Couriers and Messengers salary in Columbia, SC
Couriers and Messengers in the Columbia, SC metro area earn a median of $37,550 a year ($18.05 an hour), based on BLS data for 270 workers.
Pay ranges from $25,700 for the lowest-paid 10% to $45,750 for the top 10%. That is 4% lower than the national median of $39,200. Pay here is 2% higher than the South Carolina statewide median of $36,710. There are 0.70 couriers and messengers per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 1.6× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $34,910, close to the median.
Pay range for couriers and messengers in Columbia, SC
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $25,700 | $12.36 |
| 25th percentile | $25,700 | $12.36 |
| Median | $37,550 | $18.05 |
| 75th percentile | $38,380 | $18.45 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $45,750 | $22.00 |
| Average (mean) | $34,910 | $16.78 |
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 | $3,129.17 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,564.58 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,444.23 |
| Weekly | $722.12 |
| Hourly | $18.05 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Couriers and Messengers salary in other metro areas nearby
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Charleston-North Charleston, SC | $39,860 | 250 |
| Spartanburg, SC | $39,290 | 80 |
| Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC | $39,110 | 1,100 |
| Augusta-Richmond County, GA-SC | $37,090 | 80 |
| Florence, SC | $36,710 | 60 |
| Myrtle Beach-Conway-North Myrtle Beach, SC | $35,360 | 50 |
| Greenville-Anderson-Greer, SC | $34,810 | 390 |
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 South Carolina statewide figures.
Related jobs in Columbia, SC
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Shipping, Receiving, and Inventory Clerks | $41,240 | $19.83 |
| Production, Planning, and Expediting Clerks | $60,090 | $28.89 |
| Postal Service Mail Carrier | $55,610 | $26.74 |
| Postal Service Mail Sorters, Processors, and Processing Machine Operators | $58,470 | $28.11 |
| Dispatchers, Except Police, Fire, and Ambulance | $47,550 | $22.86 |
| Public Safety Telecommunicator | $40,930 | $19.68 |
| Postal Service Clerk | $62,130 | $29.87 |
| Cargo and Freight Agents | $55,070 | $26.48 |
| Weighers, Measurers, Checkers, and Samplers, Recordkeeping | $44,690 | $21.49 |
| Meter Readers, Utilities | $43,270 | $20.80 |
| Customer Service Representative | $37,430 | $18.00 |
| Office Clerks, General | $38,320 | $18.42 |
| Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive | $45,620 | $21.93 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support Workers | $62,230 | $29.92 |
More: Office and Administrative Support Occupations · all salaries in Columbia, SC
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 Columbia, SC?
The median salary for couriers and messengers in the Columbia, SC metro area is $37,550 a year, or $18.05 an hour. Pay ranges from $25,700 for the lowest-paid 10% to $45,750 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid couriers and messengers make in Columbia, SC?
The top 10% of couriers and messengers in the Columbia, SC metro area earn at least $45,750 a year. The top 25% earn $38,380 or more.
What is the starting pay for couriers and messengers in Columbia, SC?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $25,700 a year, and a quarter of couriers and messengers earn $25,700 or less.
How many couriers and messengers work in Columbia, SC?
About 270 couriers and messengers are employed in the Columbia, SC metro area, not counting the self-employed.