Couriers and Messengers pay range in Madison
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $34,720 a year or less, while the top 10% make $47,740 or more. The middle half of couriers and messengers in Madison earn between $36,060 and $44,360.
- $35K10th
- $36K25th
- $41KMedian
- $44K75th
- $48K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $40,680 | $3,390 | $19.56 |
| Median | $41,080 | $3,423 | $19.75 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $36,060 | $3,005 | $17.34 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $44,360 | $3,697 | $21.33 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Couriers and Messengers pay in Madison vs. Wisconsin and the U.S.
Couriers and messengers in Madison earn 6% more than the Wisconsin average ($38,550) and about the same as the U.S. average ($40,970). At the median the gap is +5% against the U.S. median of $39,200.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Madison | $40,680 | $41,080 | $34,720 | $47,740 | 500 |
| Wisconsin | $38,550 | $36,910 | $29,770 | $45,960 | 2,560 |
| 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 Madison
On the average salary of $40,680, a single filer in Madison takes home about $33,749 a year, or $2,812 a month and $1,298 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 Madison a good place for couriers and messengers? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Madison area are 3% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 97.3), so the average $40,680 buys what about $41,814 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.7 times the median wage of all jobs in Madison ($58,080). A typical home costs $452,769, or 11.1 years of this average salary before tax.
Couriers and Messengers salary in other Wisconsin cities
Madison ranks 1st of 8 Wisconsin metro areas for this job, the best-paid in the state.
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 Madison: questions
How much do couriers and messengers make an hour in Madison?
$19.56 an hour on average, and $19.75 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level couriers and messengers salary in Madison?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $34,720 a year and the 25th percentile is $36,060, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the couriers and messengers take-home pay in Madison?
About $33,749 a year ($2,812 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $40,680.
Do couriers and messengers earn more in Madison 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 Madison, WI (31540). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 1.2%.
- 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 state income tax (2026 rules).
- Job concentration: location quotient 2.78, this job is 2.8 times as concentrated as in the U.S. overall.
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