224 metro areas
Courier and Messenger Salary by City (2026)
Couriers and messengers earn the most in San Jose, CA, an average of $55,350 a year, against $40,970 nationally. After local prices, pay goes furthest in Rochester, MN ($51,620 in national-average dollars). Every metro area with its own BLS estimate is ranked below.
- US average (mean)
- $40,970BLS OEWS, May 2025
- Highest-paying city
- $55,350San Jose, CA
- Best after cost of living
- $51,620Rochester, MN
- Metro areas
- 224With their own estimate
Top cities
Highest-paying cities for couriers and messengers
Top 10 metro areas
- San Jose, CA$55,350
- Modesto, CA$51,790
- Napa, CA$50,750
- Seattle, WA$49,400
- San Francisco, CA$48,960
- Minneapolis, MN-WI$48,110
- Denver, CO$47,740
- Sacramento, CA$47,300
- Bellingham, WA$47,090
- Washington, DC-VA-MD-WV$47,070
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $55,350 |
| Modesto, CA | $51,790 |
| Napa, CA | $50,750 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | $49,400 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $48,960 |
| Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI | $48,110 |
| Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO | $47,740 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $47,300 |
| Bellingham, WA | $47,090 |
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | $47,070 |
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025
Mean wage ÷ BEA price level
- Rochester, MN$46,880 nominal$51,620
- San Jose, CA$55,350 nominal$50,130
- Modesto, CA$51,790 nominal$49,750
- Duluth, MN-WI$43,010 nominal$48,450
- Minneapolis, MN-WI$48,110 nominal$45,900
- Springfield, MO$40,640 nominal$45,880
- St. Cloud, MN$40,190 nominal$45,860
- Bellingham, WA$47,090 nominal$45,570
- Denver, CO$47,740 nominal$45,130
- Napa, CA$50,750 nominal$45,090
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Rochester, MN | $51,620 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $50,130 |
| Modesto, CA | $49,750 |
| Duluth, MN-WI | $48,450 |
| Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI | $45,900 |
| Springfield, MO | $45,880 |
| St. Cloud, MN | $45,860 |
| Bellingham, WA | $45,570 |
| Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO | $45,130 |
| Napa, CA | $45,090 |
Source: BLS OEWS 2025 · BEA RPP 2024
Every city
Courier and Messenger salary in every metro area
Mean annual wage, with the Department of Labor's entry (Level I) and experienced (Level IV) prevailing-wage benchmarks for the same metro, and the mean at national-average prices. Sorted by mean pay.
| # | Metro area | Mean | Entry (Level I) | Experienced (Level IV) | At US prices |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Jose, CA | $55,350 | $44,430 | $60,740 | $50,130 |
| 2 | Modesto, CA | $51,790 | $38,190 | $58,510 | $49,750 |
| 3 | Napa, CA | $50,750 | $43,640 | $54,250 | $45,090 |
| 4 | Seattle, WA | $49,400 | $42,790 | $52,670 | $44,450 |
| 5 | San Francisco, CA | $48,960 | $42,540 | $52,150 | $42,350 |
| 6 | Minneapolis, MN-WI | $48,110 | $39,350 | $52,440 | $45,900 |
| 7 | Denver, CO | $47,740 | $36,960 | $53,020 | $45,130 |
