Postal Service Mail Sorters, Processors, and Processing Machine Operators Salary: How Much Do They Make? (2026)

Median pay, hourly rates, salary ranges, and best-paying states for Postal Service Mail Sorters, Processors, and Processing Machine Operators — from official U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data.

Official BLS wage data · Unknown vintage
Median Salary
$58,470
per year, national
Hourly Rate
$28.11
based on 2,080 hrs/yr
Top 10% Earn
$75,280
entry level starts ~$45,530
Pay Grade
B
solid pay · 105,000 employed

How much do Postal Service Mail Sorters, Processors, and Processing Machine Operators make?

The median pay for Postal Service Mail Sorters, Processors, and Processing Machine Operators in the United States is $58,470 per year — about $28.11 per hour. Entry-level positions start near $45,530, while the most experienced professionals in the top 10% earn $75,280.

That is $2,920 less than the median across all occupations in BLS data ($61,390).

Postal Service Mail Sorters, Processors, and Processing Machine Operators salary range by percentile

Half of all Postal Service Mail Sorters, Processors, and Processing Machine Operators earn between $48,880 and $75,030 a year.

Pay levelAnnual salaryHourly rate
10th percentile (entry level)$45,530$21.89
25th percentile (early career)$48,880$23.50
50th percentile (median)$58,470$28.11
75th percentile (experienced)$75,030$36.07
90th percentile (top earners)$75,280$36.19

Highest-paying states for Postal Service Mail Sorters, Processors, and Processing Machine Operators

Where you work matters more than almost anything else. District of Columbia leads the country for Postal Service Mail Sorters, Processors, and Processing Machine Operators pay at $66,750 a year, followed by South Dakota ($61,570) and Iowa ($60,530). At the other end, Indiana posts the lowest median at $48,880 — a gap of $17,870 for the same job, driven by local demand, industry mix, and cost of living.

#StateMedian salaryHourlyvs national
1District of Columbia$66,750$32.09+14%
2South Dakota$61,570$29.60+5%
3Iowa$60,530$29.10+4%
4New Jersey$60,530$29.10+4%
5Wyoming$60,530$29.10+4%

Workforce and education

About 105,000 people work as Postal Service Mail Sorters, Processors, and Processing Machine Operators in the United States. 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 do Postal Service Mail Sorters, Processors, and Processing Machine Operators make in the United States?
The median Postal Service Mail Sorters, Processors, and Processing Machine Operators salary in the United States is $58,470 per year, or about $28.11 per hour, according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates. Entry-level pay (10th percentile) starts around $45,530, while the top 10% of earners make $75,280 or more.
How does Postal Service Mail Sorters, Processors, and Processing Machine Operators pay compare to other jobs?
With a pay grade of B (solid pay), the Postal Service Mail Sorters, Processors, and Processing Machine Operators median of $58,470 is below the national median across all occupations tracked in BLS data ($61,390).
Which state pays Postal Service Mail Sorters, Processors, and Processing Machine Operators the most?
District of Columbia is the highest-paying state for Postal Service Mail Sorters, Processors, and Processing Machine Operators, with a median salary of $66,750 per year, based on official state-level BLS wage estimates.
What education do Postal Service Mail Sorters, Processors, and Processing Machine Operators need?
For most positions, a high school diploma is typically enough, with most skills learned on the job, according to O*NET occupation data from the U.S. Department of Labor.
How many Postal Service Mail Sorters, Processors, and Processing Machine Operators work in the United States?
About 105,000 people were employed as Postal Service Mail Sorters, Processors, and Processing Machine Operators 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.