Couriers and Messengers Salary in Rochester, NY
Couriers and Messengers in Rochester, NY make a median of $36,240 a year, or about $17.42 an hour. The range runs from $31K at the entry level to $48K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 97.03), that's roughly $37,349 in purchasing power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,573/month — about 62.9% of take-home, which is tight.
So what does $36K get you in Rochester?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Rochester’s Regional Price Parity (97.03). 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, Rochester, NY
Entry-level couriers and messengers (10th percentile) start around $31K. Mid-career wages sit at $36K. Top earners bring in $48K or more, a $16K 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 Rochester numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
How much do couriers and messengers make in Rochester, NY?
The median is $36,240 a year, that works out to about $17 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $31,250, and experienced couriers and messengers can clear $47,570. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $36K enough to live in Rochester?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $2,481/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,573/month, which eats 63.4% 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 Rochester?
Rochester has a Regional Price Parity of 97.03 (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 $37,349 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.