| 8 | Sacramento, CA | $47,300 | $37,630 | $52,080 | $44,340 |
| 9 | Bellingham, WA | $47,090 | $40,870 | $50,150 | $45,570 |
| 10 | Washington, DC-VA-MD-WV | $47,070 | $37,420 | $51,810 | $43,230 |
| 11 | Rochester, MN | $46,880 | $39,690 | $50,420 | $51,620 |
| 12 | Portland, OR-WA | $46,590 | $37,250 | $51,190 | $44,190 |
| 13 | New Haven, CT | $46,110 | $36,820 | $50,690 | $44,100 |
| 14 | Boston, MA-NH | $45,140 | $37,130 | $49,090 | $41,690 |
| 15 | New York, NY-NJ | $45,120 | $36,360 | $49,440 | $40,080 |
| 16 | Los Angeles, CA | $44,970 | $37,960 | $48,420 | $39,600 |
| 17 | San Diego, CA | $44,660 | $37,650 | $48,110 | $39,920 |
| 18 | Eugene, OR | $44,160 | $34,740 | $48,820 | $43,480 |
| 19 | Austin, TX | $44,140 | $35,820 | $48,240 | $45,010 |
| 20 | Kiryas Joel, NY | $44,100 | $35,820 | $48,190 | $40,300 |
| 21 | Salem, OR | $44,100 | $35,280 | $48,420 | $42,550 |
| 22 | Fresno, CA | $43,780 | $34,840 | $48,170 | $42,860 |
| 23 | Las Vegas, NV | $43,760 | $34,880 | $48,130 | $43,670 |
| 24 | Hartford, CT | $43,510 | $35,710 | $47,360 | $42,350 |
| 25 | Salt Lake City, UT | $43,310 | $39,060 | $45,410 | $42,940 |
| 26 | Stockton, CA | $43,140 | $34,400 | $47,420 | $41,050 |
| 27 | Duluth, MN-WI | $43,010 | $37,070 | $45,970 | $48,450 |
| 28 | Riverside, CA | $42,830 | $35,340 | $46,530 | $40,240 |
| 29 | Chicago, IL-IN | $42,720 | $35,800 | $46,110 | $41,240 |
| 30 | Santa Maria, CA | $42,660 | $38,750 | $44,600 | $39,210 |
| 31 | Barnstable Town, MA | $42,640 | $36,860 | $45,490 | $43,350 |
| 32 | Oxnard, CA | $42,640 | $38,060 | $44,890 | $38,580 |
| 33 | Anchorage, AK | $42,620 | $36,730 | $45,530 | $40,430 |
| 34 | Bridgeport, CT | $42,560 | $36,650 | $45,450 | $39,830 |
| 35 | Philadelphia, PA-NJ-DE-MD | $42,490 | $34,800 | $46,300 | $41,430 |
| 36 | St. Louis, MO-IL | $42,310 | $36,130 | $45,340 | $44,500 |
| 37 | Nashville, TN | $42,290 | $35,690 | $45,530 | $43,900 |
| 38 | Reno, NV | $42,220 | $31,910 | $47,320 | $41,800 |
| 39 | Fort Collins, CO | $42,180 | $35,760 | $45,360 | $41,710 |
| 40 | Dallas, TX | $42,160 | $35,110 | $45,640 | $40,900 |
| 41 | Worcester, MA | $42,120 | $35,820 | $45,240 | $41,080 |
| 42 | Bakersfield, CA | $42,060 | $34,320 | $45,860 | $41,690 |
| 43 | Manchester, NH | $42,060 | $30,950 | $47,530 | $39,810 |
| 44 | Medford, OR | $41,970 | $35,820 | $45,010 | $41,380 |
| 45 | Atlanta, GA | $41,930 | $34,900 | $45,390 | $41,910 |
| 46 | Scranton, PA | $41,810 | $32,470 | $46,380 | $44,690 |
| 47 | Baltimore, MD | $41,790 | $35,150 | $45,070 | $40,000 |
| 48 | Spokane, WA | $41,750 | $37,250 | $43,950 | $41,610 |
| 49 | Durham, NC | $41,580 | $34,490 | $45,070 | $42,610 |
| 50 | Allentown, PA-NJ | $41,520 | $35,190 | $44,640 | $41,530 |
| 51 | Memphis, TN-MS-AR | $41,520 | $35,630 | $44,430 | $45,040 |
| 52 | Corvallis, OR | $41,500 | $36,110 | $44,160 | $39,900 |
| 53 | Houston, TX | $41,480 | $34,400 | $44,950 | $42,060 |
| 54 | Kennewick, WA | $41,370 | $37,710 | $43,180 | $41,340 |
| 55 | Kansas City, MO-KS | $41,330 | $33,990 | $44,950 | $44,660 |
| 56 | Harrisburg, PA | $41,270 | $34,240 | $44,720 | $41,830 |
