Couriers and Messengers Salary in the United States
The median annual wage for couriers and messengers is $39,200, or $18.85 per hour. About 68,640 people work in this occupation nationwide. Wages vary substantially by state — from $46,520 in Nevada to $31,650 in South Dakota.
Wage distribution nationwide
Earnings spread across all U.S. workers in this occupation.
Salary by state
All 51 states with published data, ranked by median annual wage.
| # | State | Median annual | Median hourly | Employment | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Nevada | $46,520 | $22.36 | 530 | 0.77 |
| 2 | Washington | $46,500 | $22.36 | 1,190 | 0.76 |
| 3 | Vermont | $45,600 | $21.92 | 50 | 0.34 |
| 4 | District of Columbia | $45,210 | $21.74 | 120 | 0.38 |
| 5 | Oregon | $45,170 | $21.71 | 850 | 0.98 |
| 6 | Colorado | $45,140 | $21.70 | 640 | 0.51 |
| 7 | California | $44,970 | $21.62 | 7,240 | 0.90 |
| 8 | Minnesota | $44,860 | $21.57 | 440 | 0.34 |
| 9 | Utah | $42,840 | $20.60 | 850 | 1.11 |
| 10 | Massachusetts | $42,380 | $20.37 | 1,560 | 0.97 |
| 11 | Alaska | $41,720 | $20.06 | 160 | 1.10 |
| 12 | Maine | $41,710 | $20.06 | 40 | 0.14 |
| 13 | Missouri | $41,410 | $19.91 | 1,060 | 0.82 |
| 14 | New Jersey | $40,870 | $19.65 | 2,100 | 1.11 |
| 15 | New Hampshire | $40,630 | $19.53 | 190 | 0.63 |
| 16 | Tennessee | $40,270 | $19.36 | — | — |
| 17 | Montana | $40,080 | $19.27 | 60 | 0.28 |
| 18 | Pennsylvania | $39,700 | $19.09 | 3,330 | 1.25 |
| 19 | Connecticut | $39,480 | $18.98 | 650 | 0.87 |
| 20 | Georgia | $39,400 | $18.94 | 2,100 | 0.97 |
| 21 | Texas | $39,260 | $18.87 | 4,710 | 0.76 |
| 22 | Maryland | $39,140 | $18.82 | 770 | 0.63 |
| 23 | North Carolina | $39,100 | $18.80 | 3,350 | 1.53 |
| 24 | Illinois | $39,100 | $18.80 | 1,340 | 0.50 |
| 25 | Arizona | $38,980 | $18.74 | 820 | 0.58 |
| 26 | Oklahoma | $38,910 | $18.71 | 1,220 | 1.61 |
| 27 | Delaware | $38,760 | $18.63 | 170 | 0.79 |
| 28 | New York | $38,740 | $18.63 | 7,320 | 1.71 |
| 29 | Hawaii | $38,580 | $18.55 | 270 | 0.98 |
| 30 | New Mexico | $38,570 | $18.54 | 400 | 1.04 |
| 31 | Iowa | $38,460 | $18.49 | 580 | 0.85 |
| 32 | Kansas | $38,370 | $18.45 | 580 | 0.92 |
| 33 | Ohio | $38,320 | $18.42 | 1,710 | 0.70 |
| 34 | North Dakota | $38,090 | $18.31 | 40 | 0.19 |
| 35 | Michigan | $37,940 | $18.24 | 1,500 | 0.77 |
| 36 | Virginia | $37,820 | $18.18 | 2,010 | 1.11 |
| 37 | Florida | $37,740 | $18.14 | 4,910 | 1.12 |
| 38 | Indiana | $37,270 | $17.92 | 990 | 0.70 |
| 39 | Arkansas | $37,070 | $17.82 | 300 | 0.52 |
| 40 | Wisconsin | $36,910 | $17.75 | 2,560 | 1.97 |
| 41 | Rhode Island | $36,810 | $17.70 | 160 | 0.73 |
| 42 | South Carolina | $36,710 | $17.65 | 1,380 | 1.36 |
| 43 | Idaho | $36,110 | $17.36 | 410 | 1.07 |
| 44 | Kentucky | $35,880 | $17.25 | 750 | 0.85 |
| 45 | Mississippi | $35,780 | $17.20 | 590 | 1.15 |
| 46 | West Virginia | $34,890 | $16.77 | 240 | 0.78 |
| 47 | Alabama | $34,820 | $16.74 | 720 | 0.77 |
| 48 | Nebraska | $34,600 | $16.64 | 470 | 1.04 |
| 49 | Louisiana | $33,490 | $16.10 | 1,030 | 1.21 |
| 50 | Wyoming | $31,680 | $15.23 | 70 | 0.56 |
| 51 | South Dakota | $31,650 | $15.22 | 80 | 0.39 |
Related occupations
Same job family, ranked by national employment.
Frequently asked questions
How much do couriers and messengers make?
The median annual wage for couriers and messengers in the United States is $39,200, or $18.85 per hour. Entry-level workers (10th percentile) earn $31,550, and the top 10% earn $50,330.
How many couriers and messengers are employed in the U.S.?
About 68,640 people work as couriers and messengers nationwide.
Which state pays couriers and messengers the most?
Nevada pays the most at a median of $46,520, followed by Washington ($46,500) and Vermont ($45,600).
Which state pays couriers and messengers the least?
South Dakota has the lowest median at $31,650.
Where are couriers and messengers jobs most concentrated?
The location quotient measures employment concentration relative to the national average. The highest is Wisconsin at 1.97×.