Couriers and Messengers pay range in Lake Charles
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $22,570 a year or less, while the top 10% make $45,450 or more. The middle half of couriers and messengers in Lake Charles earn between $27,910 and $39,240.
- $23K10th
- $28K25th
- $32KMedian
- $39K75th
- $45K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $33,580 | $2,798 | $16.14 |
| Median | $32,130 | $2,678 | $15.45 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $27,910 | $2,326 | $13.42 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $39,240 | $3,270 | $18.87 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Couriers and Messengers pay in Lake Charles vs. Louisiana and the U.S.
Couriers and messengers in Lake Charles earn about the same as the Louisiana average ($33,900) and 18% less than the U.S. average ($40,970). At the median the gap is -18% against the U.S. median of $39,200.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lake Charles | $33,580 | $32,130 | $22,570 | $45,450 | 60 |
| Louisiana | $33,900 | $33,490 | $22,980 | $44,630 | 1,030 |
| United States | $40,970 | $39,200 | $31,550 | $50,330 | 68,640 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Couriers and Messengers salary after taxes in Lake Charles
On the average salary of $33,580, a single filer in Lake Charles takes home about $28,540 a year, or $2,378 a month and $1,098 every two weeks. Taxes take 15% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules).
Is Lake Charles a good place for couriers and messengers? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Lake Charles area are 14% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 85.9), so the average $33,580 buys what about $39,114 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.7 times the median wage of all jobs in Lake Charles ($45,700). A typical home costs $202,237, or 6.0 years of this average salary before tax.
Couriers and Messengers salary in other Louisiana cities
Lake Charles ranks 5th of 8 Louisiana metro areas for this job; New Orleans pays the most ($34,720).
- New Orleans$34,720
- Shreveport$34,110
- Alexandria$33,790
- Lafayette$33,680
- Lake Charles$33,580
- Baton Rouge$33,470
- Houma$33,290
- Monroe$31,410
Highest-paying cities for couriers and messengers
San Jose, CA pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($55,350).
- San Jose, CA$55,350
- Modesto, CA$51,800
- Napa, CA$50,750
- Seattle, WA$49,400
- San Francisco, CA$48,970
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Couriers and Messengers salary in Lake Charles: questions
How much do couriers and messengers make an hour in Lake Charles?
$16.14 an hour on average, and $15.45 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level couriers and messengers salary in Lake Charles?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $22,570 a year and the 25th percentile is $27,910, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the couriers and messengers take-home pay in Lake Charles?
About $28,540 a year ($2,378 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $33,580.
Do couriers and messengers earn more in Lake Charles than elsewhere?
The average here is 18% less than the U.S. average for this job ($40,970).
Sources and how to read this page
- Wages: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates for metropolitan areas. SOC code 43-5021; area Lake Charles, LA (29340). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 3.9%.
- U.S. and statewide figures: BLS OEWS national and state estimates, May 2025, every employer including rural areas.
- Cost of living: Bureau of Economic Analysis regional price parities (RPP), 2024; 100 = U.S. average.
- Home value: Zillow Home Value Index. Typical-wage figure: OEWS all occupations, same metro.
- Take-home pay: Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules).
- Job concentration: location quotient 1.25, this job is 1.2 times as concentrated as in the U.S. overall.
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