Couriers and Messengers pay range in New Orleans
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $23,360 a year or less, while the top 10% make $44,870 or more. The middle half of couriers and messengers in New Orleans earn between $29,020 and $39,930.
- $23K10th
- $29K25th
- $34KMedian
- $40K75th
- $45K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $34,720 | $2,893 | $16.69 |
| Median | $34,100 | $2,842 | $16.39 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $29,020 | $2,418 | $13.95 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $39,930 | $3,328 | $19.20 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Couriers and Messengers pay in New Orleans vs. Louisiana and the U.S.
Couriers and messengers in New Orleans earn about the same as the Louisiana average ($33,900) and 15% less than the U.S. average ($40,970). At the median the gap is -13% against the U.S. median of $39,200.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| New Orleans | $34,720 | $34,100 | $23,360 | $44,870 | 310 |
| 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 New Orleans
On the average salary of $34,720, a single filer in New Orleans takes home about $29,422 a year, or $2,452 a month and $1,132 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 New Orleans a good place for couriers and messengers? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the New Orleans area are 7% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 92.6), so the average $34,720 buys what about $37,496 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.7 times the median wage of all jobs in New Orleans ($47,290). A typical home costs $261,414, or 7.5 years of this average salary before tax.
Couriers and Messengers salary in other Louisiana cities
New Orleans ranks 1st of 8 Louisiana metro areas for this job, the best-paid in the state.
- 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 New Orleans: questions
How much do couriers and messengers make an hour in New Orleans?
$16.69 an hour on average, and $16.39 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level couriers and messengers salary in New Orleans?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $23,360 a year and the 25th percentile is $29,020, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the couriers and messengers take-home pay in New Orleans?
About $29,422 a year ($2,452 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $34,720.
Do couriers and messengers earn more in New Orleans than elsewhere?
The average here is 15% 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 New Orleans-Metairie, LA (35380). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 4.0%.
- 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 1.58, this job is 1.6 times as concentrated as in the U.S. overall.
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