Postal Service Mail Carrier Salary in Washington, DC
Postal Service Mail Carriers in the Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metro area earn a median $64,250 a year — 6% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $51,075 take-home, or $4,256 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median postal service mail carrier salary in Washington, DC. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$5,530
- Social Security (6.2%)$3,984
- Medicare (1.45%)$932
- District of Columbia income tax$2,730
- Take-home pay$51,075
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 6.50% state
The Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metro spans District of Columbia, Virginia, Maryland, West Virginia. Pick the state you live in — state income tax follows your residence.
Got an offer somewhere else? Compare it with this one after taxes and rent →
Postal Service Mail Carrier pay by experience in Washington, DC
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $43,120 | $20.73 | $35,406 | $2,950 |
| 25th percentile | $51,130 | $24.58 | $41,361 | $3,447 |
| Median (50th) | $64,250 | $30.89 | $51,075 | $4,256 |
| 75th percentile | $81,040 | $38.96 | $61,922 | $5,160 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $81,040 | $38.96 | $61,922 | $5,160 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, District of Columbia resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $64,250 buys in Washington, DC
Prices in Washington, DC are 8.9% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.51× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median postal service mail carrier's $51,075 take-home pay has the buying power of $46,908 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Postal Service Mail Carrier jobs are about as common in Washington, DC as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.94).
Best-paying cities for postal service mail carriers, adjusted for cost of living
Washington, DC ranks #16 of 25 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kansas City, MO | $61,010 | $49,271 | $53,242 |
| 2 | Cleveland, OH | $60,260 | $49,724 | $52,941 |
| 3 | Houston, TX | $62,070 | $52,053 | $52,777 |
| 4 | St. Louis, MO | $62,070 | $50,073 | $52,660 |
| 5 | Tampa, FL | $62,070 | $52,053 | $51,594 |
| 6 | Pittsburgh, PA | $59,880 | $48,455 | $51,183 |
| 7 | Phoenix, AZ | $64,250 | $52,407 | $50,725 |
| 8 | Charlotte, NC | $61,010 | $49,276 | $50,618 |
| 16 | Washington, DC | $64,250 | $51,075 | $46,908 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 25 metros →
About the job: postal service mail carriers
Sort and deliver mail for the United States Postal Service (USPS). Deliver mail on established route by vehicle or on foot.
- Typical education
- No formal educational credential
- Work experience
- None required
- On-the-job training
- Short-term on-the-job training
- Job outlook, 2025–35
- -0.3% (slower than average)
Source: BLS Standard Occupational Classification and Employment Projections, 2025–35.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a postal service mail carrier make in Washington, DC?
The median postal service mail carrier salary in the Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metro area is $64,250 a year, or about $30.89 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $51,130 and $81,040.
What is a postal service mail carrier’s take-home pay in Washington, DC?
On the median $64,250 salary, a single filer living in District of Columbia takes home about $51,075 a year ($4,256 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $2,730 in District of Columbia taxes in 2026.
Is Washington, DC a good place to work as a postal service mail carrier?
Pay here is 6% above the national median of $60,550. Local prices are 8.9% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $46,908 would in a typical U.S. city. Washington, DC ranks #16 of 25 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a postal service mail carrier afford rent in Washington, DC?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Washington, DC is $1,990 a month ($2,223 for two bedrooms) — 47% of a median postal service mail carrier’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Washington, DC
- Executive Secretary and Executive Administrative Assistant — $90,320
- Legal Secretary and Administrative Assistant — $77,220
- First-Line Supervisor of Office and Administrative Support Workers — $76,400
- Information and Record Clerks, All Other — $61,760
- Production, Planning, and Expediting Clerks — $60,990
- Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks — $59,290
- Office and Administrative Support Workers, All Other — $57,160
- Dispatchers, Except Police, Fire, and Ambulance — $57,160
- Billing and Posting Clerk — $55,920
- Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive — $53,660
- Office Clerks, General — $51,880
- Medical Secretary and Administrative Assistant — $48,280