Postal Service Clerks
Postal Service Clerks (SOC 43-5051) earn a median $62,130 a year ($29.87 an hour) in the United States, with 73,720 employed as of May 2025; the highest-paying state is District of Columbia.
What postal service clerks do
Postal service clerks carry out a mix of tasks at a United States Postal Service post office, and the group includes clerks employed by USPS contractors. At the counter they receive letters and parcels, weigh them, work out the cost of mailing from the type, weight, and destination, and put the right postage on. They sell postage and revenue stamps, postal cards, and stamped envelopes, and they fill out and sell money orders. They obtain signatures from recipients of registered or special delivery mail and answer questions about mail regulations and procedures, postage rates, and post office boxes. Behind the counter, clerks check mail for correct postage and for proper condition for mailing, and sort incoming and outgoing mail by type and destination, either by hand or by operating electronic sorting and scanning devices. Mail is placed in pigeonholes of a mail rack or in bags and moved from one work station to another. Mail carriers deliver along routes, and mail sorters and processing machine operators have their own code, so neither is counted here.
Typical entry: O*NET survey respondents most often report a high school diploma or equivalent as the education level for this occupation.
Also called: Annuitant HCA (Annuitant Holiday Clerk Assistant), Bulk Clerk, Bulk Mail Clerk, Bulk Mail Technician, Business Mail Entry Clerk.
National wage percentiles, May 2025
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||
| United States | Hourly | $20.48 | $27.28 | $29.87 | $34.08 | $36.07 | $29.74 | 73,720 |
| Annual | $42,600 | $56,740 | $62,130 | $70,890 | $75,030 | $61,860 | ||
Employment per 1,000 jobs and the location quotient are area measures; they appear in the state and metro tables below. To see what a wage in this range leaves after tax, use FastCalc's take-home pay calculator.
Where postal service clerks earn and work most
Five highest-paying states
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| District of Columbia | Hourly | $27.11 | $28.60 | $32.59 | $36.07 | $36.71 | $32.09 | 110 | 0.16 | 0.33 |
| Annual | $56,390 | $59,490 | $67,790 | $75,030 | $76,360 | $66,740 | ||||
| New Jersey | Hourly | $26.12 | $27.80 | $30.91 | $36.07 | $36.71 | $30.97 | 2,230 | 0.52 | 1.10 |
| Annual | $54,330 | $57,820 | $64,290 | $75,030 | $76,360 | $64,410 | ||||
| North Carolina | Hourly | $26.61 | $28.11 | $30.91 | $35.07 | $36.07 | $30.91 | 2,070 | 0.42 | 0.88 |
| Annual | $55,350 | $58,470 | $64,290 | $72,950 | $75,030 | $64,280 | ||||
| California | Hourly | $26.12 | $27.61 | $30.60 | $36.07 | $36.71 | $30.90 | 6,410 | 0.35 | 0.74 |
| Annual | $54,330 | $57,430 | $63,650 | $75,030 | $76,360 | $64,270 | ||||
| Hawaii | Hourly | $26.12 | $27.80 | $30.60 | $36.07 | $36.71 | $31.03 | 430 | 0.68 | 1.44 |
| Annual | $54,330 | $57,820 | $63,650 | $75,030 | $76,360 | $64,540 | ||||
Five states with the most jobs
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| California | Hourly | $26.12 | $27.61 | $30.60 | $36.07 | $36.71 | $30.90 | 6,410 | 0.35 | 0.74 |
| Annual | $54,330 | $57,430 | $63,650 | $75,030 | $76,360 | $64,270 | ||||
| New York | Hourly | $25.62 | $27.61 | $30.14 | $34.58 | $36.07 | $30.37 | 5,030 | 0.52 | 1.10 |
| Annual | $53,290 | $57,430 | $62,690 | $71,930 | $75,030 | $63,160 | ||||
