Couriers and Messengers pay range in Chattanooga
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $29,990 a year or less, while the top 10% make $46,450 or more. The middle half of couriers and messengers in Chattanooga earn between $34,380 and $42,760.
- $30K10th
- $34K25th
- $36KMedian
- $43K75th
- $46K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $38,270 | $3,189 | $18.40 |
| Median | $36,310 | $3,026 | $17.46 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $34,380 | $2,865 | $16.53 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $42,760 | $3,563 | $20.56 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Couriers and Messengers pay in Chattanooga vs. Tennessee and the U.S.
Couriers and messengers in Chattanooga earn 5% less than the Tennessee average ($40,460) and 7% less than the U.S. average ($40,970). At the median the gap is -7% against the U.S. median of $39,200.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chattanooga | $38,270 | $36,310 | $29,990 | $46,450 | 170 |
| Tennessee | $40,460 | $40,270 | $33,360 | $46,940 | n/a |
| 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 Chattanooga
On the average salary of $38,270, a single filer in Chattanooga takes home about $32,930 a year, or $2,744 a month and $1,267 every two weeks. Taxes take 14% of gross pay.
The Chattanooga, TN-GA metro area crosses state lines, so take-home pay depends on the state where you work:
| State | Per year | Per month |
|---|---|---|
| Working in TN | $32,930 | $2,744 |
| Working in GA | $31,769 | $2,647 |
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and no state income tax.
Is Chattanooga a good place for couriers and messengers? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Chattanooga area are 9% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 91.5), so the average $38,270 buys what about $41,842 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.8 times the median wage of all jobs in Chattanooga ($46,700). A typical home costs $326,370, or 8.5 years of this average salary before tax.
Couriers and Messengers salary in other Tennessee cities
Chattanooga ranks 4th of 7 Tennessee metro areas for this job; Nashville pays the most ($42,280).
- Nashville$42,280
- Memphis$41,520
- Knoxville$39,690
- Chattanooga$38,270
- Clarksville$36,350
- Kingsport$36,270
- Johnson City$34,240
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 Chattanooga: questions
How much do couriers and messengers make an hour in Chattanooga?
$18.40 an hour on average, and $17.46 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level couriers and messengers salary in Chattanooga?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $29,990 a year and the 25th percentile is $34,380, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the couriers and messengers take-home pay in Chattanooga?
About $32,930 a year ($2,744 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $38,270. Tennessee has no state income tax.
Do couriers and messengers earn more in Chattanooga than elsewhere?
The average here is 7% 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 Chattanooga, TN-GA (16860). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 2.4%.
- 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 no state income tax.
- Job concentration: location quotient 1.40, this job is 1.4 times as concentrated as in the U.S. overall.
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