annual Salary Distribution

$31,550$36,070$39,200$45,280$50,330
10th pct25thMedian75th90th pct

Hourly Rate Distribution

$15.17$17.34$18.85$21.77$24.20
10th pct25thMedian75th90th pct

10th Percentile

$31,550

25th Percentile

$36,070

Median

$39,200

75th Percentile

$45,280

90th Percentile

$50,330

Salary by State

View all 54 states →
# State Median Salary vs National
1 Nevada $46,520 +19% above national
2 Washington $46,500 +19% above national
3 Vermont $45,600 +16% above national
4 District of Columbia $45,210 +15% above national
5 Oregon $45,170 +15% above national
6 Colorado $45,140 +15% above national
7 California $44,970 +15% above national
8 Minnesota $44,860 +14% above national
9 Utah $42,840 +9% above national
10 Massachusetts $42,380 +8% above national
11 Alaska $41,720 +6% above national
12 Maine $41,710 +6% above national
13 Missouri $41,410 +6% above national
14 New Jersey $40,870 +4% above national
15 New Hampshire $40,630 +4% above national
16 Tennessee $40,270 +3% above national
17 Montana $40,080 +2% above national
18 Pennsylvania $39,700 +1% above national
19 Connecticut $39,480 +1% above national
20 Georgia $39,400 +1% above national
21 Texas $39,260 same as national
22 Maryland $39,140 same as national
23 Illinois $39,100 same as national
24 North Carolina $39,100 same as national
25 Arizona $38,980 1% below national
26 Oklahoma $38,910 1% below national
27 Delaware $38,760 1% below national
28 New York $38,740 1% below national
29 Hawaii $38,580 2% below national
30 New Mexico $38,570 2% below national
31 Iowa $38,460 2% below national
32 Kansas $38,370 2% below national
33 Ohio $38,320 2% below national
34 North Dakota $38,090 3% below national
35 Michigan $37,940 3% below national
36 Virginia $37,820 4% below national
37 Florida $37,740 4% below national
38 Indiana $37,270 5% below national
39 Arkansas $37,070 5% below national
40 Wisconsin $36,910 6% below national
41 Rhode Island $36,810 6% below national
42 South Carolina $36,710 6% below national
43 Idaho $36,110 8% below national
44 Kentucky $35,880 8% below national
45 Mississippi $35,780 9% below national
46 West Virginia $34,890 11% below national
47 Alabama $34,820 11% below national
48 Nebraska $34,600 12% below national
49 Louisiana $33,490 15% below national
50 Wyoming $31,680 19% below national
51 South Dakota $31,650 19% below national
52 Guam $26,400 33% below national
53 Puerto Rico $23,160 41% below national
54 Virgin Islands $21,840 44% below national

