Couriers and Messengers salary in Virginia
Couriers and Messengers in Virginia earn a median of $37,820 a year ($18.18 an hour), based on BLS data for 2,010 workers.
Pay ranges from $31,180 for the lowest-paid 10% to $54,910 for the top 10%. That is 4% lower than the national median of $39,200. Virginia ranks 36th of 51 states for couriers and messengers pay. There are 0.49 couriers and messengers per 1,000 jobs here — close to the national average. The average (mean) salary is $41,330, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for couriers and messengers in Virginia
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $31,180 | $14.99 |
| 25th percentile | $36,400 | $17.50 |
| Median | $37,820 | $18.18 |
| 75th percentile | $45,390 | $21.82 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $54,910 | $26.40 |
| Average (mean) | $41,330 | $19.87 |
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 | $3,151.67 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,575.83 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,454.62 |
| Weekly | $727.31 |
| Hourly | $18.18 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Couriers and Messengers salary in cities in Virginia
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | $44,840 | 1,010 |
| Winchester, VA-WV | $41,480 | 40 |
| Blacksburg-Christiansburg-Radford, VA | $39,340 | 50 |
| Charlottesville, VA | $38,580 | 40 |
| Richmond, VA | $38,270 | 280 |
| Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC | $37,820 | n/a |
| Roanoke, VA | $35,890 | 60 |
| Kingsport-Bristol, TN-VA | $35,490 | 180 |
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 |
Related jobs in Virginia
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Shipping, Receiving, and Inventory Clerks | $44,290 | $21.29 |
| Production, Planning, and Expediting Clerks | $61,780 | $29.70 |
| Postal Service Mail Carrier | $62,070 | $29.84 |
| Dispatchers, Except Police, Fire, and Ambulance | $50,710 | $24.38 |
| Public Safety Telecommunicator | $50,490 | $24.28 |
| Postal Service Mail Sorters, Processors, and Processing Machine Operators | $58,300 | $28.03 |
| Postal Service Clerk | $62,610 | $30.10 |
| Weighers, Measurers, Checkers, and Samplers, Recordkeeping | $45,360 | $21.81 |
| Cargo and Freight Agents | $49,680 | $23.89 |
| Meter Readers, Utilities | $44,020 | $21.16 |
| Office Clerks, General | $46,410 | $22.31 |
| Customer Service Representative | $42,730 | $20.54 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support Workers | $67,170 | $32.29 |
| Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks | $51,620 | $24.82 |
More: Office and Administrative Support Occupations · all salaries in Virginia
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 Virginia?
The median salary for couriers and messengers in Virginia is $37,820 a year, or $18.18 an hour. Pay ranges from $31,180 for the lowest-paid 10% to $54,910 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid couriers and messengers make in Virginia?
The top 10% of couriers and messengers in Virginia earn at least $54,910 a year. The top 25% earn $45,390 or more.
What is the starting pay for couriers and messengers in Virginia?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $31,180 a year, and a quarter of couriers and messengers earn $36,400 or less.
How many couriers and messengers work in Virginia?
About 2,010 couriers and messengers are employed in Virginia, not counting the self-employed.