Couriers and Messengers pay range in Knoxville
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $34,670 a year or less, while the top 10% make $43,940 or more. The middle half of couriers and messengers in Knoxville earn between $36,250 and $43,180.
- $35K10th
- $36K25th
- $43KMedian
- $43K75th
- $44K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $39,690 | $3,308 | $19.08 |
| Median | $42,610 | $3,551 | $20.49 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $36,250 | $3,021 | $17.43 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $43,180 | $3,598 | $20.76 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Couriers and Messengers pay in Knoxville vs. Tennessee and the U.S.
Couriers and messengers in Knoxville earn about the same as the Tennessee average ($40,460) and 3% less than the U.S. average ($40,970). At the median the gap is +9% against the U.S. median of $39,200.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Knoxville | $39,690 | $42,610 | $34,670 | $43,940 | 620 |
| 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 Knoxville
On the average salary of $39,690, a single filer in Knoxville takes home about $34,071 a year, or $2,839 a month and $1,310 every two weeks. Taxes take 14% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and no state income tax.
Is Knoxville a good place for couriers and messengers? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Knoxville area are 7% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 92.6), so the average $39,690 buys what about $42,876 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.9 times the median wage of all jobs in Knoxville ($47,080). A typical home costs $367,158, or 9.3 years of this average salary before tax.
Couriers and Messengers salary in other Tennessee cities
Knoxville ranks 3rd 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 Knoxville: questions
How much do couriers and messengers make an hour in Knoxville?
$19.08 an hour on average, and $20.49 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level couriers and messengers salary in Knoxville?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $34,670 a year and the 25th percentile is $36,250, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the couriers and messengers take-home pay in Knoxville?
About $34,071 a year ($2,839 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $39,690. Tennessee has no state income tax.
Do couriers and messengers earn more in Knoxville than elsewhere?
The average here is 3% 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 Knoxville, TN (28940). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 3.1%.
- 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 3.31, this job is 3.3 times as concentrated as in the U.S. overall.
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