Salary by Metro Area

View all 277 metro areas →
# Metro Area Median Salary vs National
1 San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA $55,680 +42% above national
2 Eastern Washington nonmetropolitan area $52,100 +33% above national
3 Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA $48,510 +24% above national
4 San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA $47,840 +22% above national
5 Eastern Oregon nonmetropolitan area $47,740 +22% above national
6 Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI $47,160 +20% above national
7 Modesto, CA $47,020 +20% above national
8 Las Vegas-Henderson-North Las Vegas, NV $46,850 +20% above national
9 Scranton--Wilkes-Barre, PA $46,710 +19% above national
10 Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO $46,170 +18% above national
11 Napa, CA $46,060 +18% above national
12 Rochester, MN $46,000 +17% above national
13 Bellingham, WA $45,920 +17% above national
14 Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA $45,650 +16% above national
15 Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV $44,840 +14% above national
16 Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA $44,760 +14% above national
17 Fresno, CA $44,370 +13% above national
18 Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX $44,220 +13% above national
19 Duluth, MN-WI $44,200 +13% above national
20 Memphis, TN-MS-AR $44,040 +12% above national
21 Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ $43,920 +12% above national
22 Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH $43,830 +12% above national
23 Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA $43,760 +12% above national
24 Eugene-Springfield, OR $43,740 +12% above national
25 Akron, OH $43,240 +10% above national
26 Medford, OR $43,160 +10% above national
27 Salt Lake City-Murray, UT $42,840 +9% above national
28 Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN $42,800 +9% above national
29 St. Louis, MO-IL $42,680 +9% above national
30 Knoxville, TN $42,610 +9% above national
31 Fort Collins-Loveland, CO $42,490 +8% above national
32 San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA $42,440 +8% above national
33 Colorado Springs, CO $42,380 +8% above national
34 New Haven, CT $42,300 +8% above national
35 Salem, OR $42,280 +8% above national
36 Pittsburgh, PA $42,250 +8% above national
37 Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX $41,860 +7% above national
38 Anchorage, AK $41,720 +6% above national
39 Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford, CT $41,710 +6% above national
40 Winchester, VA-WV $41,480 +6% above national
41 Worcester, MA $41,420 +6% above national
42 Springfield, MO $41,410 +6% above national
43 New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ $41,140 +5% above national
44 Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN $41,130 +5% above national
45 Madison, WI $41,080 +5% above national
46 Ogden, UT $41,080 +5% above national
47 Kansas City, MO-KS $41,050 +5% above national
48 Kiryas Joel-Poughkeepsie-Newburgh, NY $41,030 +5% above national
49 Harrisburg-Carlisle, PA $40,980 +5% above national
50 Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA $40,910 +4% above national
51 Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX $40,370 +3% above national
52 Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD $40,340 +3% above national
53 Manchester-Nashua, NH $40,320 +3% above national
54 Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN $40,160 +2% above national
55 Trenton-Princeton, NJ $40,080 +2% above national
56 Durham-Chapel Hill, NC $40,050 +2% above national
57 Springfield, MA $40,010 +2% above national
58 Coast Oregon nonmetropolitan area $39,890 +2% above national
59 Charleston-North Charleston, SC $39,860 +2% above national
60 San Antonio-New Braunfels, TX $39,860 +2% above national
61 Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA $39,720 +1% above national
62 Kennewick-Richland, WA $39,710 +1% above national
63 Traverse City, MI $39,710 +1% above national
64 Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI $39,670 +1% above national
65 Raleigh-Cary, NC $39,650 +1% above national
66 Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA $39,630 +1% above national
67 Visalia, CA $39,600 +1% above national
68 Pueblo, CO $39,590 +1% above national
69 Albany, GA $39,480 +1% above national
70 Western North Carolina nonmetropolitan area $39,470 +1% above national
71 Cleveland, OH $39,410 +1% above national
72 Blacksburg-Christiansburg-Radford, VA $39,340 same as national
73 Barnstable Town, MA $39,290 same as national
74 Spartanburg, SC $39,290 same as national
75 York-Hanover, PA $39,290 same as national
76 Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA $39,270 same as national
77 Fort Wayne, IN $39,230 same as national
78 Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA $39,160 same as national
79 Tulsa, OK $39,160 same as national
80 Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD $39,140 same as national
81 Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC $39,110 same as national
82 North Port-Bradenton-Sarasota, FL $39,110 same as national
83 Redding, CA $39,110 same as national
84 Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ $39,100 same as national
85 Albuquerque, NM $39,080 same as national
86 Northwest Minnesota nonmetropolitan area $39,070 same as national
