Couriers and Messengers Salary in Columbus, OH
Couriers and Messengers in Columbus, OH make a median of $37,990 a year, or about $18.27 an hour. The range runs from $31K at the entry level to $51K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 95.47), that's roughly $39,793 in purchasing power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,430/month — about 55.2% of take-home, which is tight.
So what does $38K get you in Columbus?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Columbus’s Regional Price Parity (95.47). 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
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Columbus, OH
Entry-level couriers and messengers (10th percentile) start around $31K. Mid-career wages sit at $38K. Top earners bring in $51K or more, a $20K spread from bottom to top.
Couriers and Messengers pay across states
Median income ranked highest to lowest, compared to the national figure
| State | Median salary | vs. national | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| California | $45K | +16% | 8,970 |
| Washington | $44K | +15% | 1,670 |
| District of Columbia | $44K | +15% | N/A |
| Minnesota | $44K | +14% | 640 |
| Nevada | $42K | +11% | 650 |
| Massachusetts | $42K | +10% | 1,170 |
| Oregon | $42K | +9% | 770 |
| Utah | $42K | +9% | 1,040 |
| Maine | $40K | +4% | 40 |
| New York | $40K | +4% | 7,530 |
| New Jersey | $40K | +4% | 2,490 |
| Illinois | $40K | +3% | 1,560 |
| Vermont | $40K | +3% | 60 |
| Missouri | $40K | +3% | 1,390 |
| Alaska | $39K | +2% | 190 |
| Oklahoma | $39K | +2% | 710 |
| Montana | $39K | +1% | 50 |
| New Hampshire | $39K | +1% | 190 |
| Rhode Island | $38K | +0% | 150 |
| Virginia | $38K | +0% | 2,760 |
| North Carolina | $38K | -0% | 3,760 |
| Wyoming | $38K | -0% | 110 |
| Maryland | $38K | -1% | 1,110 |
| Iowa | $38K | -2% | 720 |
| Ohio | $38K | -2% | 2,080 |
| Pennsylvania | $38K | -2% | 3,050 |
| Delaware | $38K | -2% | 350 |
| Hawaii | $37K | -2% | 440 |
| Indiana | $37K | -2% | 1,020 |
| Idaho | $37K | -3% | 230 |
| Texas | $37K | -3% | 4,380 |
| West Virginia | $37K | -3% | 290 |
| Arizona | $37K | -3% | 1,010 |
| Wisconsin | $37K | -3% | 2,110 |
| Georgia | $37K | -3% | 1,840 |
| Michigan | $37K | -3% | 1,700 |
| New Mexico | $37K | -4% | 370 |
| Florida | $37K | -4% | 5,650 |
| Tennessee | $37K | -4% | 2,080 |
| North Dakota | $36K | -5% | 50 |
| Kentucky | $36K | -5% | 850 |
| Kansas | $36K | -7% | 440 |
| Arkansas | $35K | -8% | 290 |
| South Carolina | $35K | -8% | 1,120 |
| Mississippi | $35K | -9% | 480 |
| South Dakota | $33K | -13% | 70 |
| Alabama | $32K | -17% | 1,020 |
| Nebraska | $30K | -23% | 670 |
| Louisiana | $30K | -23% | 1,120 |
Showing 1–10 of 49 states
BLS does not publish data for every state when sample sizes are too small
Track couriers and messengers salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Columbus numbers change.
Related careers in Office & Admin
Frequently asked questions
How much do couriers and messengers make in Columbus, OH?
The median is $37,990 a year, that works out to about $18 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $30,640, and experienced couriers and messengers can clear $50,820. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $38K enough to live in Columbus?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $2,686/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,430/month, which eats 53.2% 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 Columbus?
Columbus has a Regional Price Parity of 95.47 (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 $39,793 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.