Postal Service Mail Carrier Salary
Postal Service Mail Carriers earn a median $60,550 a year nationally. Office and Administrative Support Occupations
U.S. median
$60,550
$29.11 per hour
Range
$42,390 – $81,040
10th to 90th percentile
Employed
328,820
across the U.S.
▲5.3%
Pay trend: The median for postal service mail carriers in the U.S. rose from $57,490 (May 2024) to $60,550 (May 2025). That beat inflation (2.4%), a real raise of about 2.9%.
What postal service mail carriers do
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)
- Openings per year
- 19,600
Employment of postal service mail carriers is projected to shrink 0.3% from 2025 to 2035, slower than the 3.5% average for all occupations. About 19,600 openings are expected each year, on average, including jobs left by workers who retire or switch careers.
Source: BLS Standard Occupational Classification and Employment Projections, 2025–35.
Postal Service Mail Carrier take-home pay calculator
Starts at the national median. Pick your state to see your real paycheck.
Your take-home pay
$50,832
per year · effective tax rate 16.0%
$4,236Monthly
$2,118Twice a month
$1,955Every 2 weeks
$24.44Hourly
- Federal income tax$5,086
- Social Security (6.2%)$3,754
- Medicare (1.45%)$878
- Texas income tax$0
- Take-home pay$50,832
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 0.00% state
Pay by experience
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home (no state tax) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $42,390 | $20.38 | $36,240 |
| 25th percentile | $48,940 | $23.53 | $41,503 |
| Median (50th) | $60,550 | $29.11 | $50,832 |
| 75th percentile | $81,000 | $38.94 | $65,814 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $81,040 | $38.96 | $65,842 |
Best cities for postal service mail carriers (after tax & cost of living)
| # | Metro area | Median | Take-home | Real value* | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kansas City, MO | $61,010 | $49,271 | $53,242 | 2,400 |
| 2 | Cleveland, OH | $60,260 | $49,724 | $52,941 | 2,530 |
| 3 | Houston, TX | $62,070 | $52,053 | $52,777 | 6,660 |
| 4 | St. Louis, MO | $62,070 | $50,073 | $52,660 | 3,450 |
| 5 | Tampa, FL | $62,070 | $52,053 | $51,594 | 3,210 |
| 6 | Pittsburgh, PA | $59,880 | $48,455 | $51,183 | 2,760 |
| 7 | Phoenix, AZ | $64,250 | $52,407 | $50,725 | 3,630 |
| 8 | Charlotte, NC | $61,010 | $49,276 | $50,618 | 2,710 |
| 9 | Dallas, TX | $62,070 | $52,053 | $50,493 | 7,100 |
| 10 | Detroit, MI | $62,070 | $49,666 | $49,518 | 5,390 |
| 11 | Chicago, IL | $63,750 | $50,392 | $48,644 | 10,320 |
| 12 | Philadelphia, PA | $61,480 | $49,692 | $48,454 | 6,560 |
| 13 | Seattle, WA | $62,960 | $52,768 | $47,482 | 3,420 |
| 14 | Atlanta, GA | $59,400 | $47,448 | $47,420 | 5,690 |
| 15 | Baltimore, MD | $62,070 | $49,469 | $47,344 | 2,980 |
| 16 | Washington, DC | $64,250 | $51,075 | $46,908 | 6,250 |
| 17 | Minneapolis, MN | $61,480 | $48,922 | $46,671 | 3,560 |
| 18 | Riverside, CA | $62,070 | $49,473 | $46,479 | 3,130 |
| 19 | Denver, CO | $59,880 | $48,367 | $45,724 | 2,590 |
| 20 | Miami, FL | $62,070 | $52,053 | $45,599 | 5,720 |
| 21 | Boston, MA | $62,090 | $49,185 | $45,430 | 5,430 |
| 22 | San Diego, CA | $63,380 | $50,424 | $45,067 | 2,820 |
| 23 | Los Angeles, CA | $64,250 | $51,042 | $44,945 | 10,940 |
| 24 | San Francisco, CA | $64,250 | $51,042 | $44,149 | 4,730 |
| 25 | New York, NY | $62,070 | $49,298 | $43,796 | 20,280 |
*Take-home pay in U.S.-average dollars (BEA Regional Price Parities).