| Texas | Hourly | $20.48 | $27.11 | $30.10 | $35.59 | $36.07 | $29.90 | 4,900 | 0.35 | 0.73 |
| Annual | $42,600 | $56,390 | $62,610 | $74,030 | $75,030 | $62,180 | ||||
| Pennsylvania | Hourly | $20.48 | $27.11 | $29.35 | $33.51 | $36.07 | $29.27 | 3,650 | 0.60 | 1.27 |
| Annual | $42,600 | $56,390 | $61,050 | $69,700 | $75,030 | $60,890 | ||||
| Florida | Hourly | $20.48 | $27.11 | $30.10 | $34.58 | $36.07 | $30.11 | 3,540 | 0.36 | 0.75 |
| Annual | $42,600 | $56,390 | $62,610 | $71,930 | $75,030 | $62,620 | ||||
Five highest-paying metropolitan areas
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| Asheville, NC | Hourly | $27.28 | $29.20 | $33.51 | $36.07 | $36.71 | $32.33 | 80 | 0.44 | 0.92 |
| Annual | $56,740 | $60,740 | $69,700 | $75,030 | $76,360 | $67,240 | ||||
| Hattiesburg, MS | Hourly | $27.61 | $29.60 | $33.51 | $36.07 | $36.71 | $32.44 | 40 | 0.60 | 1.25 |
| Annual | $57,430 | $61,570 | $69,700 | $75,030 | $76,360 | $67,480 | ||||
| Merced, CA | Hourly | $26.12 | $28.83 | $33.25 | $36.07 | $36.71 | $32.03 | 40 | 0.53 | 1.11 |
| Annual | $54,330 | $59,970 | $69,160 | $75,030 | $76,360 | $66,630 | ||||
| Ann Arbor, MI | Hourly | $27.11 | $28.60 | $33.08 | $36.07 | $36.71 | $32.27 | 50 | 0.22 | 0.47 |
| Annual | $56,390 | $59,490 | $68,810 | $75,030 | $76,360 | $67,130 | ||||
| Johnson City, TN | Hourly | $26.12 | $30.10 | $33.08 | $36.07 | $36.71 | $32.09 | 40 | 0.53 | 1.11 |
| Annual | $54,330 | $62,610 | $68,810 | $75,030 | $76,360 | $66,750 | ||||
Five metropolitan areas with the most jobs
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | Hourly | $26.12 | $27.80 | $30.60 | $36.07 | $36.71 | $31.09 | 4,340 | 0.46 | 0.97 |
| Annual | $54,330 | $57,820 | $63,650 | $75,030 | $76,360 | $64,680 | ||||
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | Hourly | $26.12 | $27.61 | $30.61 | $36.07 | $36.71 | $31.19 | 2,160 | 0.34 | 0.73 |
| Annual | $54,330 | $57,430 | $63,670 | $75,030 | $76,360 | $64,880 | ||||
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | Hourly | $26.12 | $27.96 | $30.61 | $36.07 | $36.07 | $30.90 | 1,430 | 0.32 | 0.67 |
| Annual | $54,330 | $58,150 | $63,670 | $75,030 | $75,030 | $64,270 | ||||
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | Hourly | $20.48 | $27.11 | $29.60 | $35.07 | $36.07 | $30.06 | 1,400 | 0.48 | 1.02 |
| Annual | $42,600 | $56,390 | $61,570 | $72,950 | $75,030 | $62,520 | ||||
| Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | Hourly | $26.12 | $27.61 | $30.10 | $34.36 | $36.07 | $30.42 | 1,270 | 0.47 | 0.99 |
| Annual | $54,330 | $57,430 | $62,610 | $71,470 | $75,030 | $63,270 | ||||
Published medians, May 2021 to May 2025
BLS published a median annual wage of $52,290 for postal service clerks in May 2021 and $62,130 in May 2025, with employment of 79,320 and 73,720.
| Release | Median annual | Median hourly | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 2021 | $52,290 | $25.14 | 79,320 |
| May 2022 | $56,200 | $27.02 | 77,690 |
| May 2023 | $59,570 | $28.64 | 78,130 |
| May 2024 | $61,630 | $29.63 | 78,060 |
| May 2025 | $62,130 | $29.87 | 73,720 |
BLS does not design OEWS as a time series: each release pools three years of samples, and occupational classifications, area definitions and estimation methods change between releases, so a difference between two releases is not a measure of change over time. The figures are shown as published, side by side, and nothing is computed from them. See how often OEWS is updated.
