Median Salary
$60,550
per year, national
Hourly Rate
$29.11
based on 2,080 hrs/yr
Top 10% Earn
$81,040
entry level starts ~$42,390
Pay Grade
B
solid pay · 329,000 employed
How much does a Postal Service Mail Carrier make?
Postal Service Mail Carriers in the United States bring home a median salary of $60,550 a year, or around $29.11 an hour. Pay spans a wide range: the bottom 10% earn under $42,390, while the top 10% earn $81,040.
That is $840 less than the median across all occupations in BLS data ($61,390).
Postal Service Mail Carrier salary range by percentile
Half of all Postal Service Mail Carriers earn between $48,940 and $81,000 a year.
| Pay level | Annual salary | Hourly rate | |
|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $42,390 | $20.38 |
|
| 25th percentile (early career) | $48,940 | $23.53 |
|
| 50th percentile (median) | $60,550 | $29.11 |
|
| 75th percentile (experienced) | $81,000 | $38.94 |
|
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $81,040 | $38.96 |
|
Highest-paying states for Postal Service Mail Carrier
Where you work matters more than almost anything else. District of Columbia leads the country for Postal Service Mail Carrier pay at $64,250 a year, followed by Rhode Island ($63,610) and Arizona ($62,390). At the other end, Mississippi posts the lowest median at $57,470 — a gap of $6,780 for the same job, driven by local demand, industry mix, and cost of living.
Postal Service Mail Carrier salary in every state
Official BLS state-level figures across 51 states and territories. Click a state for the full local breakdown.
District of Columbia $64,250Rhode Island $63,610Arizona $62,390California $62,090Illinois $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
Workforce and education
About 329,000 people work as Postal Service Mail Carriers in the United States. The mean (average) wage is $62,540 — above the median, which means high earners pull the average up. On qualifications: a high school diploma is typically enough, with most skills learned on the job, per O*NET occupation data.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a Postal Service Mail Carrier make in the United States?
The median Postal Service Mail Carrier salary in the United States is $60,550 per year, or about $29.11 per hour, according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates. Entry-level pay (10th percentile) starts around $42,390, while the top 10% of earners make $81,040 or more.
How does Postal Service Mail Carrier pay compare to other jobs?
With a pay grade of B (solid pay), the Postal Service Mail Carrier median of $60,550 is below the national median across all occupations tracked in BLS data ($61,390).
Which state pays Postal Service Mail Carriers the most?
District of Columbia is the highest-paying state for Postal Service Mail Carriers, with a median salary of $64,250 per year, based on official state-level BLS wage estimates.
How long does it take to become a Postal Service Mail Carrier?
Becoming a Postal Service Mail Carrier typically requires a high school diploma. A high school diploma is typically enough, with most skills learned on the job.
How many Postal Service Mail Carriers work in the United States?
About 329,000 people were employed as Postal Service Mail Carriers in the United States in the latest BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics estimates.
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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). Percentiles, employment, and state figures are official BLS estimates; hourly figures assume 2,080 hours/year. Individual pay varies by employer, experience, and location.