How much does a mail clerk and mail machine operator make?
The median mail clerk and mail machine operator in the United States earns $39,280 per year, about $18.89 an hour. That is the midpoint of the profession: half of all mail clerks and mail machine operators earn more, and half earn less.
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025. SOC code 43-9051.
Mail clerk and mail machine operator salary range
Pay for mail clerks and mail machine operators spans a wide band. The lowest paid 10 percent earn under $30,780 a year, while the highest paid 10 percent take home more than $54,820. The average (mean) wage of $41,650 runs a bit higher than the median, which is normal for jobs where a group of top earners pulls the average up.
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $30,780 | $14.80 | Lowest paid |
| 25th percentile | $35,470 | $17.05 | |
| Median (50th) | $39,280 | $18.89 | Midpoint |
| 75th percentile | $46,450 | $22.33 | |
| 90th percentile | $54,820 | $26.36 | Highest paid |
Figures are national wage estimates for mail clerks and mail machine operators, except postal service (SOC 43-9051), U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS, May 2025.
Mail clerk and mail machine operator salary by state
Where you work changes the paycheck. Mail clerks and mail machine operators earn the most in District of Columbia at $49,240 a year, and the least in Wyoming at $32,940. The table below lists every state with published data, ranked by median annual salary.
| State | Median annual | Employed |
|---|---|---|
| District of Columbia | $49,240 | 310 |
| Massachusetts | $48,860 | 1,050 |
| Washington | $46,380 | 1,360 |
| Vermont | $45,380 | 120 |
| Utah | $45,150 | 460 |
| Minnesota | $44,840 | 1,170 |
| Maine | $44,780 | 160 |
| California | $44,410 | 4,710 |
| Connecticut | $43,970 | 680 |
| New Jersey | $43,700 | 2,210 |
| Oregon | $43,450 | 370 |
| Colorado | $43,430 | 880 |
| New York | $42,020 | 5,990 |
| New Hampshire | $41,060 | 280 |
| Nevada | $40,520 | 420 |
| Maryland | $40,280 | 1,580 |
| Nebraska | $40,080 | 240 |
| New Mexico | $40,080 | 100 |
| Idaho | $39,890 | 110 |
| Florida | $39,300 | 2,470 |
| Montana | $38,880 | 180 |
| Indiana | $38,490 | 1,310 |
| Ohio | $38,470 | 2,210 |
| Texas | $38,470 | 3,250 |
| Rhode Island | $38,330 | 310 |
| Hawaii | $38,270 | 200 |
| Arizona | $38,260 | 810 |
| Illinois | $38,190 | 3,150 |
| North Dakota | $38,120 | 110 |
| Missouri | $38,110 | 1,140 |
| Pennsylvania | $37,980 | 2,810 |
| Arkansas | $37,940 | 330 |
| Kentucky | $37,890 | 530 |
| North Carolina | $37,830 | 1,280 |
| Wisconsin | $37,730 | 1,310 |
| South Dakota | $37,580 | 320 |
| Michigan | $36,900 | 1,660 |
| South Carolina | $36,780 | 580 |
| Virginia | $36,780 | 1,610 |
| Oklahoma | $36,680 | 810 |
| Delaware | $36,450 | 630 |
| Alabama | $36,190 | 470 |
| Georgia | $36,110 | 1,850 |
| Kansas | $36,020 | 750 |
| Iowa | $35,610 | 830 |
| Tennessee | $35,610 | 760 |
| West Virginia | $35,140 | 270 |
| Louisiana | $34,860 | 590 |
| Mississippi | $34,350 | 270 |
| Wyoming | $32,940 | 90 |
State median wages for mail clerks and mail machine operators, except postal service (SOC 43-9051), U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS state files, May 2025. States where the BLS does not publish a median are not shown.
Job outlook for mail clerks and mail machine operators
The BLS projects employment of mail clerks and mail machine operators to shrink from 2025 to 2035 (down 7.2%). That is a decline, against 3.5% average growth for all occupations. That works out to roughly 57,800 jobs in 2025 moving toward 53,600 by 2035.
Across the decade, the BLS expects about 4,700 openings a year for mail clerks and mail machine operators. Most come from the need to replace workers who move to other jobs or leave the workforce, on top of any new positions from growth.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections program, 2025-35 (Table 1.2, Occupational projections and worker characteristics).
How to become a mail clerk and mail machine operator
The typical entry-level education for mail clerks and mail machine operators is a high school diploma or equivalent, according to the BLS. New hires typically complete short-term on-the-job training to reach full competency.
A four-year college degree is usually not required to start, which makes this one of the jobs you can enter without a bachelor's degree. See more high paying jobs without a degree .
Education, training, and experience data: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections program.
What affects how much a mail clerk and mail machine operator earns
Employer, industry, seniority, and metro area drive pay. Large organizations and high cost cities pay above small offices and entry-level roles.
Location is one of the clearest factors. The gap between the top paying state (District of Columbia, $49,240) and the lowest (Wyoming, $32,940) shows how much geography alone can move the number, before experience or specialization.
About 55,230 people work as mail clerks and mail machine operators in the United States. At $39,280 a year, the job pays below the $50,980 median for all U.S. jobs.
Mail clerk and mail machine operator salary FAQ
How much does a mail clerk and mail machine operator make an hour?
The median hourly wage for a mail clerk and mail machine operator is $18.89. The middle half of mail clerks and mail machine operators earn between $17.05 and $22.33 per hour.
What is the highest mail clerk and mail machine operator salary?
The highest paid 10 percent of mail clerks and mail machine operators earn more than $54,820 per year. Top earners usually have the most experience and work in the best paying regions and industries.
How much does a mail clerk and mail machine operator make a year?
The median annual salary for a mail clerk and mail machine operator is $39,280. The average (mean) wage of $41,650 runs a bit higher than the median, which is normal for jobs where a group of top earners pulls the average up.
Is being a mail clerk and mail machine operator a well paid job?
At $39,280 a year, a mail clerk and mail machine operator earns below the $50,980 median for all U.S. jobs. About 55,230 people work as mail clerks and mail machine operators in the United States.
Which state pays mail clerks and mail machine operators the most?
District of Columbia has the highest median salary for mail clerks and mail machine operators at $49,240 a year. Massachusetts ($48,860) and Washington ($46,380) follow. State medians come from the BLS OEWS state files, May 2025.
Is being a mail clerk and mail machine operator a good career?
Employment of mail clerks and mail machine operators is projected to shrink 7.2% from 2025 to 2035, a decline, against 3.5% average growth for all occupations. The BLS projects about 4,700 openings each year, from growth and from workers leaving the occupation.
Do you need a degree to become a mail clerk and mail machine operator?
No. The BLS lists the typical entry-level education for mail clerks and mail machine operators as a high school diploma or equivalent, so a four-year degree is usually not required to start.
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