Couriers and Messengers Salary
Couriers and Messengers in Georgia make a median of $39,400 a year, or about $18.94 an hour. The range runs from $29K at the entry level to $48K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 91.89), which stretches that salary to about $42,877 in buying power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,434/month, about 53.4% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Georgia. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $39K get you in Georgia?
About couriers and messengers
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What this looks like in Georgia
Couriers and messengers pay in Georgia tracks closely to the national median, $39K locally vs. $39K nationwide, a 1% difference. The catch: housing math doesn't keep up. A 2-bedroom at the HUD median rents for $1,434/month, which is 53.8% of the median worker's take-home, past the 30% guideline most planners use. Regional Price Parity sits at 91.89 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 8% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Georgia
Entry-level couriers and messengers (10th percentile) start around $29K. Mid-career wages sit at $39K. Top earners bring in $48K or more, a $19K spread from bottom to top.
Couriers and Messengers salary by metro in Georgia
8 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell | $40K | +1% | 1,380 |
| Albany | $39K | +0% | 30 |
| Savannah | $38K | -4% | 70 |
| Augusta-Richmond County | $37K | -6% | 80 |
| Macon-Bibb County | $36K | -8% | 70 |
| Athens-Clarke County | $35K | -12% | 40 |
| Columbus | $33K | -17% | 40 |
| Rome | $33K | -17% | 40 |
Compare to other states
Track couriers and messengers salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Georgia numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a couriers and messenger afford a 2BR apartment alone in Georgia?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $39K, rent takes 53.8% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,434/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $800/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 Georgia?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new couriers and messengers typically earn — is $29K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $1,760/month. At HUD’s $1,434/month FMR, rent would take 81% 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 Georgia?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $39K locally vs. $39K nationally, a 1% difference.
How does Georgia compare to the national average for couriers and messengers?
Georgia pays $39K median vs. the U.S. average of $39K — that’s +1%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 91.89), the purchasing-power equivalent is $43K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do couriers and messengers make in Georgia?
The median is $39,400 a year, that works out to about $19 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $29,340, and experienced couriers and messengers can clear $47,900. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $39K enough to live in Georgia?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $2,665/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,434/month, which eats 53.8% 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 Georgia?
Georgia has a Regional Price Parity of 91.89 (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 $42,877 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.