Highest-paying cities
- Phoenix, AZ — $64,250
- Washington, DC — $64,250
- Los Angeles, CA — $64,250
- San Francisco, CA — $64,250
- Chicago, IL — $63,750
- San Diego, CA — $63,380
- Seattle, WA — $62,960
- Boston, MA — $62,090
- Houston, TX — $62,070
- St. Louis, MO — $62,070
- Tampa, FL — $62,070
- Dallas, TX — $62,070
- Detroit, MI — $62,070
- Baltimore, MD — $62,070
- Riverside, CA — $62,070
Postal Service Mail Carrier salary by state
| State | Median | 1-yr change | Take-home | Range | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| District of Columbia | $64,250 | +10.0% | $51,075 | $44,160 – $81,040 | 930 |
| Rhode Island | $63,610 | +8.9% | $51,522 | $43,120 – $81,040 | 1,220 |
| Arizona | $62,390 | +6.5% | $50,959 | $42,390 – $81,040 | 5,300 |
| California | $62,090 | +6.3% | $49,487 | $43,120 – $81,040 | 32,320 |
| Illinois | $62,070 | +6.3% | $49,126 | $43,120 – $81,040 | 14,730 |
| Maryland | $62,070 | +6.3% | $49,469 | $42,390 – $81,040 | 6,420 |
| Massachusetts | $62,070 | +5.2% | $49,170 | $44,160 – $81,040 | 7,630 |
| Nevada | $62,070 | +6.3% | $52,053 | $42,390 – $81,040 | 2,530 |
| New York | $62,070 | +6.3% | $49,298 | $43,120 – $81,040 | 20,580 |
| Virginia | $62,070 | +6.3% | $49,298 | $42,390 – $81,040 | 7,900 |
| Connecticut | $61,130 | +6.4% | $49,472 | $42,390 – $81,040 | 4,510 |
| Florida | $61,130 | +4.7% | $51,298 | $42,390 – $81,040 | 20,810 |
| New Jersey | $61,130 | +6.3% | $49,468 | $43,120 – $81,040 | 10,160 |
| Ohio | $61,130 | +6.3% | $50,399 | $42,390 – $81,040 | 12,680 |
| South Dakota | $60,760 | +2.4% | $51,001 | $42,390 – $81,040 | 850 |
| Texas | $60,550 | +3.7% | $50,832 | $42,390 – $81,040 | 26,700 |
| Minnesota | $59,990 | +2.7% | $47,826 | $42,390 – $81,040 | 5,890 |
| New Hampshire | $59,990 | +4.4% | $50,382 | $42,390 – $81,040 | 1,560 |
| North Carolina | $59,990 | +4.9% | $48,497 | $42,390 – $82,370 | 11,030 |
| Washington | $59,990 | +2.7% | $50,382 | $43,120 – $81,040 | 6,550 |
| Alaska | $59,880 | +10.3% | $50,294 | $46,030 – $81,040 | 450 |
| Colorado | $59,880 | +6.3% | $48,367 | $42,390 – $81,040 | 5,100 |
| Delaware | $59,880 | +5.7% | $47,647 | $42,390 – $81,040 | 1,130 |
| Hawaii | $59,880 | +10.3% | $47,273 | $48,940 – $81,040 | 1,200 |
| Indiana | $59,880 | +3.4% | $48,557 | $42,390 – $81,040 | 6,910 |
| Iowa | $59,880 | +3.6% | $48,670 | $42,390 – $81,040 | 3,730 |
| Michigan | $59,880 | +6.1% | $47,999 | $42,390 – $81,040 | 11,610 |
| Missouri | $59,880 | +6.1% | $48,417 | $42,390 – $81,040 | 7,260 |
| Nebraska | $59,880 | +2.6% | $48,449 | $42,390 – $81,040 | 2,150 |
| New Mexico | $59,880 | +7.8% | $48,645 | $42,390 – $81,040 | 1,570 |
| Oklahoma | $59,880 | +4.2% | $48,144 | $42,390 – $81,040 | 4,130 |
| Pennsylvania | $59,880 | +6.3% | $48,455 | $42,390 – $81,040 | 13,900 |
| Utah | $59,880 | +2.6% | $48,565 | $42,390 – $81,040 | 2,460 |
| Wisconsin | $59,880 | +4.2% | $48,440 | $42,390 – $81,040 | 6,470 |
