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.
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 #109 of 127 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | McAllen, TX | $64,250 | $53,805 | $62,640 |
| 2 | Youngstown, OH | $62,590 | $51,532 | $58,965 |
| 3 | El Paso, TX | $62,590 | $52,471 | $58,358 |
| 4 | Toledo, OH | $64,250 | $52,820 | $57,756 |
| 5 | Des Moines, IA | $64,250 | $52,015 | $56,723 |
| 6 | New Orleans, LA | $64,250 | $52,264 | $56,442 |
| 7 | Canton, OH | $61,130 | $50,399 | $56,371 |
| 8 | Shreveport, LA | $58,360 | $47,708 | $56,282 |
| 109 | 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 127 metros →
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 #109 of 127 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
- Brokerage Clerk — $66,860
- Eligibility Interviewers, Government Programs — $66,130
- Postal Service Clerk — $64,630
- Payroll and Timekeeping Clerk — $63,440
- Information and Record Clerks, All Other — $61,760
- Public Safety Telecommunicator — $61,260
- Production, Planning, and Expediting Clerks — $60,990
- Procurement Clerk — $60,650
- Postal Service Mail Sorters, Processors, and Processing Machine Operators — $59,490