Postal Service Mail Carriers
Postal Service Mail Carriers (SOC 43-5052) earn a median $60,550 a year ($29.11 an hour) in the United States, with 328,820 employed as of May 2025; the highest-paying state is District of Columbia.
What postal service mail carriers do
Postal service mail carriers sort and deliver mail for the United States Postal Service, and the group includes carriers employed by USPS contractors. Carriers arrange mail in delivery sequence, then deliver it to residences and businesses along an established route, either by vehicle or on foot. Depending on the route, they use satchels, carts, cars, or small trucks. They scan labels on letters or parcels to confirm receipt, get signed receipts for registered, certified, and insured mail, collect any related charges, and finish the paperwork. Before leaving the post office they sign for cash-on-delivery and registered mail. Carriers also hold mail for customers who are away, meet schedules for collecting and returning mail, and bring back to the post office the mail they have collected from homes, businesses, and public mailboxes. Alternate titles include city carrier, city letter carrier, and clerk carrier. Postal service clerks work at the counter, and the sorters and machine operators who process mail have a code of their own.
Typical entry: O*NET survey respondents most often report a high school diploma or equivalent as the education level for this occupation.
Also called: Carrier, Carrier Associate, Carrier Driver, City Carrier, City Carrier Assistant (CCA).
National wage percentiles, May 2025
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||
| United States | Hourly | $20.38 | $23.53 | $29.11 | $38.94 | $38.96 | $30.07 | 328,820 |
| Annual | $42,390 | $48,940 | $60,550 | $81,000 | $81,040 | $62,540 | ||
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 mail carriers 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 | $21.23 | $24.58 | $30.89 | $38.96 | $38.96 | $31.26 | 930 | 1.33 | 0.63 |
| Annual | $44,160 | $51,130 | $64,250 | $81,040 | $81,040 | $65,030 | ||||
| Rhode Island | Hourly | $20.73 | $24.58 | $30.58 | $38.96 | $38.96 | $30.72 | 1,220 | 2.42 | 1.15 |
| Annual | $43,120 | $51,130 | $63,610 | $81,040 | $81,040 | $63,890 | ||||
| Arizona | Hourly | $20.38 | $24.02 | $30.00 | $38.96 | $38.96 | $30.60 | 5,300 | 1.64 | 0.77 |
| Annual | $42,390 | $49,960 | $62,390 | $81,040 | $81,040 | $63,650 | ||||
| California | Hourly | $20.73 | $24.58 | $29.85 | $38.96 | $38.96 | $31.04 | 32,320 | 1.77 | 0.84 |
| Annual | $43,120 | $51,130 | $62,090 | $81,040 | $81,040 | $64,560 | ||||
| Illinois | Hourly | $20.73 | $24.57 | $29.84 | $38.96 | $38.96 | $30.53 | 14,730 | 2.42 | 1.14 |
| Annual | $43,120 | $51,110 | $62,070 | $81,040 | $81,040 | $63,500 | ||||
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 | $20.73 | $24.58 | $29.85 | $38.96 | $38.96 | $31.04 | 32,320 | 1.77 | 0.84 |
| Annual | $43,120 | $51,130 | $62,090 | $81,040 | $81,040 | $64,560 | ||||
| Texas | Hourly | $20.38 | $21.23 | $29.11 | $38.70 | $38.96 | $29.83 | 26,700 | 1.90 | 0.90 |
| Annual | $42,390 | $44,160 | $60,550 | $80,500 | $81,040 | $62,050 | ||||
| Florida | Hourly | $20.38 | $23.53 | $29.39 | $38.94 | $38.96 | $30.13 | 20,810 | 2.10 | 0.99 |
| Annual | $42,390 | $48,940 | $61,130 | $81,000 | $81,040 | $62,670 | ||||
| New York | Hourly | $20.73 | $24.58 | $29.84 | $38.96 | $38.96 | $30.82 | 20,580 | 2.12 | 1.00 |
| Annual | $43,120 | $51,130 | $62,070 | $81,040 | $81,040 | $64,100 | ||||
