Couriers and Messengers pay range in Boston
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $37,080 a year or less, while the top 10% make $60,800 or more. The middle half of couriers and messengers in Boston earn between $38,640 and $48,370.
- $37K10th
- $39K25th
- $44KMedian
- $48K75th
- $61K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $45,130 | $3,761 | $21.70 |
| Median | $43,830 | $3,652 | $21.07 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $38,640 | $3,220 | $18.58 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $48,370 | $4,031 | $23.25 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year.
Couriers and Messengers salary after taxes in Boston
On the average salary of $45,130, a single filer in Boston takes home about $36,505 a year, or $3,042 a month and $1,404 every two weeks. Taxes take 19% of gross pay.
The Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH metro area crosses state lines, so take-home pay depends on the state where you work:
| State | Per year | Per month |
|---|---|---|
| Working in NH | $38,442 | $3,203 |
| Working in MA | $36,505 | $3,042 |
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules). Massachusetts Paid Family and Medical Leave premiums are not included.
Is Boston a good place for couriers and messengers? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Boston area are 8% above the U.S. average (BEA price parity 108.3), so the average $45,130 buys what about $41,684 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.7 times the median wage of all jobs in Boston ($66,620). A typical home costs $741,868, or 16.4 years of this average salary before tax.
Couriers and Messengers salary in other Massachusetts cities
Boston ranks 1st of 4 Massachusetts metro areas for this job, the best-paid in the state.
- Boston$45,130
- Barnstable$42,640
- Worcester$42,120
- Springfield$40,780
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 Boston: questions
How much do couriers and messengers make an hour in Boston?
$21.70 an hour on average, and $21.07 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level couriers and messengers salary in Boston?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $37,080 a year and the 25th percentile is $38,640, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the couriers and messengers take-home pay in Boston?
About $36,505 a year ($3,042 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $45,130. Massachusetts Paid Family and Medical Leave premiums are not included.
Do couriers and messengers earn more in Boston than elsewhere?
The average here is 11% more than the U.S. metro average for this job ($40,821).
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 Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH (14460). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 1.8%.
- 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). Massachusetts Paid Family and Medical Leave premiums are not included.
- Job concentration: location quotient 0.90, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.
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