87 Dubuque, IA $39,020 same as national
88 Asheville, NC $38,980 1% below national
89 Topeka, KS $38,980 1% below national
90 Oklahoma City, OK $38,970 1% below national
91 Bridgeport-Stamford-Danbury, CT $38,910 1% below national
92 Toledo, OH $38,810 1% below national
93 Columbus, OH $38,790 1% below national
94 Palm Bay-Melbourne-Titusville, FL $38,780 1% below national
95 Cedar Rapids, IA $38,770 1% below national
96 Lincoln, NE $38,740 1% below national
97 Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood, IN $38,730 1% below national
98 Reno, NV $38,730 1% below national
99 Charlottesville, VA $38,580 2% below national
100 Longview, TX $38,580 2% below national
101 Urban Honolulu, HI $38,580 2% below national
102 El Paso, TX $38,570 2% below national
103 Saginaw, MI $38,550 2% below national
104 Gainesville, FL $38,520 2% below national
105 North Coast Region of California nonmetropolitan area $38,460 2% below national
106 Port St. Lucie, FL $38,420 2% below national
107 Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA $38,410 2% below national
108 Bakersfield-Delano, CA $38,390 2% below national
109 Burlington, NC $38,340 2% below national
110 Amarillo, TX $38,280 2% below national
111 Richmond, VA $38,270 2% below national
112 Boise City, ID $38,260 2% below national
113 Lansing-East Lansing, MI $38,200 3% below national
114 Little Rock-North Little Rock-Conway, AR $38,190 3% below national
115 Spokane-Spokane Valley, WA $38,190 3% below national
116 Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL $38,180 3% below national
117 Northwest Oklahoma nonmetropolitan area $38,130 3% below national
118 Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL $38,100 3% below national
119 Corvallis, OR $37,980 3% below national
120 Central East New York nonmetropolitan area $37,950 3% below national
121 Lubbock, TX $37,930 3% below national
122 Salinas, CA $37,920 3% below national
123 Southeast Oklahoma nonmetropolitan area $37,890 3% below national
124 Peoria, IL $37,850 3% below national
125 Naples-Marco Island, FL $37,840 3% below national
126 Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford, FL $37,820 4% below national
127 Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC $37,820 4% below national
128 St. Cloud, MN $37,790 4% below national
129 Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY $37,680 4% below national
130 Savannah, GA $37,670 4% below national
131 Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL $37,650 4% below national
132 Hawaii / Kauai nonmetropolitan area $37,620 4% below national
133 Kalamazoo-Portage, MI $37,560 4% below national
134 Columbia, SC $37,550 4% below national
135 Central New Hampshire nonmetropolitan area $37,540 4% below national
136 Rochester, NY $37,520 4% below national
137 Southwest New York nonmetropolitan area $37,520 4% below national
138 Greensboro-High Point, NC $37,510 4% below national
139 Stockton-Lodi, CA $37,510 4% below national
140 Huntington-Ashland, WV-KY-OH $37,470 4% below national
141 Rockford, IL $37,450 4% below national
142 Wilmington, NC $37,330 5% below national
143 Capital/Northern New York nonmetropolitan area $37,330 5% below national
144 North Central Tennessee nonmetropolitan area $37,330 5% below national
145 Grand Rapids-Wyoming-Kentwood, MI $37,320 5% below national
146 Cape Coral-Fort Myers, FL $37,310 5% below national
147 Corpus Christi, TX $37,310 5% below national
148 Champaign-Urbana, IL $37,300 5% below national
149 Winston-Salem, NC $37,180 5% below national
150 Northwestern Region of Texas nonmetropolitan area $37,140 5% below national
151 Augusta-Richmond County, GA-SC $37,090 5% below national
152 Providence-Warwick, RI-MA $37,090 5% below national
153 Janesville-Beloit, WI $37,080 5% below national
154 Pensacola-Ferry Pass-Brent, FL $37,080 5% below national
155 Lakeland-Winter Haven, FL $37,070 5% below national
156 Tucson, AZ $37,070 5% below national
157 Greenville, NC $37,050 5% below national
158 Syracuse, NY $37,040 6% below national
159 Tyler, TX $37,040 6% below national
160 Erie, PA $37,020 6% below national
161 Evansville, IN $36,940 6% below national
162 Green Bay, WI $36,930 6% below national
163 Eastern North Carolina nonmetropolitan area $36,930 6% below national
164 Eastern Ohio nonmetropolitan area $36,930 6% below national
165 Dayton-Kettering-Beavercreek, OH $36,910 6% below national
166 South Central Wisconsin nonmetropolitan area $36,900 6% below national
167 Maryland nonmetropolitan area $36,830 6% below national
168 Birmingham, AL $36,820 6% below national
169 Twin Falls, ID $36,780 6% below national
170 Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY $36,740 6% below national
171 Northeastern Wisconsin nonmetropolitan area $36,740 6% below national
172 Florence, SC $36,710 6% below national
173 Appleton, WI $36,690 6% below national
174 South Central Tennessee nonmetropolitan area $36,670 6% below national
175 Fayetteville-Springdale-Rogers, AR $36,630 7% below national
176 Northwestern South Carolina nonmetropolitan area $36,630 7% below national
177 Jacksonville, FL $36,610 7% below national
178 Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI $36,560 7% below national
179 West Central Illinois nonmetropolitan area $36,560 7% below national
180 Fayetteville, NC $36,550 7% below national
181 Lancaster, PA $36,550 7% below national
