Couriers and Messengers salary in San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA
Couriers and Messengers in the San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA metro area earn a median of $47,840 a year ($23.00 an hour), based on BLS data for 940 workers.
Pay ranges from $41,020 for the lowest-paid 10% to $57,520 for the top 10%. That is 22% higher than the national median of $39,200. Pay here is 6% higher than the California statewide median of $44,970. There are 0.39 couriers and messengers per 1,000 jobs here — close to the national average. The average (mean) salary is $48,970, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for couriers and messengers in San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $41,020 | $19.72 |
| 25th percentile | $44,680 | $21.48 |
| Median | $47,840 | $23.00 |
| 75th percentile | $50,560 | $24.31 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $57,520 | $27.66 |
| Average (mean) | $48,970 | $23.54 |
Half of couriers and messengers earn more than the median and half earn less. Percentiles show the spread: 10% earn less than the 10th percentile, and 10% earn more than the 90th.
Median paycheck, before taxes
| Pay period | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $3,986.67 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,993.33 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,840 |
| Weekly | $920 |
| Hourly | $23.00 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $47,840 salary, see how much house you can afford in California at today's mortgage rates, or work out a payment with the mortgage calculator.
Couriers and Messengers salary in other metro areas nearby
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $55,680 | 390 |
| Modesto, CA | $47,020 | 110 |
| Napa, CA | $46,060 | 50 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $44,760 | 470 |
| Fresno, CA | $44,370 | 170 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $43,760 | 3,030 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | $42,440 | 690 |
| Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA | $40,910 | 170 |
| Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA | $39,630 | 120 |
| Visalia, CA | $39,600 | 40 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | $39,160 | 390 |
| Redding, CA | $39,110 | 60 |
| Bakersfield-Delano, CA | $38,390 | 130 |
| Salinas, CA | $37,920 | 30 |
| Stockton-Lodi, CA | $37,510 | 70 |
Highest-paying states for couriers and messengers
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| Nevada | $46,520 |
| Washington | $46,500 |
| Vermont | $45,600 |
| District of Columbia | $45,210 |
| Oregon | $45,170 |
| Colorado | $45,140 |
| California | $44,970 |
| Minnesota | $44,860 |
| Utah | $42,840 |
| Massachusetts | $42,380 |
See Couriers and Messengers pay in every state or the California statewide figures.
Related jobs in San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Shipping, Receiving, and Inventory Clerks | $52,590 | $25.28 |
| Production, Planning, and Expediting Clerks | $76,900 | $36.97 |
| Postal Service Mail Carrier | $64,250 | $30.89 |
| Dispatchers, Except Police, Fire, and Ambulance | $58,610 | $28.18 |
| Cargo and Freight Agents | $60,980 | $29.32 |
| Postal Service Mail Sorters, Processors, and Processing Machine Operators | $63,650 | $30.60 |
| Public Safety Telecommunicator | $104,910 | $50.44 |
| Postal Service Clerk | $64,630 | $31.07 |
| Weighers, Measurers, Checkers, and Samplers, Recordkeeping | $49,500 | $23.80 |
| Meter Readers, Utilities | $100,480 | $48.31 |
| Office Clerks, General | $52,000 | $25.00 |
| Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive | $62,110 | $29.86 |
| Customer Service Representative | $57,830 | $27.80 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support Workers | $88,560 | $42.58 |
More: Office and Administrative Support Occupations · all salaries in San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 43-5021. Wages include base pay, tips, commissions and shift pay, but not overtime, bonuses or benefits, and exclude the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a couriers and messengers make in San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA?
The median salary for couriers and messengers in the San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA metro area is $47,840 a year, or $23.00 an hour. Pay ranges from $41,020 for the lowest-paid 10% to $57,520 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid couriers and messengers make in San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA?
The top 10% of couriers and messengers in the San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA metro area earn at least $57,520 a year. The top 25% earn $50,560 or more.
What is the starting pay for couriers and messengers in San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $41,020 a year, and a quarter of couriers and messengers earn $44,680 or less.
How many couriers and messengers work in San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA?
About 940 couriers and messengers are employed in the San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA metro area, not counting the self-employed.