Couriers and Messengers Salary in New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ
Couriers and Messengers in New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ make a median of $42,230 a year, or about $20.3 an hour. The range runs from $37K at the entry level to $60K for experienced workers. Prices run high here (RPP 112.56), so that salary is closer to $37,518 in real purchasing power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $2,910/month — about 99.8% of take-home, which is tight.
So what does $42K get you in New York-Newark-Jersey City?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by New York-Newark-Jersey City’s Regional Price Parity (112.56). 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.
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Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ
Entry-level couriers and messengers (10th percentile) start around $37K. Mid-career wages sit at $42K. Top earners bring in $60K or more, a $23K 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 New York-Newark-Jersey City numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
How much do couriers and messengers make in New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ?
The median is $42,230 a year, that works out to about $20 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $36,670, and experienced couriers and messengers can clear $59,960. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $42K enough to live in New York-Newark-Jersey City?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $2,854/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $2,910/month, which eats 102% 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 New York-Newark-Jersey City?
New York-Newark-Jersey City has a Regional Price Parity of 112.56 (100 is the national average). Prices are above average here, so your dollar buys less than the same salary would in a cheaper metro. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median couriers and messengers salary is worth about $37,518 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.