Pay, demand and where to work, from BLS data with the year on every table.
low → high: location quotient
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By AtiveSite · Published 07/11/2026 · Updated 07/11/2026 · Every figure is linked to its source below.
Couriers and messengers (SOC 43-5021) employed 68,640 people in May 2025. The median pay is $39,200 a year ($18.85 an hour); the lowest-paid 10% earn under $31,550 and the highest-paid 10% more than $50,330. BLS projects its employment to change by +8.0% between 2025 and 2035 (about 23,800 openings a year including replacements). The typical way in: High school diploma or equivalent.
Highest median pay: Nevada ($46,520), Washington ($46,500), Vermont ($45,600). Most jobs: New York (7,320), California (7,240), Florida (4,910).
| Measure ⇅ | Annual ⇅ | Hourly equivalent ⇅ |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $31,550 | $15.17 |
| 25th percentile | $36,070 | $17.34 |
| Median | $39,200 | $18.85 |
| Mean | $40,970 | $19.70 |
| 75th percentile | $45,280 | $21.77 |
| 90th percentile (experienced) | $50,330 | $24.20 |
Estimate for a wage earner: 2026 federal brackets and standard deduction (IRS), Social Security 6.2% up to $184,500, Medicare 1.45% (+0.9% above $200,000 single / $250,000 married), and a state rate you set. It ignores credits, pre-tax deductions, local taxes and benefits. Sources: IRS: tax year 2026 inflation adjustments · SSA wage base per Federal Register notice 2025-19763.
Hourly equivalents divide by 2,080 hours. Pay above $239,200 is shown as "≥ $239,200" (BLS top code).
| Measure ⇅ | Value ⇅ |
|---|---|
| Jobs 2025 | 228,900 |
| Jobs 2035 (projected) | 247,100 |
| Change in jobs | 18,200 |
| Percent change | +8.0% |
| Openings a year (growth + replacements) | 23,800 |
| Self-employed share | 69.9% |
| Typical entry education | High school diploma or equivalent |
| Work experience in a related occupation | None |
| Typical on-the-job training | Short-term on-the-job training |
Licences and certifications are set by states and employers; the education shown is the usual entry requirement, not a legal one.
| State ⇅ | Jobs ⇅ | Location quotient ⇅ | Median pay ⇅ | Entry (10th pct.) ⇅ | Top (90th pct.) ⇅ | Median vs US ⇅ | Yearly rent as % of median pay ⇅ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | 720 | 0.77 | $34,820 | $27,020 | $45,230 | -11% | 37% |
| Alaska | 160 | 1.10 | $41,720 | $37,100 | $48,180 | +6% | 42% |
| Arizona | 820 | 0.58 | $38,980 | $31,200 | $46,330 | -1% | 51% |
| Arkansas | 300 | 0.52 | $37,070 | $27,600 | $43,690 | -5% | 32% |
| California | 7,240 | 0.90 | $44,970 | $36,200 | $57,360 | +15% | 56% |
| Colorado | 640 | 0.51 | $45,140 | $30,890 | $60,330 | +15% | 48% |
| Connecticut | 650 | 0.87 | $39,480 | $35,300 | $54,980 | +1% | 47% |
| Delaware | 170 | 0.79 | $38,760 | $33,960 | $46,810 | -1% | 47% |
| District of Columbia | 120 | 0.38 | $45,210 | $37,930 | $55,540 | +15% | 51% |
| Florida | 4,910 | 1.12 | $37,740 | $31,100 | $46,270 | -4% | 58% |
