Couriers and Messengers Salary
Couriers and Messengers in Iowa make a mean (average) of $38,460 a year, or about $18.49 an hour. The range runs from $32K at the entry level to $43K for experienced workers. BLS does not publish the median for this occupation because wages exceed the reportable ceiling. The figure shown is the mean (average). Cost of living is below average (RPP 88.86), which stretches that salary to about $43,282 in buying power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,064/month, about 40.6% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Iowa. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $38K (mean) get you in Iowa?
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What this looks like in Iowa
Couriers and messengers pay in Iowa tracks closely to the national median, $38K locally vs. $39K nationwide, a 2% difference. The catch: housing math doesn't keep up. A 2-bedroom at the HUD median rents for $1,064/month, which is 41% of the median worker's take-home, past the 30% guideline most planners use. Regional Price Parity sits at 88.86 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 11% 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, Iowa
Entry-level couriers and messengers (10th percentile) start around $32K. Mid-career wages sit at $38K. Top earners bring in $43K or more, a $11K spread from bottom to top.
Couriers and Messengers salary by metro in Iowa
5 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Des Moines-West Des Moines | $39K | +2% | 190 |
| Dubuque | $39K | +1% | 30 |
| Cedar Rapids | $39K | +1% | 90 |
| Waterloo-Cedar Falls | $38K | -0% | 40 |
| Davenport-Moline-Rock Island | $38K | -1% | 80 |
Compare to other states
Track couriers and messengers salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Iowa numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a couriers and messenger afford a 2BR apartment alone in Iowa?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $38K, rent takes 41% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,064/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 Iowa?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new couriers and messengers typically earn — is $32K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $1,931/month. At HUD’s $1,064/month FMR, rent would take 55% 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 Iowa?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $38K locally vs. $39K nationally, a 2% difference.
How does Iowa compare to the national average for couriers and messengers?
Iowa pays $38K median vs. the U.S. average of $39K — that’s -2%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 88.86), the purchasing-power equivalent is $43K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do couriers and messengers make in Iowa?
BLS reports a mean (average) wage of $38,460 a year for this occupation in Iowa. The median is not published because wages exceed the BLS reportable ceiling. Entry-level workers start around $32,180. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $38K enough to live in Iowa?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $2,598/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,064/month, which eats 41% 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 Iowa?
Iowa has a Regional Price Parity of 88.86 (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 $43,282 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.