182 Beaumont-Port Arthur, TX $36,540 7% below national
183 North Georgia nonmetropolitan area $36,540 7% below national
184 Northeast Iowa nonmetropolitan area $36,540 7% below national
185 La Crosse-Onalaska, WI-MN $36,510 7% below national
186 Utica-Rome, NY $36,500 7% below national
187 Binghamton, NY $36,460 7% below national
188 Macon-Bibb County, GA $36,430 7% below national
189 Jackson, MS $36,360 7% below national
190 Western Wisconsin nonmetropolitan area $36,350 7% below national
191 Chattanooga, TN-GA $36,310 7% below national
192 Canton-Massillon, OH $36,270 7% below national
193 South Central Kentucky nonmetropolitan area $36,240 8% below national
194 Waco, TX $36,100 8% below national
195 Gulfport-Biloxi, MS $36,050 8% below national
196 Wichita, KS $36,000 8% below national
197 McAllen-Edinburg-Mission, TX $35,990 8% below national
198 Shreveport-Bossier City, LA $35,990 8% below national
199 Lexington-Fayette, KY $35,910 8% below national
200 Midland, MI $35,900 8% below national
201 Roanoke, VA $35,890 8% below national
202 Provo-Orem-Lehi, UT $35,780 9% below national
203 Deltona-Daytona Beach-Ormond Beach, FL $35,750 9% below national
204 Sheboygan, WI $35,750 9% below national
205 Waterbury-Shelton, CT $35,750 9% below national
206 Racine-Mount Pleasant, WI $35,730 9% below national
207 Norwich-New London-Willimantic, CT $35,620 9% below national
208 Kingsport-Bristol, TN-VA $35,490 9% below national
209 Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN $35,490 9% below national
210 Northeastern Pennsylvania nonmetropolitan area $35,430 10% below national
211 Abilene, TX $35,400 10% below national
212 Myrtle Beach-Conway-North Myrtle Beach, SC $35,360 10% below national
213 South Georgia nonmetropolitan area $35,360 10% below national
214 Mid Michigan nonmetropolitan area $35,350 10% below national
215 Lafayette, LA $35,340 10% below national
216 East Tennessee nonmetropolitan area $35,300 10% below national
217 Kansas nonmetropolitan area $35,270 10% below national
218 Huntsville, AL $35,170 10% below national
219 Clarksville, TN-KY $35,090 10% below national
220 Omaha, NE-IA $35,080 11% below national
221 Southside Virginia nonmetropolitan area $35,080 11% below national
222 Tallahassee, FL $34,940 11% below national
223 Reading, PA $34,920 11% below national
224 South Illinois nonmetropolitan area $34,870 11% below national
225 Springfield, IL $34,850 11% below national
226 Charleston, WV $34,840 11% below national
227 Greenville-Anderson-Greer, SC $34,810 11% below national
228 North Region of Texas nonmetropolitan area $34,760 11% below national
229 Montgomery, AL $34,590 12% below national
230 Idaho Falls, ID $34,550 12% below national
231 Athens-Clarke County, GA $34,510 12% below national
232 East Kentucky nonmetropolitan area $34,480 12% below national
233 Sioux Falls, SD-MN $34,400 12% below national
234 Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC $34,390 12% below national
235 Southern Ohio nonmetropolitan area $34,330 12% below national
236 Punta Gorda, FL $34,190 13% below national
237 New Orleans-Metairie, LA $34,100 13% below national
238 West Delta Mississippi nonmetropolitan area $34,040 13% below national
239 Middle Georgia nonmetropolitan area $34,010 13% below national
240 Upper East Mississippi nonmetropolitan area $33,930 13% below national
241 Southwestern Pennsylvania nonmetropolitan area $33,850 14% below national
242 Panama City-Panama City Beach, FL $33,700 14% below national
243 West Kentucky nonmetropolitan area $33,570 14% below national
244 College Station-Bryan, TX $33,260 15% below national
245 Brownsville-Harlingen, TX $32,940 16% below national
246 Flint, MI $32,880 16% below national
247 Alexandria, LA $32,770 16% below national
248 Johnson City, TN $32,710 17% below national
249 Columbus, GA-AL $32,630 17% below national
250 West Northwestern Ohio nonmetropolitan area $32,610 17% below national
251 Rome, GA $32,510 17% below national
252 Ocala, FL $32,350 17% below national
253 Lake Charles, LA $32,130 18% below national
254 Mobile, AL $31,970 18% below national
255 North Northeastern Ohio nonmetropolitan area (noncontiguous) $31,970 18% below national
256 Baton Rouge, LA $31,910 19% below national
257 Laredo, TX $31,530 20% below national
258 North Missouri nonmetropolitan area $31,460 20% below national
259 Southern Michigan nonmetropolitan area $31,220 20% below national
260 Monroe, LA $31,200 20% below national
261 East Georgia nonmetropolitan area $30,790 21% below national
262 Altoona, PA $30,770 22% below national
263 Johnstown, PA $30,700 22% below national
264 Central Pennsylvania nonmetropolitan area $30,520 22% below national
265 Northwestern Pennsylvania nonmetropolitan area $30,470 22% below national
266 Houma-Bayou Cane-Thibodaux, LA $30,190 23% below national
267 Bowling Green, KY $30,170 23% below national
268 Central North Carolina nonmetropolitan area $29,300 25% below national
269 Tuscaloosa, AL $29,280 25% below national
270 South Nebraska nonmetropolitan area $28,790 27% below national
271 Lower East Mississippi nonmetropolitan area $28,490 27% below national
272 San Juan-Bayamon-Caguas, PR $23,760 39% below national
273 Mayaguez, PR $22,230 43% below national
274 Arecibo, PR $22,210 43% below national
275 Aguadilla, PR $21,930 44% below national
276 Ponce, PR $21,840 44% below national
277 Puerto Rico nonmetropolitan area $21,840 44% below national

