Couriers and Messengers pay range in Philadelphia
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $32,800 a year or less, while the top 10% make $53,370 or more. The middle half of couriers and messengers in Philadelphia earn between $38,570 and $47,150.
- $33K10th
- $39K25th
- $40KMedian
- $47K75th
- $53K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $42,490 | $3,541 | $20.43 |
| Median | $40,340 | $3,362 | $19.39 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $38,570 | $3,214 | $18.54 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $47,150 | $3,929 | $22.67 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Couriers and Messengers pay in Philadelphia vs. Pennsylvania and the U.S.
Couriers and messengers in Philadelphia earn 4% more than the Pennsylvania average ($40,680) and 4% more than the U.S. average ($40,970). At the median the gap is +3% against the U.S. median of $39,200.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Philadelphia | $42,490 | $40,340 | $32,800 | $53,370 | 1,530 |
| Pennsylvania | $40,680 | $39,700 | $30,520 | $48,950 | 3,330 |
| 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 Philadelphia
On the average salary of $42,490, a single filer in Philadelphia takes home about $35,016 a year, or $2,918 a month and $1,347 every two weeks. Taxes take 18% of gross pay.
The Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD metro area crosses state lines, so take-home pay depends on the state where you work:
| State | Per year | Per month |
|---|---|---|
| Working in NJ | $35,521 | $2,960 |
| Working in PA | $35,016 | $2,918 |
| Working in DE | $34,529 | $2,877 |
| Working in MD | $34,514 | $2,876 |
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules). Local earned income taxes (for example Philadelphia's wage tax) are not included.
Is Philadelphia a good place for couriers and messengers? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Philadelphia area are 3% above the U.S. average (BEA price parity 102.6), so the average $42,490 buys what about $41,432 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.7 times the median wage of all jobs in Philadelphia ($54,310). A typical home costs $390,463, or 9.2 years of this average salary before tax.
Couriers and Messengers salary in other Pennsylvania cities
Philadelphia ranks 1st of 11 Pennsylvania metro areas for this job, the best-paid in the state.
- Philadelphia$42,490
- Scranton$41,800
- Allentown$41,510
- Harrisburg$41,260
- Pittsburgh$41,240
- Erie$39,430
- York$39,310
- Lancaster$38,480
- Reading$36,490
- Altoona$36,110
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 Philadelphia: questions
How much do couriers and messengers make an hour in Philadelphia?
$20.43 an hour on average, and $19.40 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level couriers and messengers salary in Philadelphia?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $32,800 a year and the 25th percentile is $38,570, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the couriers and messengers take-home pay in Philadelphia?
About $35,016 a year ($2,918 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $42,490. Local earned income taxes (for example Philadelphia's wage tax) are not included.
Do couriers and messengers earn more in Philadelphia than elsewhere?
The average here is 4% more 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 Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD (37980). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 1.6%.
- 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 (2025 rules). Local earned income taxes (for example Philadelphia's wage tax) are not included.
- Job concentration: location quotient 1.20, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.
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