| Georgia | 2,100 | 0.97 | $39,400 | $29,340 | $47,900 | +1% | 46% |
| Hawaii | 270 | 0.98 | $38,580 | $36,410 | $45,250 | -2% | 60% |
| Idaho | 410 | 1.07 | $36,110 | $26,150 | $45,660 | -8% | 46% |
| Illinois | 1,340 | 0.50 | $39,100 | $32,520 | $47,550 | -0% | 41% |
| Indiana | 990 | 0.70 | $37,270 | $31,640 | $50,910 | -5% | 36% |
| Iowa | 580 | 0.85 | $38,460 | $32,180 | $42,840 | -2% | 31% |
| Kansas | 580 | 0.92 | $38,370 | $28,210 | $48,000 | -2% | 34% |
| Kentucky | 750 | 0.85 | $35,880 | $25,580 | $42,390 | -8% | 33% |
| Louisiana | 1,030 | 1.21 | $33,490 | $22,980 | $44,630 | -15% | 38% |
| Maine | 40 | 0.14 | $41,710 | $38,020 | $48,770 | +6% | 35% |
| Maryland | 770 | 0.63 | $39,140 | $33,850 | $49,850 | -0% | 53% |
| Massachusetts | 1,560 | 0.97 | $42,380 | $35,560 | $56,510 | +8% | 52% |
| Michigan | 1,500 | 0.77 | $37,940 | $30,830 | $45,420 | -3% | 37% |
| Minnesota | 440 | 0.34 | $44,860 | $36,640 | $58,480 | +14% | 35% |
| Mississippi | 590 | 1.15 | $35,780 | $25,700 | $42,550 | -9% | 33% |
| Missouri | 1,060 | 0.82 | $41,410 | $33,560 | $47,950 | +6% | 31% |
| Montana | 60 | 0.28 | $40,080 | $27,040 | $50,500 | +2% | 35% |
| Nebraska | 470 | 1.04 | $34,600 | $28,790 | $46,420 | -12% | 38% |
| Nevada | 530 | 0.77 | $46,520 | $31,700 | $49,980 | +19% | 44% |
| New Hampshire | 190 | 0.63 | $40,630 | $26,350 | $53,980 | +4% | 46% |
| New Jersey | 2,100 | 1.11 | $40,870 | $34,150 | $51,590 | +4% | 53% |
| New Mexico | 400 | 1.04 | $38,570 | $28,310 | $43,240 | -2% | 35% |
| New York | 7,320 | 1.71 | $38,740 | $35,190 | $56,840 | -1% | 51% |
| North Carolina | 3,350 | 1.53 | $39,100 | $28,120 | $47,280 | -0% | 41% |
| North Dakota | 40 | 0.19 | $38,090 | $31,740 | $48,150 | -3% | 31% |
| Ohio | 1,710 | 0.70 | $38,320 | $31,200 | $44,860 | -2% | 34% |
| Oklahoma | 1,220 | 1.61 | $38,910 | $29,470 | $44,170 | -1% | 32% |
| Oregon | 850 | 0.98 | $45,170 | $35,110 | $58,960 | +15% | 42% |
| Pennsylvania | 3,330 | 1.25 | $39,700 | $30,520 | $48,950 | +1% | 38% |
| Rhode Island | 160 | 0.73 | $36,810 | $31,200 | $47,290 | -6% | 46% |
| South Carolina | 1,380 | 1.36 | $36,710 | $25,000 | $46,040 | -6% | 42% |
| South Dakota | 80 | 0.39 | $31,650 | $30,260 | $40,910 | -19% | 38% |
| Texas | 4,710 | 0.76 | $39,260 | $30,900 | $49,490 | +0% | 45% |
| Utah | 850 | 1.11 | $42,840 | $36,730 | $47,560 | +9% | 45% |
| Vermont | 50 | 0.34 | $45,600 | $36,190 | $46,140 | +16% | 35% |
| Virginia | 2,010 | 1.11 | $37,820 | $31,180 | $54,910 | -4% | 52% |
| Washington | 1,190 | 0.76 | $46,500 | $38,380 | $55,370 | +19% | 47% |
| West Virginia | 240 | 0.78 | $34,890 | $29,640 | $39,440 | -11% | 30% |
| Wisconsin | 2,560 | 1.97 | $36,910 | $29,770 | $45,960 | -6% | 37% |
| Wyoming | 70 | 0.56 | $31,680 | $23,000 | $57,510 | -19% | 38% |
Location quotient above 1 means the occupation is more concentrated in the state than in the nation. "n/a" means BLS suppressed the figure. Rent uses the state median gross rent (ACS).
The 60 highest-paying metropolitan areas among those with at least 300 jobs in this occupation.
