How much does a postal service mail carrier make?
The median postal service mail carrier in the United States earns $60,550 per year, about $29.11 an hour. That is the midpoint of the profession: half of all postal service mail carriers earn more, and half earn less.
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025. SOC code 43-5052.
Postal service mail carrier salary range
Pay for postal service mail carriers spans a wide band. The lowest paid 10 percent earn under $42,390 a year, while the highest paid 10 percent take home more than $81,040. The average (mean) wage of $62,540 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 | $42,390 | $20.38 | Lowest paid |
| 25th percentile | $48,940 | $23.53 | |
| Median (50th) | $60,550 | $29.11 | Midpoint |
| 75th percentile | $81,000 | $38.94 | |
| 90th percentile | $81,040 | $38.96 | Highest paid |
Figures are national wage estimates for postal service mail carriers (SOC 43-5052), U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS, May 2025.
Postal service mail carrier salary by state
Where you work changes the paycheck. Postal service mail carriers earn the most in District of Columbia at $64,250 a year, and the least in Mississippi at $57,470. The table below lists every state with published data, ranked by median annual salary.
| State | Median annual | Employed |
|---|---|---|
| District of Columbia | $64,250 | 930 |
| Rhode Island | $63,610 | 1,220 |
| Arizona | $62,390 | 5,300 |
| California | $62,090 | 32,320 |
| Illinois | $62,070 | 14,730 |
| Maryland | $62,070 | 6,420 |
| Massachusetts | $62,070 | 7,630 |
| Nevada | $62,070 | 2,530 |
| New York | $62,070 | 20,580 |
| Virginia | $62,070 | 7,900 |
| Connecticut | $61,130 | 4,510 |
| Florida | $61,130 | 20,810 |
| New Jersey | $61,130 | 10,160 |
| Ohio | $61,130 | 12,680 |
| South Dakota | $60,760 | 850 |
| Texas | $60,550 | 26,700 |
| Minnesota | $59,990 | 5,890 |
| New Hampshire | $59,990 | 1,560 |
| North Carolina | $59,990 | 11,030 |
| Washington | $59,990 | 6,550 |
| Alaska | $59,880 | 450 |
| Colorado | $59,880 | 5,100 |
| Delaware | $59,880 | 1,130 |
| Hawaii | $59,880 | 1,200 |
| Indiana | $59,880 | 6,910 |
| Iowa | $59,880 | 3,730 |
| Michigan | $59,880 | 11,610 |
| Missouri | $59,880 | 7,260 |
| Nebraska | $59,880 | 2,150 |
| New Mexico | $59,880 | 1,570 |
| Oklahoma | $59,880 | 4,130 |
| Pennsylvania | $59,880 | 13,900 |
| Utah | $59,880 | 2,460 |
| Wisconsin | $59,880 | 6,470 |
| Wyoming | $59,880 | 430 |
| Arkansas | $59,700 | 3,030 |
| Oregon | $59,400 | 3,760 |
| Maine | $59,010 | 1,510 |
| Montana | $59,010 | 830 |
| North Dakota | $59,010 | 800 |
| Vermont | $59,010 | 690 |
| Kentucky | $58,910 | 4,640 |
| Louisiana | $58,910 | 5,090 |
| Tennessee | $58,570 | 7,310 |
| Kansas | $58,540 | 3,310 |
| Idaho | $57,820 | 1,660 |
| Alabama | $57,700 | 5,840 |
| Georgia | $57,700 | 10,790 |
| South Carolina | $57,700 | 5,650 |
| West Virginia | $57,700 | 1,850 |
| Mississippi | $57,470 | 3,290 |
State median wages for postal service mail carriers (SOC 43-5052), 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 postal service mail carriers
The BLS projects employment of postal service mail carriers to shrink from 2025 to 2035 (down 0.3%). That is a decline, against 3.5% average growth for all occupations. That works out to roughly 316,400 jobs in 2025 moving toward 315,500 by 2035.
Across the decade, the BLS expects about 19,600 openings a year for postal service mail carriers. 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 postal service mail carrier
The typical entry-level education for postal service mail carriers is no formal educational credential, 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 postal service mail carrier 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, $64,250) and the lowest (Mississippi, $57,470) shows how much geography alone can move the number, before experience or specialization.
About 328,820 people work as postal service mail carriers in the United States. At $60,550 a year, the job pays above the $50,980 median for all U.S. jobs.
Postal service mail carrier salary FAQ
How much does a postal service mail carrier make an hour?
The median hourly wage for a postal service mail carrier is $29.11. The middle half of postal service mail carriers earn between $23.53 and $38.94 per hour.
What is the highest postal service mail carrier salary?
The highest paid 10 percent of postal service mail carriers earn more than $81,040 per year. Top earners usually have the most experience and work in the best paying regions and industries.
How much does a postal service mail carrier make a year?
The median annual salary for a postal service mail carrier is $60,550. The average (mean) wage of $62,540 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 postal service mail carrier a well paid job?
At $60,550 a year, a postal service mail carrier earns above the $50,980 median for all U.S. jobs. About 328,820 people work as postal service mail carriers in the United States.
Which state pays postal service mail carriers the most?
District of Columbia has the highest median salary for postal service mail carriers at $64,250 a year. Rhode Island ($63,610) and Arizona ($62,390) follow. State medians come from the BLS OEWS state files, May 2025.
Is being a postal service mail carrier a good career?
Employment of postal service mail carriers is projected to shrink 0.3% from 2025 to 2035, a decline, against 3.5% average growth for all occupations. The BLS projects about 19,600 openings each year, from growth and from workers leaving the occupation.
Do you need a degree to become a postal service mail carrier?
No. The BLS lists the typical entry-level education for postal service mail carriers as no formal educational credential, so a four-year degree is usually not required to start.
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