Every state, by median wage
51 states and DC publish a row for this occupation. A linked state has its own page with the within-state metro table and comparison; the others appear here only.
| Rank | State | Median hourly | Median annual | 10th pct (annual) | 90th pct (annual) | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | District of Columbia profile | $32.59 | $67,790 | $56,390 | $76,360 | 110 | 0.16 | 0.33 |
| 2 | New Jersey profile | $30.91 | $64,290 | $54,330 | $76,360 | 2,230 | 0.52 | 1.10 |
| 3 | North Carolina profile | $30.91 | $64,290 | $55,350 | $75,030 | 2,070 | 0.42 | 0.88 |
| 4 | California profile | $30.60 | $63,650 | $54,330 | $76,360 | 6,410 | 0.35 | 0.74 |
| 5 | Hawaii profile | $30.60 | $63,650 | $54,330 | $76,360 | 430 | 0.68 | 1.44 |
| 6 | Michigan profile | $30.60 | $63,650 | $42,600 | $75,030 | 2,340 | 0.53 | 1.12 |
| 7 | Louisiana profile | $30.39 | $63,210 | $42,600 | $76,360 | 1,100 | 0.57 | 1.20 |
| 8 | Maryland profile | $30.39 | $63,210 | $54,330 | $75,030 | 1,240 | 0.45 | 0.94 |
| 9 | Tennessee profile | $30.39 | $63,210 | $42,600 | $75,030 | 1,330 | 0.40 | 0.85 |
| 10 | New York profile | $30.14 | $62,690 | $53,290 | $75,030 | 5,030 | 0.52 | 1.10 |
| 11 | Ohio profile | $30.14 | $62,690 | $42,600 | $75,030 | 2,430 | 0.44 | 0.92 |
| 12 | Florida profile | $30.10 | $62,610 | $42,600 | $75,030 | 3,540 | 0.36 | 0.75 |
| 13 | Georgia profile | $30.10 | $62,610 | $42,600 | $75,030 | 2,070 | 0.42 | 0.89 |
| 14 | Kentucky profile | $30.10 | $62,610 | $42,600 | $75,030 | 1,220 | 0.61 | 1.29 |
| 15 | Massachusetts profile | $30.10 | $62,610 | $55,350 | $75,030 | 1,950 | 0.54 | 1.13 |
| 16 | Nevada profile | $30.10 | $62,610 | $42,600 | $75,030 | 460 | 0.30 | 0.63 |
| 17 | New Hampshire profile | $30.10 | $62,610 | $54,330 | $75,030 | 500 | 0.73 | 1.53 |
| 18 | South Carolina profile | $30.10 | $62,610 | $42,600 | $75,030 | 960 | 0.42 | 0.88 |
| 19 | Texas profile | $30.10 | $62,610 | $42,600 | $75,030 | 4,900 | 0.35 | 0.73 |
| 20 | Virginia profile | $30.10 | $62,610 | $42,600 | $75,030 | 1,980 | 0.48 | 1.01 |
| 21 | Connecticut profile | $29.87 | $62,130 | $54,330 | $75,030 | 860 | 0.51 | 1.07 |
| 22 | Maine profile | $29.87 | $62,130 | $42,600 | $75,030 | 670 | 1.04 | 2.20 |
| 23 | Arizona profile | $29.67 | $61,710 | $42,600 | $75,030 | 1,190 | 0.37 | 0.78 |
| 24 | Delaware profile | $29.67 | $61,710 | $42,600 | $75,030 | 230 | 0.46 | 0.98 |
| 25 | Illinois profile | $29.67 | $61,710 | $42,600 | $75,030 | 2,720 | 0.45 | 0.94 |
| 26 | Indiana profile | $29.67 | $61,710 | $42,600 | $75,030 | 1,520 | 0.47 | 1.00 |
| 27 | Alabama profile | $29.64 | $61,640 | $42,600 | $75,030 | 1,240 | 0.59 | 1.24 |
| 28 | Rhode Island profile | $29.60 | $61,570 | $42,600 | $75,030 | 250 | 0.51 | 1.06 |
| 29 | Washington profile | $29.60 | $61,570 | $42,600 | $75,030 | 1,460 | 0.41 | 0.87 |
| 30 | Minnesota profile | $29.35 | $61,050 | $42,600 | $75,030 | 1,380 | 0.47 | 0.99 |
| 31 | Mississippi profile | $29.35 | $61,050 | $42,600 | $75,030 | 790 | 0.68 | 1.43 |
| 32 | Pennsylvania profile | $29.35 | $61,050 | $42,600 | $75,030 | 3,650 | 0.60 | 1.27 |
| 33 | Vermont profile | $29.35 | $61,050 | $42,600 | $75,030 | 400 | 1.31 | 2.77 |
| 34 | West Virginia profile | $29.35 | $61,050 | $42,600 | $75,030 | 890 | 1.27 | 2.69 |
