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Couriers and Messengers in Washington

Considering working as a Couriers and Messengers in Washington? Here’s what the data says. Pick up and deliver messages, documents, packages, and other items between offices or departments within an establishment or directly to other business concerns, traveling by foot, bicycle, motorcycle, automobile, or public conveyance. Excludes “Light Truck Drivers” (53-3033).

What do Couriers and Messengers Make in Washington?

The couriers and messengers working in Washington, the typical annual salary is $44,170 per year (or about $21.24/hour).Pay can range from $36,690 at the 10th percentile to $55,760 at the 90th percentile.

Wage Statistic	Annual	Hourly
10th percentile	$36,690	$17.64
25th percentile	$38,560	$18.54
Median (50th)	$44,170	$21.24
75th percentile	$47,930	$23.04
90th percentile	$55,760	$26.81

Location quotient — how concentrated this career is in Washington compared to the national average — is 1.01.

National Wage Comparison

Nationally, couriers and messengers earn a median of $57,344 per year ($27.57/hour), lower than the Washington median.

Employment Outlook

There are roughly 428,359 couriers and messengers nationwide. In Washington alone, about 1,670 people work in this role. That’s more than the typical state, which employs around 770 couriers and messengers.

Top Washington Metros for Couriers and Messengers

These are the Washington metros with the most couriers and messengers in Washington.

Metro Area	Number Employed	Annual Median Salary
Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA	950	$45,900
Spokane-Spokane Valley, WA	160	$37,060
Kennewick-Richland, WA	80	$38,560
Bellingham, WA	60	$43,030
Bremerton-Silverdale-Port Orchard, WA	40	$46,810
Olympia-Lacey-Tumwater, WA	40	$42,550
Yakima, WA	40	$37,200
Wenatchee-East Wenatchee, WA	30	$39,510

Top States for Couriers and Messengers Employment

The table below shows the states where the most couriers and messengers work.

State	Number Employed
California	8,970
New York	7,530
Florida	5,650
Texas	4,380
North Carolina	3,760
Pennsylvania	3,050
Virginia	2,760
New Jersey	2,490
Puerto Rico	2,410
Wisconsin	2,110
Ohio	2,080
Tennessee	2,080
Georgia	1,840
Michigan	1,700
Washington	1,670
Illinois	1,560
Missouri	1,390
Massachusetts	1,170
Louisiana	1,120
South Carolina	1,120

Highest-Paying States for Couriers and Messengers

These states pay the most for couriers and messengers.

State	Annual Median Salary
Colorado	$44,610
California	$44,600
Washington	$44,170
District of Columbia	$44,010
Minnesota	$43,890
Nevada	$42,490
Massachusetts	$42,250
Oregon	$41,870
Utah	$41,600
Maine	$40,020

Skills

Key couriers and messengers skills, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:

Knowledge Areas

Important knowledge areas for this occupation, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:

Abilities

Key abilities for couriers and messengers, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:

Daily Tasks

Couriers and Messengers typically:

• Deliver and pick up medical records, lab specimens, and medications to and from hospitals and other medical facilities.
• Obtain signatures and payments, or arrange for recipients to make payments.
• Record information, such as items received and delivered and recipients' responses to messages.
• Receive messages or materials to be delivered, and information on recipients, such as names, addresses, telephone numbers, and delivery instructions, communicated via telephone, two-way radio, or in person.
• Load vehicles with listed goods, ensuring goods are loaded correctly and taking precautions with hazardous goods.
• Walk, ride bicycles, drive vehicles, or use public conveyances to reach destinations to deliver messages or materials.
• Sort items to be delivered according to the delivery route.
• Deliver messages and items, such as newspapers, documents, and packages, between establishment departments and to other establishments and private homes.
• Unload and sort items collected along delivery routes.
• Plan and follow the most efficient routes for delivering goods.
• Check with home offices after completed deliveries to confirm deliveries and collections and to receive instructions for other deliveries.
• Perform routine maintenance on delivery vehicles, such as monitoring fluid levels and replenishing fuel.

Work Activities

• Getting Information
• Documenting/Recording Information
• Operating Vehicles, Mechanized Devices, or Equipment
• Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates
• Handling and Moving Objects
• Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships
• Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events
• Performing General Physical Activities
• Monitoring Processes, Materials, or Surroundings
• Evaluating Information to Determine Compliance with Standards
• Communicating with People Outside the Organization
• Organizing, Planning, and Prioritizing Work

Tools & Technology

Software and systems commonly involved: Hot technologies: Microsoft Excel

Related Careers

Careers similar to couriers and messengers include:

• Baggage Porters and Bellhops
• Switchboard Operators, Including Answering Service
• Order Clerks
• Cargo and Freight Agents
• Freight Forwarders
• Dispatchers, Except Police, Fire, and Ambulance

Also Known As

Bank Courier, Bank Messenger, Bank Runner, Bicycle Messenger, Bill Distributor, Bill Hiker, Bill Peddler, Call Person, Call Worker Person, Caller, Circular Distributor, Copy Chaser, Copy Messenger, Copy Worker, Courier.

References

• U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics — https://www.bls.gov/oes/
• O*NET Online — https://www.onetonline.org/
• BLS Employment Projections — https://www.bls.gov/emp/
• O*NET-SOC code: 43-5021.00