Couriers and Messengers Salary
Couriers and Messengers in Providence-Warwick, RI-MA make a median of $37,090 a year, or about $17.83 an hour. The range runs from $31K at the entry level to $49K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 101.77), that's roughly $36,445 in purchasing power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,729/month, about 67.5% of take-home, which is tight.
So what does $37K get you in Providence-Warwick?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Providence-Warwick’s Regional Price Parity (101.77). 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
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What this looks like in Providence-Warwick
Couriers and messengers pay in Providence-Warwick tracks closely to the national median, $37K locally vs. $39K nationwide, a 5% difference. The catch: housing math doesn't keep up. A 2-bedroom at the HUD median rents for $1,729/month, which is 67.3% of the median worker's take-home, past the 30% guideline most planners use. Cost of living (RPP 101.77) is near the national average, so spending patterns here track the typical American budget fairly closely. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compared to nearby metros
Median pay for couriers and messengers in metros near Providence-Warwick, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| Boston-Cambridge-Newton | $44K | $40K |
| Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford | $42K | $41K |
| Worcester | $41K | $40K |
| New Haven | $42K | $40K |
COL-adjusted = median salary ÷ (BEA Regional Price Parity ÷ 100). Expresses purchasing power in national-average dollars.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Providence-Warwick, RI-MA
Entry-level couriers and messengers (10th percentile) start around $31K. Mid-career wages sit at $37K. Top earners bring in $49K or more, a $17K 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 Providence-Warwick numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a couriers and messenger afford a 2BR apartment alone in Providence-Warwick?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $37K, rent takes 67.3% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,729/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 Providence-Warwick?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new couriers and messengers typically earn — is $31K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $1,872/month. At HUD’s $1,729/month FMR, rent would take 92% 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 Providence-Warwick?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $37K locally vs. $39K nationally, a 5% difference.
How does Providence-Warwick compare to the national average for couriers and messengers?
Providence-Warwick pays $37K median vs. the U.S. average of $39K — that’s -5%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 101.77), the purchasing-power equivalent is $36K — below the national median.
How much do couriers and messengers make in Providence-Warwick, RI-MA?
The median is $37,090 a year, that works out to about $18 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $31,200, and experienced couriers and messengers can clear $48,690. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $37K enough to live in Providence-Warwick?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $2,569/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,729/month, which eats 67.3% 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 Providence-Warwick?
Providence-Warwick has a Regional Price Parity of 101.77 (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 $36,445 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.