Couriers and Messengers pay range in Rochester
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $32,240 a year or less, while the top 10% make $46,080 or more. The middle half of couriers and messengers in Rochester earn between $35,230 and $39,980.
- $32K10th
- $35K25th
- $38KMedian
- $40K75th
- $46K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $38,570 | $3,214 | $18.54 |
| Median | $37,520 | $3,127 | $18.04 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $35,230 | $2,936 | $16.94 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $39,980 | $3,332 | $19.22 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Couriers and Messengers pay in Rochester vs. New York and the U.S.
Couriers and messengers in Rochester earn 12% less than the New York average ($43,750) and 6% less than the U.S. average ($40,970). At the median the gap is -4% against the U.S. median of $39,200.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rochester | $38,570 | $37,520 | $32,240 | $46,080 | 380 |
| New York | $43,750 | $38,740 | $35,190 | $56,840 | 7,320 |
| 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 Rochester
On the average salary of $38,570, a single filer in Rochester takes home about $31,655 a year, or $2,638 a month and $1,217 every two weeks. Taxes take 18% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules). New York City (up to 3.876%) and Yonkers income taxes are not included.
Is Rochester a good place for couriers and messengers? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Rochester area are 3% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 97.0), so the average $38,570 buys what about $39,749 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.7 times the median wage of all jobs in Rochester ($51,210). A typical home costs $285,034, or 7.4 years of this average salary before tax.
Couriers and Messengers salary in other New York cities
Rochester ranks 6th of 8 New York metro areas for this job; New York pays the most ($45,120).
- New York$45,120
- Kiryas Joel$44,100
- Syracuse$39,310
- Albany$39,150
- Binghamton$39,010
- Rochester$38,570
- Buffalo$38,160
- Utica$37,390
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 Rochester: questions
How much do couriers and messengers make an hour in Rochester?
$18.54 an hour on average, and $18.04 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level couriers and messengers salary in Rochester?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $32,240 a year and the 25th percentile is $35,230, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the couriers and messengers take-home pay in Rochester?
About $31,655 a year ($2,638 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $38,570. New York City (up to 3.876%) and Yonkers income taxes are not included.
Do couriers and messengers earn more in Rochester than elsewhere?
The average here is 6% 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 Rochester, NY (40380). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 1.3%.
- 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 (2025 rules). New York City (up to 3.876%) and Yonkers income taxes are not included.
- Job concentration: location quotient 1.75, this job is 1.8 times as concentrated as in the U.S. overall.
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