Postal Service Mail Carrier Salary in Detroit, MI
Postal Service Mail Carriers in the Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI metro area earn a median $62,070 a year — 3% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $49,666 take-home, or $4,139 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median postal service mail carrier salary in Detroit, MI. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$5,268
- Social Security (6.2%)$3,848
- Medicare (1.45%)$900
- Michigan income tax$2,387
- Take-home pay$49,666
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 4.25% state
Living in Detroit? City residents also pay Detroit’s city income tax — about $1,490 a year on this salary — which lowers take-home pay to $48,176 ($4,015 a month). Choose “Detroit” under City income tax in the calculator. Suburban residents usually don’t pay it.
Got an offer somewhere else? Compare it with this one after taxes and rent →
Postal Service Mail Carrier pay by experience in Detroit, MI
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $43,120 | $20.73 | $35,245 | $2,937 |
| 25th percentile | $51,130 | $24.58 | $41,341 | $3,445 |
| Median (50th) | $62,070 | $29.84 | $49,666 | $4,139 |
| 75th percentile | $81,040 | $38.96 | $62,648 | $5,221 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $81,040 | $38.96 | $62,648 | $5,221 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Michigan resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $62,070 buys in Detroit, MI
Prices in Detroit, MI are 0.3% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 5% below the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median postal service mail carrier's $49,666 take-home pay has the buying power of $49,518 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Detroit, MI has 1.3× the national concentration of postal service mail carrier jobs — a strong local market for this occupation.
Best-paying cities for postal service mail carriers, adjusted for cost of living
Detroit, MI ranks #10 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 |
| 10 | Detroit, MI | $62,070 | $49,666 | $49,518 |
*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 Detroit, MI?
The median postal service mail carrier salary in the Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI metro area is $62,070 a year, or about $29.84 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 Detroit, MI?
On the median $62,070 salary, a single filer living in Michigan takes home about $49,666 a year ($4,139 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $2,387 in Michigan taxes in 2026.
Is Detroit, MI a good place to work as a postal service mail carrier?
Pay here is 3% above the national median of $60,550. Local prices are 0.3% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $49,518 would in a typical U.S. city. Detroit, MI ranks #10 of 25 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a postal service mail carrier afford rent in Detroit, MI?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Detroit, MI is $1,128 a month ($1,413 for two bedrooms) — 27% of a median postal service mail carrier’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
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