| Wyoming | $59,880 | +10.3% | $50,294 | $43,120 – $81,040 | 430 |
| Arkansas | $59,700 | +5.6% | $48,033 | $42,390 – $81,040 | 3,030 |
| Oregon | $59,400 | +5.5% | $45,540 | $42,390 – $81,040 | 3,760 |
| Maine | $59,010 | +4.8% | $46,793 | $42,390 – $81,040 | 1,510 |
| Montana | $59,010 | +4.8% | $47,578 | $42,390 – $81,040 | 830 |
| North Dakota | $59,010 | +2.6% | $49,595 | $42,390 – $81,040 | 800 |
| Vermont | $59,010 | +4.8% | $48,052 | $42,390 – $81,040 | 690 |
| Kentucky | $58,910 | +4.6% | $47,570 | $42,390 – $81,040 | 4,640 |
| Louisiana | $58,910 | +5.3% | $48,133 | $42,390 – $81,040 | 5,090 |
| Tennessee | $58,570 | +2.7% | $49,241 | $42,390 – $81,040 | 7,310 |
| Kansas | $58,540 | +3.9% | $46,750 | $42,390 – $81,040 | 3,310 |
| Idaho | $57,820 | +3.4% | $46,682 | $42,390 – $81,040 | 1,660 |
| Alabama | $57,700 | +4.5% | $45,922 | $42,390 – $81,040 | 5,840 |
| Georgia | $57,700 | +6.3% | $46,170 | $42,390 – $81,040 | 10,790 |
| South Carolina | $57,700 | +3.2% | $46,237 | $42,390 – $81,040 | 5,650 |
| West Virginia | $57,700 | +3.9% | $46,679 | $42,390 – $81,040 | 1,850 |
| Mississippi | $57,470 | +7.2% | $46,790 | $42,390 – $81,040 | 3,290 |
Related jobs
| Job | Median salary | Education | Growth 2025–35 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Postal Service Clerk | $62,130 | No formal educational credential | -0.3% |
| Postal Service Mail Sorters, Processors, and Processing Machine Operators | $58,470 | No formal educational credential | -5.3% |
| Production, Planning, and Expediting Clerks | $59,650 | High school diploma or equivalent | -1.3% |
| Public Safety Telecommunicator | $53,040 | High school diploma or equivalent | +3.7% |
| Cargo and Freight Agent | $52,260 | High school diploma or equivalent | +6.2% |
| Dispatchers, Except Police, Fire, and Ambulance | $50,340 | High school diploma or equivalent | -0.7% |
| Meter Readers, Utilities | $48,150 | High school diploma or equivalent | -10.5% |
| Weighers, Measurers, Checkers, and Samplers, Recordkeeping | $46,380 | High school diploma or equivalent | -4.8% |
| Shipping, Receiving, and Inventory Clerks | $45,260 | High school diploma or equivalent | -7.6% |
| Courier and Messenger | $39,200 | High school diploma or equivalent | +8.0% |
Frequently asked questions
How much does a postal service mail carrier make?
The national median salary for postal service mail carriers is $60,550 a year ($29.11 an hour). The lowest-paid 10% earn under $42,390 and the top 10% earn over $81,040. Source: BLS, May 2025.
Which state pays postal service mail carriers the most?
District of Columbia has the highest median pay at $64,250. After taxes and local prices, Kansas City, MO offers the best real take-home pay of any metro area.
How many postal service mail carriers are there in the U.S.?
About 328,820 people work as postal service mail carriers nationwide.