| 57 | Richmond, VA | $41,270 | $33,180 | $45,240 | $42,170 |
| 58 | Pittsburgh, PA | $41,250 | $33,450 | $45,090 | $43,570 |
| 59 | Redding, CA | $41,200 | $36,360 | $43,600 | $40,920 |
| 60 | Colorado Springs, CO | $41,160 | $33,740 | $44,820 | $40,870 |
| 61 | Visalia, CA | $40,910 | $36,800 | $42,950 | $40,980 |
| 62 | Raleigh, NC | $40,870 | $29,200 | $46,610 | $41,640 |
| 63 | Ogden, UT | $40,810 | $39,350 | $41,520 | $40,670 |
| 64 | Springfield, MA | $40,790 | $34,990 | $43,640 | $42,460 |
| 65 | San Antonio, TX | $40,730 | $32,950 | $44,550 | $43,000 |
| 66 | Madison, WI | $40,680 | $34,320 | $43,830 | $41,810 |
| 67 | Trenton, NJ | $40,660 | $34,800 | $43,560 | $39,410 |
| 68 | Springfield, MO | $40,640 | $38,540 | $41,660 | $45,880 |
| 69 | Phoenix, AZ | $40,540 | $35,070 | $43,220 | $39,240 |
| 70 | Indianapolis, IN | $40,410 | $33,990 | $43,580 | $42,230 |
| 71 | Gainesville, FL | $40,250 | $34,740 | $42,970 | $41,610 |
| 72 | Asheville, NC | $40,210 | $33,720 | $43,410 | $41,670 |
| 73 | St. Cloud, MN | $40,190 | $31,200 | $44,620 | $45,860 |
| 74 | Traverse City, MI | $40,190 | $36,360 | $42,080 | $43,040 |
| 75 | Cleveland, OH | $40,060 | $33,590 | $43,260 | $42,650 |
| 76 | Charlotte, NC-SC | $40,040 | $34,510 | $42,760 | $41,130 |
| 77 | Springfield, IL | $40,020 | $33,320 | $43,310 | $43,150 |
| 78 | Naples, FL | $39,980 | $32,860 | $43,490 | $38,740 |
| 79 | Columbus, OH | $39,940 | $33,720 | $42,990 | $41,840 |
| 80 | Urban Honolulu, HI | $39,940 | $35,650 | $42,040 | $35,990 |
| 81 | Fort Wayne, IN | $39,890 | $32,010 | $43,780 | $43,090 |
| 82 | Detroit, MI | $39,830 | $33,380 | $43,010 | $39,710 |
| 83 | Knoxville, TN | $39,690 | $33,950 | $42,520 | $42,880 |
| 84 | Topeka, KS | $39,560 | $31,530 | $43,510 | $44,540 |
| 85 | Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN | $39,540 | $33,240 | $42,660 | $41,460 |
| 86 | Orlando, FL | $39,500 | $33,280 | $42,580 | $38,950 |
| 87 | North Port, FL | $39,480 | $31,280 | $43,510 | $38,550 |
| 88 | Akron, OH | $39,460 | $32,320 | $42,970 | $42,260 |
| 89 | Pueblo, CO | $39,460 | $34,070 | $42,100 | $43,000 |
| 90 | Erie, PA | $39,440 | $34,840 | $41,680 | $43,360 |
| 91 | Charlottesville, VA | $39,370 | $34,690 | $41,700 | $39,710 |
| 92 | Des Moines, IA | $39,370 | $34,550 | $41,750 | $42,930 |
| 93 | Syracuse, NY | $39,310 | $34,780 | $41,540 | $41,060 |
| 94 | York, PA | $39,310 | $30,780 | $43,510 | $40,950 |
| 95 | El Paso, TX | $39,290 | $32,120 | $42,830 | $43,700 |
| 96 | Lansing, MI | $39,290 | $33,570 | $42,120 | $41,360 |
| 97 | Oklahoma City, OK | $39,290 | $32,510 | $42,640 | $43,460 |
| 98 | Spartanburg, SC | $39,230 | $33,220 | $42,180 | $43,090 |
| 99 | Providence, RI-MA | $39,190 | $33,030 | $42,200 | $38,510 |
| 100 | Albany, NY | $39,150 | $34,490 | $41,430 | $39,320 |
| 101 | Cape Coral, FL | $39,150 | $33,800 | $41,790 | $38,250 |
| 102 | Port St. Lucie, FL | $39,150 | $31,120 | $43,100 | $39,060 |
| 103 | Binghamton, NY | $39,000 | $32,450 | $42,240 | $42,000 |
| 104 | Palm Bay, FL | $38,980 | $32,470 | $42,200 | $38,980 |
| 105 | Beaumont, TX | $38,920 | $31,450 | $42,600 | $43,220 |
