Couriers and Messengers pay range in Memphis
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $36,450 a year or less, while the top 10% make $44,870 or more. The middle half of couriers and messengers in Memphis earn between $36,840 and $44,110.
- $36K10th
- $37K25th
- $44KMedian
- $44K75th
- $45K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $41,520 | $3,460 | $19.96 |
| Median | $44,040 | $3,670 | $21.17 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $36,840 | $3,070 | $17.71 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $44,110 | $3,676 | $21.21 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Couriers and Messengers pay in Memphis vs. Tennessee and the U.S.
Couriers and messengers in Memphis earn about the same as the Tennessee average ($40,460) and about the same as the U.S. average ($40,970). At the median the gap is +12% against the U.S. median of $39,200.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Memphis | $41,520 | $44,040 | $36,450 | $44,870 | 1,100 |
| 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 Memphis
On the average salary of $41,520, a single filer in Memphis takes home about $35,541 a year, or $2,962 a month and $1,367 every two weeks. Taxes take 14% of gross pay.
The Memphis, TN-MS-AR metro area crosses state lines, so take-home pay depends on the state where you work:
| State | Per year | Per month |
|---|---|---|
| Working in TN | $35,541 | $2,962 |
| Working in MS | $34,613 | $2,884 |
| Working in AR | $34,492 | $2,874 |
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and no state income tax.
Is Memphis a good place for couriers and messengers? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Memphis area are 8% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 92.2), so the average $41,520 buys what about $45,043 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.9 times the median wage of all jobs in Memphis ($46,890). A typical home costs $247,229, or 6.0 years of this average salary before tax.
Couriers and Messengers salary in other Tennessee cities
Memphis ranks 2nd 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 Memphis: questions
How much do couriers and messengers make an hour in Memphis?
$19.96 an hour on average, and $21.17 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level couriers and messengers salary in Memphis?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $36,450 a year and the 25th percentile is $36,840, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the couriers and messengers take-home pay in Memphis?
About $35,541 a year ($2,962 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $41,520. Tennessee has no state income tax.
Do couriers and messengers earn more in Memphis 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 Memphis, TN-MS-AR (32820). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 3.2%.
- 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 4.07, this job is 4.1 times as concentrated as in the U.S. overall.
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