California Median
$62,090
per year
Hourly Rate
$29.85
based on 2,080 hrs/yr
vs National
+3% vs US median
US median $60,550
State Rank
#4 of 51
32,320 employed here
How much does a Postal Service Mail Carrier make in California?
Postal Service Mail Carriers in California take home a median of $62,090 annually — roughly $29.85 an hour — which runs 3% above the national median of $60,550.
Within California, entry-level pay starts around $43,120 while the top 10% make $81,040 or more. The middle 50% of earners fall between $51,130 and $81,040 a year.
Postal Service Mail Carrier salary range in California
| Pay level | Annual salary | Hourly rate | |
|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $43,120 | $20.73 |
|
| 25th percentile (early career) | $51,130 | $24.58 |
|
| 50th percentile (median) | $62,090 | $29.85 |
|
| 75th percentile (experienced) | $81,040 | $38.96 |
|
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $81,040 | $38.96 |
|
How California compares
California ranks 4th out of 51 states and territories for Postal Service Mail Carrier pay. The top 5 best-paying states:
Postal Service Mail Carrier salary in other states
District of Columbia $64,250Rhode Island $63,610Arizona $62,390Illinois $62,070Maryland $62,070Massachusetts $62,070Nevada $62,070New York $62,070Virginia $62,070Connecticut $61,130Florida $61,130New Jersey $61,130Ohio $61,130South Dakota $60,760Texas $60,550Minnesota $59,990New Hampshire $59,990North Carolina $59,990Washington $59,990Alaska $59,880Colorado $59,880Delaware $59,880Hawaii $59,880Indiana $59,880Iowa $59,880Michigan $59,880Missouri $59,880Nebraska $59,880New Mexico $59,880Oklahoma $59,880Pennsylvania $59,880Utah $59,880Wisconsin $59,880Wyoming $59,880Arkansas $59,700Oregon $59,400Maine $59,010Montana $59,010North Dakota $59,010Vermont $59,010Kentucky $58,910Louisiana $58,910Tennessee $58,570Kansas $58,540Idaho $57,820Alabama $57,700Georgia $57,700South Carolina $57,700West Virginia $57,700Mississippi $57,470
Working as a Postal Service Mail Carrier in California
Nationally, about 329,000 people work as Postal Service Mail Carriers in the United States. A high school diploma is typically enough, with most skills learned on the job.
Considering a move? Compare California pay ($62,090) against the highest-paying state above, and weigh the difference against housing and everyday costs — a smaller paycheck in a cheaper state can stretch further.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a Postal Service Mail Carrier make in California?
The median Postal Service Mail Carrier salary in California is $62,090 per year, or about $29.85 per hour, per official BLS state wage estimates. Salaries typically range from $43,120 at the entry level to $81,040 for the top 10% of earners.
How does California pay compare to the national average?
California pays Postal Service Mail Carriers about 3% more than the national median of $60,550. California ranks 4th out of 51 states and territories reporting this occupation.
Is California a good state for Postal Service Mail Carriers?
Yes on pay — California pays above the national median for this occupation, at $62,090 a year. About 32,320 Postal Service Mail Carriers are employed in California. Weigh that against local housing and living costs before moving.
What are the highest-paying jobs in California?
The highest-paying occupations in California include Ophthalmologist, Except Pediatric ($400,150), Neurologist ($357,080), Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers ($353,900), based on median annual pay in official BLS state estimates.
← See the national Postal Service Mail Carrier salary report
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Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), Unknown vintage. Education requirements: O*NET (U.S. Department of Labor). State figures are official BLS state-level wage estimates. Where BLS suppresses a state percentile, it is scaled from the official national distribution. Individual pay varies by employer, metro area, and experience.