Couriers and Messengers · California

Couriers and Messengers Salary in California

Couriers and Messengers in California earn a median annual wage of $44,970 —14.7% above the national median of $39,200. That ranks CA #7 of 51 covered states and territories for this occupation.

Median annual
$44,970
Median hourly
$21.62
Entry level (P10)
$36,200
10th percentile
Top 10% (P90)
$57,360
90th percentile
Employment
7,240
0.4 per 1,000 jobs
vs U.S. median
+14.7%
U.S. $39,200

Wage distribution

How earnings are spread across workers in this occupation, from the 10th to the 90th percentile.

10th percentile90th percentile
$36,200
$39,420
$44,970
$48,480
$36,200$44,970$57,360
Annual wage distribution. Highlighted segment contains the median of $44,970.

Employment concentration (0.90×) is close to the national average.

Highest-paying states for couriers and messengers

All 51 states ranked by median annual wage. California is highlighted.

#StateMedian annual Median hourlyEmploymentLocation quotient
1Nevada$46,520$22.365300.77
2Washington$46,500$22.361,1900.76
3Vermont$45,600$21.92500.34
4District of Columbia$45,210$21.741200.38
5Oregon$45,170$21.718500.98
6Colorado$45,140$21.706400.51
7California$44,970$21.627,2400.90
8Minnesota$44,860$21.574400.34
9Utah$42,840$20.608501.11
10Massachusetts$42,380$20.371,5600.97

Related occupations in California

Occupations in the same job family, compared within California.

Frequently asked questions

How much do couriers and messengers make in California?

The median annual wage for couriers and messengers in California is $44,970, or $21.62 per hour. That is 14.7% above the national median of $39,200.

What is the entry-level couriers and messengers salary in California?

Workers at the 10th percentile earn $36,200 per year ($17.41/hour). The 25th percentile is $39,420.

How many people work as couriers and messengers in California?

About 7,240 people work in this occupation in California, or 0.4 per 1,000 jobs statewide.

Is California a good state for couriers and messengers?

California ranks #7 of 51 states by median wage for this occupation. Employment concentration (0.90x) is close to the national average.

Which state pays couriers and messengers the most?

Nevada has the highest median wage at $46,520 per year, followed by Washington ($46,500) and Vermont ($45,600).

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS May 2025. Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, cross-industry estimates. Retrieved 2026-10-26. Figures are rounded by BLS to the nearest dollar (annual) and cent (hourly). Percentile wages describe the distribution of workers, not the pay range for a single job posting. bls.gov/oes