Similar Occupations in the Same Category

Other roles in SOC major group 43 (office and administrative support) with comparable pay and career paths.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does a Couriers and Messengers make?
The median annual salary for Couriers and Messengers is $39,200 ($18.85/hour). The salary range spans from $31,550 at the 10th percentile to $50,330 at the 90th percentile.
What state pays Couriers and Messengers the most?
Nevada pays the highest median salary for Couriers and Messengers at $46,520/year, which is +19% above the national median.
What education do you need to become a Couriers and Messengers?
The typical entry-level education for Couriers and Messengers is High school diploma or equivalent. On-the-job training: Short-term on-the-job training.
How dangerous is being a Couriers and Messengers?
Couriers and Messengers has a safety grade of A (Very Safe) based on BLS data. The fatality rate is 0.5 per 100,000 workers and the injury rate is 1 per 100 workers.
Is Couriers and Messengers a good career?
Employment for Couriers and Messengers is projected to grow 8.2% from 2024 to 2034, which is much faster than average. About 27,900 openings are projected each year.
How does Couriers and Messengers pay vary by state?
Couriers and Messengers salaries vary significantly by state. The highest-paying state is Nevada at $46,520/year, while Wyoming pays the least at $31,680/year. BLS data covers 54 states and territories.
Which metro areas pay the most for Couriers and Messengers?
The highest-paying metro area for Couriers and Messengers is San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA at $55,680/year. BLS reports wage data for 277 metro areas for this occupation, with pay varying based on local demand and cost of living.

What to do with this data

How to use Couriers and Messengers pay figures in a real decision

  • For an experienced offer, anchor on the 75th percentile (about $45,280/year), not the median. The median marks the middle worker; the upper quartile is the realistic target with strong experience. Salary calculator
  • Location moves pay significantly: Nevada leads at $46,520/year for this role. Weigh state pay against local cost of living before relocating or negotiating remote. Pay by state
  • Compare this occupation against similar roles before you decide, so you are reading the pay band in context rather than in isolation. Compare jobs

These are BLS survey estimates for the occupation, not a salary offer or a prediction for any individual. Your pay depends on experience, employer, exact role, and location.

Data as of May 2025. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).

Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 annual release. Employment projections from BLS Employment Projections program, 2024–2034. Data reflects cross-industry estimates for all ownership types.

These are survey estimates for the occupation, not a salary offer or a prediction for any individual. See how to use them.

Every figure on WageDex is rendered directly from U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics wage data, no number is typed in by an editor. This occupation's figures are computed directly from the BLS OEWS and Employment Projections datasets, nothing is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of May 2025.

This page is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial or career advice. Actual pay for a specific role, employer, or offer may differ from these national/state figures, consult a qualified career counselor, recruiter, or financial advisor before making decisions based on this data.