Couriers and Messengers Salary
The median couriers and messengers salary in the United States is $39,200 per year ($18.85/hour). Salaries range from $31,550 at the entry level to $50,330+ for the top 10% of earners. There are 68,640 couriers and messengers jobs nationwide. Employment is projected to grow 8.2% through 2034.
Last updated: June 2026 · Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
Median Salary
$39,200
per year
Hourly Rate
$18.85
per hour
Employment
68,640
jobs in the U.S.
Salary Distribution
10th percentile
$31,550
25th percentile
$36,070
Median
$39,200
75th percentile
$45,280
90th percentile
$50,330
Job Growth (2024-2034)
+8.2%
Faster than average
Annual Openings
27,900
jobs/year (growth + replacements)
Education Required
High school diploma or equivalent
Training Needed
Short-term on-the-job training
Couriers and Messengers Salary by State
Best Cities (cost-adjusted) →Salary Map — Click a state for details
$32K$47K■ No data
Top Paying States
Nevada
$47K
+19%
Washington
$47K
+19%
Vermont
$46K
+16%
District of Columbia
$45K
+15%
Oregon
$45K
+15%
Colorado
$45K
+15%
California
$45K
+15%
Minnesota
$45K
+14%
Utah
$43K
+9%
Massachusetts
$42K
+8%
Vertical line = national median. Click a state for full details.
| State | Median | vs. National |
|---|---|---|
| Nevada | $46,520 | +18.7% |
| Washington | $46,500 | +18.6% |
| Vermont | $45,600 | +16.3% |
| District of Columbia | $45,210 | +15.3% |
| Oregon | $45,170 | +15.2% |
| Colorado | $45,140 | +15.2% |
| California | $44,970 | +14.7% |
| Minnesota | $44,860 | +14.4% |
| Utah | $42,840 | +9.3% |
| Massachusetts | $42,380 | +8.1% |
Showing 1–10 of 51
Couriers and Messengers Salary by Metro Area
| Metro Area | Median | vs. National |
|---|---|---|
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $55,680 | +42.0% |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | $48,510 | +23.8% |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $47,840 | +22.0% |
| Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI | $47,160 | +20.3% |
| Modesto, CA | $47,020 | +19.9% |
| Las Vegas-Henderson-North Las Vegas, NV | $46,850 | +19.5% |
| Scranton--Wilkes-Barre, PA | $46,710 | +19.2% |
| Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO | $46,170 | +17.8% |
| Napa, CA | $46,060 | +17.5% |
| Rochester, MN | $46,000 | +17.3% |
Showing 1–10 of 227
Data Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS). Data reflects the most recent annual survey.
How does this compare to pro athletes?
A couriers and messengers earning $39,200/year would need 1521 years to match Stephen Curry's NBA salary, or 1633 yearsto match Patrick Mahomes' NFL contract.
See all sports & celebrity salaries →📈 See how couriers and messengers salaries have changed over the past decade.
View Couriers and Messengers salary trend (2011–2024) →