| 106 | Lakeland, FL | $38,900 | $34,440 | $41,100 | $40,040 |
| 107 | Peoria, IL | $38,880 | $34,550 | $41,020 | $42,620 |
| 108 | Wilmington, NC | $38,850 | $32,070 | $42,180 | $40,290 |
| 109 | Milwaukee, WI | $38,790 | $32,660 | $41,830 | $40,020 |
| 110 | Tampa, FL | $38,750 | $33,760 | $41,200 | $38,410 |
| 111 | Amarillo, TX | $38,730 | $28,830 | $43,600 | $42,180 |
| 112 | Salinas, CA | $38,670 | $36,590 | $39,690 | $35,460 |
| 113 | Cedar Rapids, IA | $38,630 | $34,650 | $40,580 | $43,420 |
| 114 | Miami, FL | $38,600 | $32,320 | $41,680 | $33,810 |
| 115 | Rochester, NY | $38,560 | $33,630 | $41,000 | $39,740 |
| 116 | Tucson, AZ | $38,520 | $32,860 | $41,330 | $39,750 |
| 117 | Tulsa, OK | $38,520 | $31,080 | $42,200 | $43,180 |
| 118 | Racine, WI | $38,500 | $31,820 | $41,810 | $40,120 |
| 119 | Lancaster, PA | $38,480 | $31,530 | $41,910 | $39,160 |
| 120 | La Crosse, WI-MN | $38,440 | $33,820 | $40,710 | $41,890 |
| 121 | Chattanooga, TN-GA | $38,270 | $31,180 | $41,770 | $41,840 |
| 122 | Kalamazoo, MI | $38,250 | $33,090 | $40,790 | $40,330 |
| 123 | Virginia Beach, VA-NC | $38,210 | $34,170 | $40,190 | $39,010 |
| 124 | Waterbury, CT | $38,210 | $35,070 | $39,770 | $38,300 |
| 125 | Champaign, IL | $38,190 | $35,670 | $39,440 | $41,200 |
| 126 | Buffalo, NY | $38,170 | $34,240 | $40,100 | $39,830 |
| 127 | Burlington, NC | $38,130 | $34,690 | $39,810 | $40,910 |
| 128 | Toledo, OH | $38,130 | $31,700 | $41,290 | $41,690 |
| 129 | Dubuque, IA | $38,060 | $34,220 | $39,940 | $43,580 |
| 130 | Evansville, IN | $38,060 | $33,260 | $40,410 | $41,580 |
| 131 | Rockford, IL | $38,060 | $34,030 | $40,060 | $41,300 |
| 132 | Savannah, GA | $38,040 | $28,890 | $42,560 | $39,960 |
| 133 | Norwich, CT | $37,980 | $34,130 | $39,890 | $37,810 |
| 134 | Dayton, OH | $37,920 | $33,070 | $40,310 | $40,910 |
| 135 | Winchester, VA-WV | $37,900 | $29,660 | $41,970 | $39,290 |
| 136 | Little Rock, AR | $37,880 | $31,390 | $41,080 | $42,390 |
| 137 | Grand Rapids, MI | $37,790 | $32,300 | $40,500 | $39,550 |
| 138 | Janesville, WI | $37,790 | $32,570 | $40,350 | $40,330 |
| 139 | Saginaw, MI | $37,750 | $33,160 | $40,020 | $41,530 |
| 140 | Waterloo, IA | $37,750 | $33,700 | $39,750 | $43,360 |
| 141 | Greensboro, NC | $37,690 | $27,930 | $42,470 | $40,590 |
| 142 | Lubbock, TX | $37,690 | $29,430 | $41,770 | $41,270 |
| 143 | Albuquerque, NM | $37,540 | $31,510 | $40,500 | $39,290 |
| 144 | Florence, SC | $37,540 | $27,480 | $42,490 | $43,260 |
| 145 | Longview, TX | $37,540 | $30,660 | $40,930 | $41,950 |
| 146 | Appleton, WI | $37,480 | $33,240 | $39,560 | $40,550 |
| 147 | Twin Falls, ID | $37,480 | $30,830 | $40,750 | $40,690 |
| 148 | Corpus Christi, TX | $37,460 | $31,870 | $40,210 | $40,420 |
| 149 | Blacksburg, VA | $37,420 | $31,890 | $40,140 | $40,360 |
| 150 | Utica, NY | $37,400 | $32,610 | $39,730 | $40,350 |
| 151 | Jacksonville, FL | $37,380 | $31,890 | $40,100 | $37,570 |
| 152 | Davenport, IA-IL | $37,290 | $32,320 | $39,750 | $41,860 |
| 153 | Lincoln, NE | $37,210 | $28,520 | $41,500 | $40,630 |
| 154 | Green Bay, WI | $37,150 | $28,080 | $41,620 | $39,910 |
