Couriers and Messengers Salary
Couriers and Messengers in Altoona, PA make a median of $30,770 a year, or about $14.8 an hour. The range runs from $30K at the entry level to $44K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 89.51), which stretches that salary to about $34,376 in buying power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,138/month, about 53.2% of take-home, which is tight.
So what does $31K get you in Altoona?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Altoona’s Regional Price Parity (89.51). Rent from HUD Fair Market Rents. Taxes estimated for single filer, standard deduction. * Healthcare is the employee-paid share only (premiums + out-of-pocket). Actual costs vary by coverage type: employer-sponsored, ACA marketplace, or uninsured.
About couriers and messengers
Sponsored links, AffordMap may earn a commission at no cost to you. Learn more
What this looks like in Altoona
Pay for couriers and messengers in Altoona runs about 22% below the U.S. median of $39K. The catch: housing math doesn't keep up. A 2-bedroom at the HUD median rents for $1,138/month, which is 52.9% of the median worker's take-home, past the 30% guideline most planners use. Regional Price Parity sits at 89.51 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 10% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. That combination, below-market pay with high housing costs, makes this a financially demanding market for couriers and messengerss.
Compared to nearby metros
Median pay for couriers and messengers in metros near Altoona, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington | $40K | $39K |
| Pittsburgh | $42K | $45K |
| Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton | $44K | $44K |
| Scranton--Wilkes-Barre | $47K | $50K |
COL-adjusted = median salary ÷ (BEA Regional Price Parity ÷ 100). Expresses purchasing power in national-average dollars.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Altoona, PA
Entry-level couriers and messengers (10th percentile) start around $30K. Mid-career wages sit at $31K. Top earners bring in $44K or more, a $14K spread from bottom to top.
Couriers and Messengers pay across states
Median income ranked highest to lowest, compared to the national figure
View Couriers and Messengers salary in all states
| State | Median salary | vs. national | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nevada | $47K | +19% | 530 |
| Washington | $47K | +19% | 1,190 |
| Vermont | $46K | +16% | 50 |
| District of Columbia | $45K | +15% | 120 |
| Oregon | $45K | +15% | 850 |
| Colorado | $45K | +15% | 640 |
| California | $45K | +15% | 7,240 |
| Minnesota | $45K | +14% | 440 |
| Utah | $43K | +9% | 850 |
| Massachusetts | $42K | +8% | 1,560 |
| Alaska | $42K | +6% | 160 |
| Maine | $42K | +6% | 40 |
| Missouri | $41K | +6% | 1,060 |
| New Jersey | $41K | +4% | 2,100 |
| New Hampshire | $41K | +4% | 190 |
| Tennessee | $40K | +3% | N/A |
| Montana | $40K | +2% | 60 |
| Pennsylvania | $40K | +1% | 3,330 |
| Connecticut | $39K | +1% | 650 |
| Georgia | $39K | +1% | 2,100 |
| Texas | $39K | +0% | 4,710 |
| Maryland | $39K | -0% | 770 |
| North Carolina | $39K | -0% | 3,350 |
| Illinois | $39K | -0% | 1,340 |
| Arizona | $39K | -1% | 820 |
| Oklahoma | $39K | -1% | 1,220 |
| Delaware | $39K | -1% | 170 |
| New York | $39K | -1% | 7,320 |
| Hawaii | $39K | -2% | 270 |
| New Mexico | $39K | -2% | 400 |
| Iowa | $38K | -2% | 580 |
| Kansas | $38K | -2% | 580 |
| Ohio | $38K | -2% | 1,710 |
| North Dakota | $38K | -3% | 40 |
| Michigan | $38K | -3% | 1,500 |
| Virginia | $38K | -4% | 2,010 |
| Florida | $38K | -4% | 4,910 |
| Indiana | $37K | -5% | 990 |
| Arkansas | $37K | -5% | 300 |
| Wisconsin | $37K | -6% | 2,560 |
| Rhode Island | $37K | -6% | 160 |
| South Carolina | $37K | -6% | 1,380 |
| Idaho | $36K | -8% | 410 |
| Kentucky | $36K | -8% | 750 |
| Mississippi | $36K | -9% | 590 |
| West Virginia | $35K | -11% | 240 |
| Alabama | $35K | -11% | 720 |
| Nebraska | $35K | -12% | 470 |
| Louisiana | $33K | -15% | 1,030 |
| Wyoming | $32K | -19% | 70 |
| South Dakota | $32K | -19% | 80 |
Showing 1–10 of 51 (all 50 states + DC)
Track couriers and messengers salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Altoona numbers change.
Related careers in Office & Admin
Frequently asked questions
Can a couriers and messenger afford a 2BR apartment alone in Altoona?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $31K, rent takes 52.9% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,138/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $600/month in rent — so roommates or a 1-bedroom would ease the math significantly.
What’s the entry-level salary for couriers and messengers in Altoona?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new couriers and messengers typically earn — is $30K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $1,806/month. At HUD’s $1,138/month FMR, rent would take 63% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is couriers and messenger a high-paying job in Altoona?
Local pay runs 22% below the national median — $31K here vs. $39K nationally. Cost of living is 10% below the national average, which narrows that gap in real purchasing power.
How does Altoona compare to the national average for couriers and messengers?
Altoona pays $31K median vs. the U.S. average of $39K — that’s -22%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 89.51), the purchasing-power equivalent is $34K — below the national median.
How much do couriers and messengers make in Altoona, PA?
The median is $30,770 a year, that works out to about $15 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $30,100, and experienced couriers and messengers can clear $44,220. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $31K enough to live in Altoona?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $2,151/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,138/month, which eats 52.9% of your paycheck. That's above the 30% rule of thumb, housing will be a stretch at the median salary, though you can manage with roommates or a smaller place.
How far does a couriers and messengers salary go in Altoona?
Altoona has a Regional Price Parity of 89.51 (100 is the national average). That's below average, your money stretches further here than the raw salary number suggests. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median couriers and messengers salary is worth about $34,376 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do couriers and messengers get paid the most?
The table above ranks every state by median pay for this role. Keep in mind that the highest-paying states tend to have the highest costs of living, so the top salary doesn't always mean the most money in your pocket.