Couriers and Messengers salary in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV
Couriers and Messengers in the Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metro area earn a median of $44,840 a year ($21.56 an hour), based on BLS data for 1,010 workers.
Pay ranges from $36,770 for the lowest-paid 10% to $59,570 for the top 10%. That is 14% higher than the national median of $39,200. Pay here is 1% lower than the District of Columbia statewide median of $45,210. There are 0.32 couriers and messengers per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.73). The average (mean) salary is $47,060, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for couriers and messengers in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $36,770 | $17.68 |
| 25th percentile | $40,630 | $19.53 |
| Median | $44,840 | $21.56 |
| 75th percentile | $48,740 | $23.43 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $59,570 | $28.64 |
| Average (mean) | $47,060 | $22.63 |
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 | $3,736.67 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,868.33 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,724.62 |
| Weekly | $862.31 |
| Hourly | $21.56 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $44,840 salary, see how much house you can afford in District of Columbia 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Winchester, VA-WV | $41,480 | 40 |
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | $40,340 | 1,530 |
| Blacksburg-Christiansburg-Radford, VA | $39,340 | 50 |
| Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD | $39,140 | 330 |
| Charlottesville, VA | $38,580 | 40 |
| Richmond, VA | $38,270 | 280 |
| Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC | $37,820 | n/a |
| Huntington-Ashland, WV-KY-OH | $37,470 | 60 |
| Roanoke, VA | $35,890 | 60 |
| Kingsport-Bristol, TN-VA | $35,490 | 180 |
| Charleston, WV | $34,840 | 100 |
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 District of Columbia statewide figures.
Related jobs in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Shipping, Receiving, and Inventory Clerks | $47,620 | $22.90 |
| Postal Service Mail Carrier | $64,250 | $30.89 |
| Production, Planning, and Expediting Clerks | $60,990 | $29.32 |
| Dispatchers, Except Police, Fire, and Ambulance | $57,160 | $27.48 |
| Postal Service Mail Sorters, Processors, and Processing Machine Operators | $59,490 | $28.60 |
| Public Safety Telecommunicator | $61,260 | $29.45 |
| Postal Service Clerk | $64,630 | $31.07 |
| Weighers, Measurers, Checkers, and Samplers, Recordkeeping | $48,760 | $23.44 |
| Cargo and Freight Agents | $56,300 | $27.07 |
| Meter Readers, Utilities | $50,810 | $24.43 |
| Office Clerks, General | $51,880 | $24.94 |
| Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive | $53,660 | $25.80 |
| Customer Service Representative | $46,220 | $22.22 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support Workers | $76,400 | $36.73 |
More: Office and Administrative Support Occupations · all salaries in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV
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 Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV?
The median salary for couriers and messengers in the Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metro area is $44,840 a year, or $21.56 an hour. Pay ranges from $36,770 for the lowest-paid 10% to $59,570 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid couriers and messengers make in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV?
The top 10% of couriers and messengers in the Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metro area earn at least $59,570 a year. The top 25% earn $48,740 or more.
What is the starting pay for couriers and messengers in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $36,770 a year, and a quarter of couriers and messengers earn $40,630 or less.
How many couriers and messengers work in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV?
About 1,010 couriers and messengers are employed in the Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metro area, not counting the self-employed.