| 155 | Macon, GA | $37,020 | $29,220 | $40,870 | $41,820 |
| 156 | Omaha, NE-IA | $37,020 | $29,660 | $40,660 | $40,280 |
| 157 | Tyler, TX | $37,020 | $32,120 | $39,440 | $40,170 |
| 158 | Waco, TX | $37,020 | $31,890 | $39,560 | $40,000 |
| 159 | Boise City, ID | $37,000 | $30,240 | $40,330 | $37,610 |
| 160 | Charleston, SC | $36,980 | $26,420 | $42,180 | $36,630 |
| 161 | Birmingham, AL | $36,960 | $30,310 | $40,230 | $40,330 |
| 162 | Provo, UT | $36,960 | $31,080 | $39,870 | $37,630 |
| 163 | Deltona, FL | $36,900 | $30,100 | $40,230 | $37,140 |
| 164 | Pensacola, FL | $36,900 | $30,390 | $40,100 | $37,760 |
| 165 | Canton, OH | $36,820 | $28,910 | $40,710 | $41,180 |
| 166 | Fayetteville, NC | $36,800 | $31,450 | $39,440 | $40,010 |
| 167 | Panama City, FL | $36,670 | $31,080 | $39,440 | $37,690 |
| 168 | Augusta, GA-SC | $36,650 | $26,940 | $41,430 | $39,880 |
| 169 | Greenville, NC | $36,610 | $27,980 | $40,850 | $41,410 |
| 170 | Reading, PA | $36,480 | $29,620 | $39,870 | $37,580 |
| 171 | Albany, GA | $36,380 | $29,330 | $39,850 | $41,500 |
| 172 | Clarksville, TN-KY | $36,360 | $29,120 | $39,920 | $39,980 |
| 173 | Kingsport, TN-VA | $36,280 | $30,990 | $38,880 | $41,970 |
| 174 | Winston, NC | $36,130 | $28,770 | $39,750 | $39,250 |
| 175 | Altoona, PA | $36,110 | $30,010 | $39,100 | $40,340 |
| 176 | Fayetteville, AR | $35,940 | $30,560 | $38,600 | $39,340 |
| 177 | Hickory, NC | $35,880 | $28,060 | $39,730 | $40,550 |
| 178 | Midland, MI | $35,800 | $33,130 | $37,110 | $38,950 |
| 179 | Ocala, FL | $35,730 | $29,870 | $38,630 | $37,520 |
| 180 | Gulfport, MS | $35,690 | $28,250 | $39,370 | $39,650 |
| 181 | Punta Gorda, FL | $35,590 | $32,240 | $37,250 | $35,400 |
| 182 | Athens, GA | $35,460 | $29,060 | $38,630 | $37,990 |
| 183 | Tallahassee, FL | $35,400 | $27,810 | $39,150 | $37,690 |
| 184 | Sioux Falls, SD-MN | $35,360 | $30,450 | $37,790 | $39,020 |
| 185 | Charleston, WV | $35,300 | $32,050 | $36,900 | $39,790 |
| 186 | Jackson, MS | $35,170 | $28,430 | $38,500 | $39,500 |
| 187 | Sheboygan, WI | $35,130 | $28,640 | $38,330 | $37,370 |
| 188 | Wichita, KS | $35,090 | $24,440 | $40,350 | $39,450 |
| 189 | McAllen, TX | $35,070 | $28,410 | $38,330 | $40,830 |
| 190 | Roanoke, VA | $35,070 | $29,720 | $37,690 | $37,460 |
| 191 | Myrtle Beach, SC | $35,050 | $24,210 | $40,370 | $37,430 |
| 192 | Huntsville, AL | $34,990 | $28,620 | $38,130 | $37,590 |
| 193 | Columbia, SC | $34,900 | $24,960 | $39,810 | $37,260 |
| 194 | Laredo, TX | $34,780 | $28,370 | $37,940 | $40,000 |
| 195 | Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN | $34,760 | $28,120 | $38,020 | $37,350 |
| 196 | Huntington, WV-KY-OH | $34,720 | $27,620 | $38,210 | $39,270 |
| 197 | New Orleans, LA | $34,720 | $26,250 | $38,900 | $37,500 |
| 198 | Flint, MI | $34,470 | $28,080 | $37,610 | $37,050 |
| 199 | Lexington, KY | $34,340 | $26,580 | $38,170 | $36,970 |
| 200 | Greenville, SC | $34,280 | $26,210 | $38,250 | $36,760 |
| 201 | Johnson City, TN | $34,240 | $28,580 | $37,020 | $38,940 |
| 202 | Idaho Falls, ID | $34,150 | $27,750 | $37,320 | $36,170 |