| 35 | Wisconsin profile | $29.35 | $61,050 | $42,600 | $75,030 | 1,400 | 0.48 | 1.00 |
| 36 | Colorado profile | $29.10 | $60,530 | $42,600 | $75,030 | 1,230 | 0.43 | 0.90 |
| 37 | Idaho profile | $29.10 | $60,530 | $42,600 | $75,030 | 480 | 0.56 | 1.18 |
| 38 | Kansas profile | $29.10 | $60,530 | $42,600 | $75,030 | 1,290 | 0.90 | 1.89 |
| 39 | Oregon profile | $29.10 | $60,530 | $42,600 | $75,030 | 960 | 0.49 | 1.03 |
| 40 | Utah profile | $29.10 | $60,530 | $42,600 | $75,030 | 620 | 0.36 | 0.75 |
| 41 | Iowa profile | $28.83 | $59,970 | $42,600 | $75,030 | 1,190 | 0.76 | 1.61 |
| 42 | Missouri profile | $28.83 | $59,970 | $42,600 | $75,030 | 1,780 | 0.61 | 1.28 |
| 43 | New Mexico profile | $28.83 | $59,970 | $42,600 | $75,030 | 660 | 0.76 | 1.60 |
| 44 | Wyoming profile | $28.83 | $59,970 | $36,360 | $75,030 | 250 | 0.89 | 1.88 |
| 45 | Arkansas profile | $28.60 | $59,490 | $42,600 | $75,030 | 970 | 0.74 | 1.56 |
| 46 | Nebraska profile | $28.60 | $59,490 | $42,600 | $75,030 | 690 | 0.67 | 1.41 |
| 47 | Oklahoma profile | $28.60 | $59,490 | $42,600 | $75,030 | 1,040 | 0.61 | 1.29 |
| 48 | Montana profile | $28.11 | $58,470 | $36,360 | $72,950 | 510 | 1.01 | 2.12 |
| 49 | South Dakota profile | $28.11 | $58,470 | $36,360 | $75,030 | 390 | 0.84 | 1.78 |
| 50 | Alaska profile | $27.80 | $57,820 | $36,320 | $71,930 | 410 | 1.27 | 2.68 |
| 51 | North Dakota profile | $27.80 | $57,820 | $36,360 | $74,030 | 330 | 0.77 | 1.62 |
Related occupations
Occupations in the same SOC broad group (43-5050), with their national median annual wage.
Part of Office and Administrative Support Occupations. Compare any area in the wage explorer.
Source and notes
Data: BLS OEWS May 2025, released 2026-05-15. Cross-industry estimates, all ownerships. BLS page: OEWS 43-5051 Postal Service Clerks.
- Annual wages assume 2,080 hours a year at the hourly rate; occupations BLS publishes on one basis only show an en dash (–) on the other.
- Employment is rounded to the nearest 10 by BLS. Where BLS withholds a cell, nothing is estimated in its place.
- Published medians: national_M2021_dl.xlsx to national_M2024_dl.xlsx in oesm21nat.zip to oesm24nat.zip (BLS OEWS May 2021 to May 2024, national, cross-industry, all ownerships) and the May 2025 spine. Each release is shown as published; nothing is computed between them.
Sources
- BLS Standard Occupational Classification 2018, definition of 43-5051, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- O*NET 30.1 Database, 43-5051.00, National Center for O*NET Development, USDOL/ETA (CC BY 4.0).
- OEWS May 2021 national estimates (oesm21nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2022 national estimates (oesm22nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2023 national estimates (oesm23nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2024 national estimates (oesm24nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2025 national estimates (oesm25nat.zip), the site's data spine, US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
Includes information from O*NET 30.1 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration, used under the CC BY 4.0 license.
Description written 2026-10-17 in our own words from the sources above.