Couriers and Messengers salary in Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA
Couriers and Messengers in the Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA metro area earn a median of $48,510 a year ($23.32 an hour), based on BLS data for 660 workers.
Pay ranges from $40,630 for the lowest-paid 10% to $59,930 for the top 10%. That is 24% higher than the national median of $39,200. Pay here is 4% higher than the Washington statewide median of $46,500. There are 0.32 couriers and messengers per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.72). The average (mean) salary is $49,400, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for couriers and messengers in Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $40,630 | $19.53 |
| 25th percentile | $44,740 | $21.51 |
| Median | $48,510 | $23.32 |
| 75th percentile | $53,160 | $25.56 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $59,930 | $28.81 |
| Average (mean) | $49,400 | $23.75 |
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 | $4,042.50 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $2,021.25 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,865.77 |
| Weekly | $932.88 |
| Hourly | $23.32 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $48,510 salary, see how much house you can afford in Washington 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Bellingham, WA | $45,920 | 60 |
| Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA | $45,650 | 520 |
| Kennewick-Richland, WA | $39,710 | 50 |
| Spokane-Spokane Valley, WA | $38,190 | 90 |
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 Washington statewide figures.
Related jobs in Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Production, Planning, and Expediting Clerks | $81,850 | $39.35 |
| Shipping, Receiving, and Inventory Clerks | $56,370 | $27.10 |
| Postal Service Mail Carrier | $62,960 | $30.27 |
| Dispatchers, Except Police, Fire, and Ambulance | $59,340 | $28.53 |
| Cargo and Freight Agents | $61,860 | $29.74 |
| Postal Service Mail Sorters, Processors, and Processing Machine Operators | $59,740 | $28.72 |
| Public Safety Telecommunicator | $80,180 | $38.55 |
| Postal Service Clerk | $63,210 | $30.39 |
| Weighers, Measurers, Checkers, and Samplers, Recordkeeping | $51,940 | $24.97 |
| Meter Readers, Utilities | $74,030 | $35.59 |
| Office Clerks, General | $53,290 | $25.62 |
| Customer Service Representative | $53,550 | $25.75 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support Workers | $81,640 | $39.25 |
| Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks | $60,460 | $29.07 |
More: Office and Administrative Support Occupations · all salaries in Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA
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 Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA?
The median salary for couriers and messengers in the Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA metro area is $48,510 a year, or $23.32 an hour. Pay ranges from $40,630 for the lowest-paid 10% to $59,930 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid couriers and messengers make in Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA?
The top 10% of couriers and messengers in the Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA metro area earn at least $59,930 a year. The top 25% earn $53,160 or more.
What is the starting pay for couriers and messengers in Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $40,630 a year, and a quarter of couriers and messengers earn $44,740 or less.
How many couriers and messengers work in Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA?
About 660 couriers and messengers are employed in the Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA metro area, not counting the self-employed.