Couriers and Messengers: Career Profile
Pick up and deliver messages, documents, packages, and other items between offices or departments within an establishment or directly to other business concerns, traveling by foot, bicycle, motorcycle, automobile, or public conveyance.
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What Do Couriers and Messengers Take On?
Typical responsibilities of couriers and messengers cover:
- Deliver and pick up medical records, lab specimens, and medications to and from hospitals and other medical facilities.
- Obtain signatures and payments, or arrange for recipients to make payments.
- Record information, such as items received and delivered and recipients' responses to messages.
- Receive messages or materials to be delivered, and information on recipients, such as names, addresses, telephone numbers, and delivery instructions, communicated via telephone, two-way radio, or in person.
- Load vehicles with listed goods, ensuring goods are loaded correctly and taking precautions with hazardous goods.
- Walk, ride bicycles, drive vehicles, or use public conveyances to reach destinations to deliver messages or materials.
- Sort items to be delivered according to the delivery route.
- Deliver messages and items, such as newspapers, documents, and packages, between establishment departments and to other establishments and private homes.
Skills and Knowledge
Successful couriers and messengers rely on a mix of skills and domain knowledge.
Most Important Skills
These are the skills that matter most in this role, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:
Knowledge Areas
Related Job Titles
People in this occupation may also be known by titles such as:
- Bank Courier
- Bank Messenger
- Bank Runner
- Bicycle Messenger
- Bill Distributor
- Bill Hiker
- Bill Peddler
- Call Person
How Many Couriers and Messengers Are There?
The U.S. employs around 428,359 couriers and messengers working in the United States today. This occupation is expected to grow by +0.5% over the projection horizon.
Couriers and Messengers Pay
| Statistic | Value |
|---|---|
| Annual median | $57,344 |
| Hourly median | $27.57 |
| 10th percentile | $37,020 |
| 25th percentile | $47,182 |
| 75th percentile | $67,507 |
| 90th percentile | $77,669 |
Pay can vary substantially based on experience, location, and industry.
Couriers and Messengers Salary by State
| State | Annual median salary |
|---|---|
| Colorado | $44,610 |
| California | $44,600 |
| Washington | $44,170 |
| District of Columbia | $44,010 |
| Minnesota | $43,890 |
| Nevada | $42,490 |
| Massachusetts | $42,250 |
| Oregon | $41,870 |
| Utah | $41,600 |
| Maine | $40,020 |
| New York | $39,780 |
| New Jersey | $39,710 |
| Illinois | $39,680 |
| Vermont | $39,600 |
| Missouri | $39,520 |
| Alaska | $39,170 |
| Oklahoma | $39,090 |
| Montana | $38,780 |
| New Hampshire | $38,620 |
| Rhode Island | $38,420 |
| Virginia | $38,380 |
| North Carolina | $38,260 |
| Wyoming | $38,230 |
| Maryland | $38,010 |
| Iowa | $37,730 |
| Ohio | $37,680 |
| Pennsylvania | $37,590 |
| Delaware | $37,560 |
| Hawaii | $37,480 |
| Indiana | $37,470 |
| Idaho | $37,360 |
| Texas | $37,310 |
| West Virginia | $37,260 |
| Arizona | $37,220 |
| Wisconsin | $37,170 |
| Georgia | $37,140 |
| Michigan | $37,130 |
| New Mexico | $36,790 |
| Florida | $36,760 |
| Tennessee | $36,690 |
| North Dakota | $36,400 |
| Kentucky | $36,350 |
| Kansas | $35,520 |
| Arkansas | $35,430 |
| South Carolina | $35,360 |
| Mississippi | $34,930 |
| South Dakota | $33,400 |
| Virgin Islands | $32,870 |
| Alabama | $31,870 |
| Nebraska | $29,570 |
| Louisiana | $29,520 |
| Guam | $24,960 |
| Puerto Rico | $22,010 |
Where Couriers and Messengers Earn the Most
Earnings for couriers and messengers vary by region. The following regions pay the most:
| Region | Median annual wage | Share of U.S. jobs | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|
| Far Western US | $43,941 | 17.1% | 1.06 |
| Rocky Mountains | $41,878 | 2.9% | 0.92 |
| Middle Atlantic | $39,119 | 19.6% | 1.43 |
| Great Lakes | $37,785 | 11.4% | 0.93 |
| Plains States | $37,634 | 5.4% | 0.93 |
| Southwest | $37,461 | 8.7% | 0.72 |
| Southeast | $36,502 | 28.7% | 1.26 |
| New England | $31,225 | 2.9% | 0.65 |
Where the Jobs Cluster
| Metro area | State | Median annual wage | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | CA | $52,310 | 420 |
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA | CA | $49,090 | 70 |
| Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford, CT | CT | $48,770 | 190 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | CA | $47,490 | 1,190 |
| Bridgeport-Stamford-Danbury, CT | CT | $47,290 | 120 |
| Bremerton-Silverdale-Port Orchard, WA | WA | $46,810 | 40 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | WA | $45,900 | 950 |
| Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO | CO | $45,840 | 460 |
Industry Breakdown
Most couriers and messengers work in these industries:
| Industry | Employment | Median annual wage |
|---|---|---|
| Health Care and Social Assistance | 26,380 | $39,020 |
| Transportation and Warehousing | 20,100 | $38,460 |
| Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 6,810 | $35,060 |
| Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Services | 3,710 | $38,590 |
| Management of Companies and Enterprises | 2,610 | $38,590 |
| Retail Trade | 2,370 | $31,870 |
| Finance and Insurance | 2,330 | $36,040 |
| Educational Services | 1,370 | $40,110 |
Below are examples of industries where couriers and messengers work:
Software Couriers and Messengers Use
- Spreadsheet software: Microsoft Excel (hot technology)
- Office suite software: Microsoft Office software (hot technology)
- Electronic mail software: Microsoft Outlook (hot technology)
- Word processing software: Microsoft Word (hot technology)
Work Environment
Daily working conditions for couriers and messengers tends to involve the following characteristics:
- Telephone Conversations
- Freedom to Make Decisions
- Face-to-Face Discussions with Individuals and Within Teams
- Time Pressure
- Contact With Others
Education and Training
Entry-level couriers and messengers positions require a high school diploma or equivalent as the typical entry-level education. This career aligns with Some Preparation Needed (Job Zone 2), reflecting the level of preparation typically expected.
Other Careers to Consider
Similar Occupations
- Baggage Porters and Bellhops (Primary-Long)
- Switchboard Operators, Including Answering Service (Supplemental)
- Order Clerks (Supplemental)
- Cargo and Freight Agents (Primary-Long)
- Freight Forwarders (Supplemental)
- Dispatchers, Except Police, Fire, and Ambulance (Primary-Long)
- Postal Service Clerks (Primary-Short)
- Postal Service Mail Carriers (Primary-Short)
Sources
Data on this page comes from the following authoritative sources:
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics — Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) for employment and wage data by state and industry.
- BLS Employment Projections for total employment and growth forecasts.
- O*NET (Occupational Information Network) for skills, knowledge, tasks, work activities, work context, technology, and education-zone data.
SOC code: 43-5021.00 (Couriers and Messengers).
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