| 203 | Shreveport, LA | $34,110 | $27,350 | $37,440 | $40,240 |
| 204 | Abilene, TX | $33,820 | $26,870 | $37,230 | $37,430 |
| 205 | Alexandria, LA | $33,780 | $26,960 | $37,150 | $39,420 |
| 206 | Lafayette, LA | $33,680 | $26,230 | $37,340 | $38,620 |
| 207 | Brownsville, TX | $33,650 | $26,920 | $36,960 | $39,140 |
| 208 | Lake Charles, LA | $33,570 | $25,460 | $37,590 | $39,100 |
| 209 | Montgomery, AL | $33,490 | $26,940 | $36,710 | $37,340 |
| 210 | Baton Rouge, LA | $33,470 | $25,330 | $37,480 | $36,870 |
| 211 | Columbus, GA-AL | $33,360 | $23,820 | $38,040 | $37,360 |
| 212 | Houma, LA | $33,280 | $25,150 | $37,290 | $39,110 |
| 213 | College Station, TX | $32,430 | $22,510 | $37,340 | $35,660 |
| 214 | Mobile, AL | $32,390 | $25,790 | $35,650 | $36,770 |
| 215 | Rome, GA | $32,260 | $26,000 | $35,340 | $35,780 |
| 216 | Johnstown, PA | $31,760 | $29,180 | $33,010 | $36,960 |
| 217 | Monroe, LA | $31,410 | $23,360 | $35,380 | $37,570 |
| 218 | Bowling Green, KY | $30,970 | $23,110 | $34,840 | $34,340 |
| 219 | Tuscaloosa, AL | $30,510 | $23,940 | $33,740 | $34,780 |
| 220 | San Juan, PR | $26,000 | $22,070 | $27,910 | N/A |
| 221 | Mayaguez, PR | $24,750 | $21,840 | $26,190 | N/A |
| 222 | Ponce, PR | $23,250 | $21,840 | $23,940 | N/A |
| 223 | Arecibo, PR | $23,230 | $21,840 | $23,900 | N/A |
| 224 | Aguadilla, PR | $23,110 | $21,840 | $23,730 | N/A |
More
More on couriers and messengers
Method
About these numbers
- Mean wages are BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) May 2025 estimates for each metropolitan statistical area, as published in the Department of Labor’s 2026–27 OFLC prevailing-wage file. Only metros with their own BLS estimate are listed.
- Entry (Level I) and experienced (Level IV) are the Department of Labor’s prevailing-wage levels for the occupation in that metro, used for employer visa filings. They are benchmarks from the same OEWS survey, not percentiles.
- OEWS top-codes wages at $115 an hour ($239,200 a year); top-coded means are shown as "$239,200+" and left out of rankings.
- At US prices divides the mean by the metro’s BEA Regional Price Parity (2024) over 100, a NueCareer calculation.
Questions
Courier and Messenger salary by city: FAQ
Which city pays couriers and messengers the most?
San Jose, CA, where the average (mean) wage is $55,350 a year, followed by Modesto, CA ($51,790), Napa, CA ($50,750), Seattle, WA ($49,400). The national mean is $40,970 (BLS OEWS, May 2025).
Where do couriers and messengers earn the most after cost of living?
Divided by each metro's BEA price level, pay goes furthest in Rochester, MN ($51,620 at national prices, $46,880 nominal), San Jose, CA ($50,130 at national prices, $55,350 nominal), Modesto, CA ($49,750 at national prices, $51,790 nominal).
How much do couriers and messengers make in the biggest cities?
New York, NY-NJ: $45,120; Los Angeles, CA: $44,970; Chicago, IL-IN: $42,720; Dallas, TX: $42,160; Houston, TX: $41,480 (mean annual wage, BLS OEWS May 2025).
Where do couriers and messengers earn the least?
Of the 224 metro areas with their own estimate, Aguadilla, PR has the lowest mean wage, $23,110.