| Metropolitan area ⇅ | Jobs ⇅ | Median pay ⇅ | Entry (10th pct.) ⇅ | Top (90th pct.) ⇅ | Location quotient ⇅ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | 390 | $55,680 | $42,020 | $69,100 | 0.77 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | 660 | $48,510 | $40,630 | $59,930 | 0.72 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | 940 | $47,840 | $41,020 | $57,520 | 0.89 |
| Las Vegas-Henderson-North Las Vegas, NV | 420 | $46,850 | $32,400 | $48,840 | 0.83 |
| Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO | 440 | $46,170 | $30,890 | $60,330 | 0.61 |
| Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA | 520 | $45,650 | $36,350 | $60,500 | 0.97 |
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | 1,010 | $44,840 | $36,770 | $59,570 | 0.73 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | 470 | $44,760 | $36,090 | $69,110 | 0.98 |
| Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX | 410 | $44,220 | $35,610 | $54,430 | 0.71 |
| Memphis, TN-MS-AR | 1,100 | $44,040 | $36,450 | $44,870 | 4.07 |
| Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ | 390 | $43,920 | $34,430 | $47,700 | 2.37 |
| Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | 1,070 | $43,830 | $37,080 | $60,800 | 0.90 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | 3,030 | $43,760 | $37,210 | $54,910 | 1.09 |
| Salt Lake City-Murray, UT | 620 | $42,840 | $37,850 | $47,930 | 1.70 |
| Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN | 1,360 | $42,800 | $35,660 | $47,720 | 2.80 |
| St. Louis, MO-IL | 540 | $42,680 | $35,330 | $47,950 | 0.92 |
| Knoxville, TN | 620 | $42,610 | $34,670 | $43,940 | 3.31 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | 690 | $42,440 | $36,140 | $57,360 | 1.02 |
| Pittsburgh, PA | 600 | $42,250 | $32,090 | $48,940 | 1.23 |
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | 1,400 | $41,860 | $35,520 | $51,650 | 0.78 |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | 6,690 | $41,140 | $35,800 | $58,760 | 1.60 |
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | 810 | $41,130 | $34,340 | $49,310 | 0.41 |
| Madison, WI | 500 | $41,080 | $34,720 | $47,740 | 2.78 |
| Kansas City, MO-KS | 430 | $41,050 | $31,480 | $48,580 | 0.89 |
| Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX | 1,090 | $40,370 | $33,990 | $50,500 | 0.75 |
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | 1,530 | $40,340 | $32,800 | $53,370 | 1.20 |
| Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN | 340 | $40,160 | $31,630 | $44,860 | 0.70 |
| San Antonio-New Braunfels, TX | 320 | $39,860 | $31,620 | $49,010 | 0.63 |
| Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA | 1,380 | $39,720 | $35,100 | $47,900 | 1.08 |
| Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI | 620 | $39,670 | $32,130 | $45,150 | 0.74 |
| Raleigh-Cary, NC | 360 | $39,650 | $27,400 | $61,540 | 1.11 |
| Cleveland, OH | 410 | $39,410 | $33,580 | $47,320 | 0.90 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | 390 | $39,160 | $34,780 | $56,410 | 0.51 |
| Tulsa, OK | 360 | $39,160 | $28,790 | $43,820 | 1.80 |
| Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD | 330 | $39,140 | $33,870 | $49,850 | 0.55 |
| Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC | 1,100 | $39,110 | $31,220 | $46,830 | 1.83 |
| Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ | 610 | $39,100 | $31,220 | $46,970 | 0.58 |
| Oklahoma City, OK | 620 | $38,970 | $30,160 | $44,150 | 2.06 |
| Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood, IN | 520 | $38,730 | $34,660 | $53,210 | 1.06 |
| Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL | 680 | $38,100 | $33,060 | $45,840 | 1.07 |
| Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford, FL | 770 | $37,820 | $31,860 | $47,330 | 1.24 |
| Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL | 1,770 | $37,650 | $32,130 | $46,830 | 1.42 |
| Rochester, NY | 380 | $37,520 | $32,240 | $46,080 | 1.75 |
| Birmingham, AL | 330 | $36,820 | $29,100 | $45,230 | 1.46 |
| Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY | 630 | $36,740 | $32,240 | $44,640 | 2.67 |
| Jacksonville, FL | 450 | $36,610 | $31,550 | $45,330 | 1.32 |
| Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI | 930 | $36,560 | $29,770 | $46,680 | 2.58 |
| Greenville-Anderson-Greer, SC | 390 | $34,810 | $24,420 | $39,410 | 2.01 |
| New Orleans-Metairie, LA | 310 | $34,100 | $23,360 | $44,870 | 1.58 |
| San Juan-Bayamon-Caguas, PR | 2,290 | $23,760 | $21,840 | $31,750 | 7.52 |
The median is $39,200 a year ($18.85 an hour); the lowest-paid tenth earn under $31,550 and the highest-paid tenth over $50,330 (BLS OEWS, May 2025).
68,640 in May 2025, and BLS projects +8.0% growth to 2035.
The typical entry education is: High school diploma or equivalent (BLS).
Nevada, with a median of $46,520 (among states with published figures).