Couriers and Messengers pay range in Columbia
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $25,700 a year or less, while the top 10% make $45,750 or more. The middle half of couriers and messengers in Columbia earn between $25,700 and $38,380.
- $26K10th
- $26K25th
- $38KMedian
- $38K75th
- $46K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $34,910 | $2,909 | $16.78 |
| Median | $37,550 | $3,129 | $18.05 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $25,700 | $2,142 | $12.36 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $38,380 | $3,198 | $18.45 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Couriers and Messengers pay in Columbia vs. South Carolina and the U.S.
Couriers and messengers in Columbia earn about the same as the South Carolina average ($35,790) and 15% 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Columbia | $34,910 | $37,550 | $25,700 | $45,750 | 270 |
| South Carolina | $35,790 | $36,710 | $25,000 | $46,040 | 1,380 |
| 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 Columbia
On the average salary of $34,910, a single filer in Columbia takes home about $29,834 a year, or $2,486 a month and $1,147 every two weeks. Taxes take 15% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules).
Is Columbia a good place for couriers and messengers? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Columbia area are 6% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 93.7), so the average $34,910 buys what about $37,272 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.8 times the median wage of all jobs in Columbia ($46,430). A typical home costs $256,154, or 7.3 years of this average salary before tax.
Couriers and Messengers salary in other South Carolina cities
Columbia ranks 5th of 6 South Carolina metro areas for this job; Spartanburg pays the most ($39,220).
- Spartanburg$39,220
- Florence$37,550
- Charleston$36,980
- Myrtle Beach$35,040
- Columbia$34,910
- Greenville$34,280
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 Columbia: questions
How much do couriers and messengers make an hour in Columbia?
$16.78 an hour on average, and $18.05 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level couriers and messengers salary in Columbia?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $25,700 a year and the 25th percentile is $25,700, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the couriers and messengers take-home pay in Columbia?
About $29,834 a year ($2,486 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $34,910.
Do couriers and messengers earn more in Columbia than elsewhere?
The average here is 15% 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 Columbia, SC (17900). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 6.4%.
- 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 1.58, this job is 1.6 times as concentrated as in the U.S. overall.
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