| Illinois | Hourly | $20.73 | $24.57 | $29.84 | $38.96 | $38.96 | $30.53 | 14,730 | 2.42 | 1.14 |
| Annual | $43,120 | $51,110 | $62,070 | $81,040 | $81,040 | $63,500 | ||||
Five highest-paying metropolitan areas
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| Lawrence, KS | Hourly | $20.38 | $25.63 | $33.91 | $38.96 | $42.88 | $32.59 | 100 | 1.84 | 0.87 |
| Annual | $42,390 | $53,310 | $70,530 | $81,040 | $89,190 | $67,790 | ||||
| Bay City, MI | Hourly | $20.38 | $25.67 | $33.00 | $38.96 | $38.96 | $31.75 | 120 | 3.64 | 1.72 |
| Annual | $42,390 | $53,390 | $68,640 | $81,040 | $81,040 | $66,040 | ||||
| Enid, OK | Hourly | $20.56 | $26.74 | $33.00 | $37.63 | $38.96 | $31.60 | 60 | 2.57 | 1.22 |
| Annual | $42,750 | $55,610 | $68,640 | $78,270 | $81,040 | $65,720 | ||||
| Bozeman, MT | Hourly | $24.58 | $28.79 | $32.72 | $38.96 | $40.27 | $33.62 | 60 | 0.86 | 0.41 |
| Annual | $51,130 | $59,880 | $68,060 | $81,040 | $83,760 | $69,930 | ||||
| Napa, CA | Hourly | $24.57 | $27.74 | $32.28 | $38.96 | $38.96 | $32.26 | 130 | 1.64 | 0.78 |
| Annual | $51,110 | $57,700 | $67,140 | $81,040 | $81,040 | $67,090 | ||||
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 | $20.73 | $25.09 | $29.84 | $38.96 | $38.96 | $30.93 | 20,280 | 2.14 | 1.01 |
| Annual | $43,120 | $52,190 | $62,070 | $81,040 | $81,040 | $64,330 | ||||
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | Hourly | $21.23 | $25.63 | $30.89 | $38.96 | $38.96 | $31.49 | 10,940 | 1.75 | 0.83 |
| Annual | $44,160 | $53,310 | $64,250 | $81,040 | $81,040 | $65,500 | ||||
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | Hourly | $21.23 | $25.09 | $30.65 | $38.96 | $38.96 | $31.13 | 10,320 | 2.29 | 1.08 |
| Annual | $44,160 | $52,190 | $63,750 | $81,040 | $81,040 | $64,740 | ||||
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | Hourly | $20.38 | $23.53 | $29.84 | $38.94 | $38.96 | $30.26 | 7,100 | 1.75 | 0.83 |
| Annual | $42,390 | $48,940 | $62,070 | $81,000 | $81,040 | $62,930 | ||||
| Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX | Hourly | $20.38 | $23.53 | $29.84 | $38.96 | $38.96 | $30.28 | 6,660 | 2.02 | 0.96 |
| Annual | $42,390 | $48,940 | $62,070 | $81,040 | $81,040 | $62,980 | ||||
Published medians, May 2021 to May 2025
BLS published a median annual wage of $52,440 for postal service mail carriers in May 2021 and $60,550 in May 2025, with employment of 335,540 and 328,820.
| Release | Median annual | Median hourly | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 2021 | $52,440 | $25.21 | 335,540 |
| May 2022 | $54,250 | $26.08 | 326,760 |
| May 2023 | $56,330 | $27.08 | 331,600 |
| May 2024 | $57,490 | $27.64 | 336,040 |
| May 2025 | $60,550 | $29.11 | 328,820 |
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 | $30.89 | $64,250 | $44,160 | $81,040 | 930 | 1.33 | 0.63 |
| 2 | Rhode Island profile | $30.58 | $63,610 | $43,120 | $81,040 | 1,220 | 2.42 | 1.15 |
| 3 | Arizona profile | $30.00 | $62,390 | $42,390 | $81,040 | 5,300 | 1.64 | 0.77 |
| 4 | California profile | $29.85 | $62,090 | $43,120 | $81,040 | 32,320 | 1.77 | 0.84 |
| 5 | Illinois profile | $29.84 | $62,070 | $43,120 | $81,040 | 14,730 | 2.42 | 1.14 |
| 6 | Maryland profile | $29.84 | $62,070 | $42,390 | $81,040 | 6,420 | 2.33 | 1.10 |
| 7 | Massachusetts profile | $29.84 | $62,070 | $44,160 | $81,040 | 7,630 | 2.10 | 0.99 |
| 8 | Nevada profile | $29.84 | $62,070 | $42,390 | $81,040 | 2,530 | 1.63 | 0.77 |
| 9 | New York profile | $29.84 | $62,070 | $43,120 | $81,040 | 20,580 | 2.12 | 1.00 |
