Couriers and Messengers Salary
Couriers and Messengers in Urban Honolulu, HI make a median of $38,580 a year, or about $18.55 an hour. The range runs from $36K at the entry level to $47K for experienced workers. Prices run high here (RPP 110.96), so that salary is closer to $34,769 in real purchasing power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $2,642/month, about 99.2% of take-home, which is tight.
So what does $39K get you in Urban Honolulu?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Urban Honolulu’s Regional Price Parity (110.96). 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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What this looks like in Urban Honolulu
Couriers and messengers pay in Urban Honolulu tracks closely to the national median, $39K locally vs. $39K nationwide, a 2% difference. The catch: housing math doesn't keep up. A 2-bedroom at the HUD median rents for $2,642/month, which is 103.1% of the median worker's take-home, past the 30% guideline most planners use. Cost-of-living overall is 11% above the national average (BEA RPP 110.96), so groceries and services cost more too. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Urban Honolulu, HI
Entry-level couriers and messengers (10th percentile) start around $36K. Mid-career wages sit at $39K. Top earners bring in $47K or more, a $11K 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 Urban Honolulu numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a couriers and messenger afford a 2BR apartment alone in Urban Honolulu?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $39K, rent takes 103.1% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $2,642/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 Urban Honolulu?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new couriers and messengers typically earn — is $36K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,134/month. At HUD’s $2,642/month FMR, rent would take 124% 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 Urban Honolulu?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $39K locally vs. $39K nationally, a 2% difference.
How does Urban Honolulu compare to the national average for couriers and messengers?
Urban Honolulu pays $39K median vs. the U.S. average of $39K — that’s -2%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 110.96), the purchasing-power equivalent is $35K — below the national median.
How much do couriers and messengers make in Urban Honolulu, HI?
The median is $38,580 a year, that works out to about $19 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $35,560, and experienced couriers and messengers can clear $46,690. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $39K enough to live in Urban Honolulu?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $2,562/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $2,642/month, which eats 103.1% 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 Urban Honolulu?
Urban Honolulu has a Regional Price Parity of 110.96 (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 $34,769 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.