Couriers and Messengers pay range in Raleigh
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $27,400 a year or less, while the top 10% make $61,540 or more. The middle half of couriers and messengers in Raleigh earn between $36,600 and $46,560.
- $27K10th
- $37K25th
- $40KMedian
- $47K75th
- $62K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $40,860 | $3,405 | $19.64 |
| Median | $39,650 | $3,304 | $19.06 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $36,600 | $3,050 | $17.60 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $46,560 | $3,880 | $22.38 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Couriers and Messengers pay in Raleigh vs. North Carolina and the U.S.
Couriers and messengers in Raleigh earn 5% more than the North Carolina average ($38,830) and about the same as the U.S. average ($40,970). At the median the gap is +1% against the U.S. median of $39,200.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Raleigh | $40,860 | $39,650 | $27,400 | $61,540 | 360 |
| North Carolina | $38,830 | $39,100 | $28,120 | $47,280 | 3,350 |
| 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 Raleigh
On the average salary of $40,860, a single filer in Raleigh takes home about $33,889 a year, or $2,824 a month and $1,303 every two weeks. Taxes take 17% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules).
Is Raleigh a good place for couriers and messengers? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Raleigh area are 2% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 98.2), so the average $40,860 buys what about $41,627 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.8 times the median wage of all jobs in Raleigh ($51,990). A typical home costs $438,364, or 10.7 years of this average salary before tax.
Couriers and Messengers salary in other North Carolina cities
Raleigh ranks 2nd of 11 North Carolina metro areas for this job; Durham pays the most ($41,580).
- Durham$41,580
- Raleigh$40,860
- Asheville$40,210
- Charlotte$40,040
- Wilmington$38,850
- Burlington$38,120
- Greensboro$37,680
- Fayetteville$36,800
- Greenville$36,600
- Winston-Salem$36,120
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
Does this match what you are paid?
Anonymous, no account. Results update as visitors answer.
Share your pay anonymously
Couriers and Messengers salary in Raleigh: questions
How much do couriers and messengers make an hour in Raleigh?
$19.65 an hour on average, and $19.06 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level couriers and messengers salary in Raleigh?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $27,400 a year and the 25th percentile is $36,600, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the couriers and messengers take-home pay in Raleigh?
About $33,889 a year ($2,824 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $40,860.
Do couriers and messengers earn more in Raleigh than elsewhere?
The average here is about the same as 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 Raleigh-Cary, NC (39580). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 1.4%.
- 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 1.11, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.
Read the full methodology. Spotted an error? Tell us.