Couriers and Messengers
SOC 43-5020
The median annual wage for Couriers and Messengers is $36,710, based on BLS OEWS 2023 data. The mean annual wage is $38,350, and an estimated 72,010 workers are employed in this occupation nationally. Between 2020 and 2023, pay rose +18.5% while consumer prices rose 17.7% — a real change of +0.6% after inflation.
Wage Trend & Inflation Adjustment
How the national median wage for Couriers and Messengers has moved across BLS OEWS release years, and what each year's wage is worth in 2023 dollars after adjusting for CPI inflation. "Real" change strips out inflation — the truest measure of whether pay is actually rising.
| Year | Median (nominal) | In 2023 $ (real) | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | $36,710 | $36,710 | 72,010 |
| 2022 | $35,280 | $36,732 | 75,800 |
| 2021 | $33,050 | $37,164 | 68,310 |
| 2020 | $30,980 | $36,473 | 70,700 |
Nominal change
+18.5%
Inflation (CPI)
+17.7%
Real change
+0.6%
Wage Distribution (National, 2023)
10th, 25th, 50th (median), 75th, and 90th percentile annual wages from BLS OEWS — the full spread, not just an average.
10th Pct
$28,040
25th Pct
$32,870
Median
$36,710
75th Pct
$42,270
90th Pct
$49,310
Related Occupations in Office & Administrative Support
Other occupations in the same SOC major group, ranked by national median wage.