| 10 | Virginia profile | $29.84 | $62,070 | $42,390 | $81,040 | 7,900 | 1.92 | 0.91 |
| 11 | Connecticut profile | $29.39 | $61,130 | $42,390 | $81,040 | 4,510 | 2.66 | 1.26 |
| 12 | Florida profile | $29.39 | $61,130 | $42,390 | $81,040 | 20,810 | 2.10 | 0.99 |
| 13 | New Jersey profile | $29.39 | $61,130 | $43,120 | $81,040 | 10,160 | 2.37 | 1.12 |
| 14 | Ohio profile | $29.39 | $61,130 | $42,390 | $81,040 | 12,680 | 2.28 | 1.08 |
| 15 | South Dakota profile | $29.21 | $60,760 | $42,390 | $81,040 | 850 | 1.86 | 0.88 |
| 16 | Texas profile | $29.11 | $60,550 | $42,390 | $81,040 | 26,700 | 1.90 | 0.90 |
| 17 | Minnesota profile | $28.84 | $59,990 | $42,390 | $81,040 | 5,890 | 2.00 | 0.94 |
| 18 | New Hampshire profile | $28.84 | $59,990 | $42,390 | $81,040 | 1,560 | 2.28 | 1.08 |
| 19 | North Carolina profile | $28.84 | $59,990 | $42,390 | $82,370 | 11,030 | 2.23 | 1.06 |
| 20 | Washington profile | $28.84 | $59,990 | $43,120 | $81,040 | 6,550 | 1.84 | 0.87 |
| 21 | Alaska profile | $28.79 | $59,880 | $46,030 | $81,040 | 450 | 1.37 | 0.65 |
| 22 | Colorado profile | $28.79 | $59,880 | $42,390 | $81,040 | 5,100 | 1.77 | 0.84 |
| 23 | Delaware profile | $28.79 | $59,880 | $42,390 | $81,040 | 1,130 | 2.32 | 1.10 |
| 24 | Hawaii profile | $28.79 | $59,880 | $48,940 | $81,040 | 1,200 | 1.91 | 0.90 |
| 25 | Indiana profile | $28.79 | $59,880 | $42,390 | $81,040 | 6,910 | 2.16 | 1.02 |
| 26 | Iowa profile | $28.79 | $59,880 | $42,390 | $81,040 | 3,730 | 2.39 | 1.13 |
| 27 | Michigan profile | $28.79 | $59,880 | $42,390 | $81,040 | 11,610 | 2.64 | 1.25 |
| 28 | Missouri profile | $28.79 | $59,880 | $42,390 | $81,040 | 7,260 | 2.47 | 1.17 |
| 29 | Nebraska profile | $28.79 | $59,880 | $42,390 | $81,040 | 2,150 | 2.10 | 0.99 |
| 30 | New Mexico profile | $28.79 | $59,880 | $42,390 | $81,040 | 1,570 | 1.80 | 0.85 |
| 31 | Oklahoma profile | $28.79 | $59,880 | $42,390 | $81,040 | 4,130 | 2.42 | 1.14 |
| 32 | Pennsylvania profile | $28.79 | $59,880 | $42,390 | $81,040 | 13,900 | 2.29 | 1.08 |
| 33 | Utah profile | $28.79 | $59,880 | $42,390 | $81,040 | 2,460 | 1.42 | 0.67 |
| 34 | Wisconsin profile | $28.79 | $59,880 | $42,390 | $81,040 | 6,470 | 2.20 | 1.04 |
| 35 | Wyoming profile | $28.79 | $59,880 | $43,120 | $81,040 | 430 | 1.53 | 0.72 |
| 36 | Arkansas profile | $28.70 | $59,700 | $42,390 | $81,040 | 3,030 | 2.33 | 1.10 |
| 37 | Oregon profile | $28.56 | $59,400 | $42,390 | $81,040 | 3,760 | 1.91 | 0.90 |
| 38 | Maine profile | $28.37 | $59,010 | $42,390 | $81,040 | 1,510 | 2.35 | 1.11 |
| 39 | Montana profile | $28.37 | $59,010 | $42,390 | $81,040 | 830 | 1.63 | 0.77 |
| 40 | North Dakota profile | $28.37 | $59,010 | $42,390 | $81,040 | 800 | 1.87 | 0.88 |
| 41 | Vermont profile | $28.37 | $59,010 | $42,390 | $81,040 | 690 | 2.27 | 1.07 |
| 42 | Kentucky profile | $28.32 | $58,910 | $42,390 | $81,040 | 4,640 | 2.32 | 1.10 |
| 43 | Louisiana profile | $28.32 | $58,910 | $42,390 | $81,040 | 5,090 | 2.63 | 1.24 |
| 44 | Tennessee profile | $28.16 | $58,570 | $42,390 | $81,040 | 7,310 | 2.23 | 1.05 |
| 45 | Kansas profile | $28.15 | $58,540 | $42,390 | $81,040 | 3,310 | 2.30 | 1.09 |
| 46 | Idaho profile | $27.80 | $57,820 | $42,390 | $81,040 | 1,660 | 1.94 | 0.92 |
| 47 | Alabama profile | $27.74 | $57,700 | $42,390 | $81,040 | 5,840 | 2.76 | 1.31 |
| 48 | Georgia profile | $27.74 | $57,700 | $42,390 | $81,040 | 10,790 | 2.21 | 1.04 |
| 49 | South Carolina profile | $27.74 | $57,700 | $42,390 | $81,040 | 5,650 | 2.45 | 1.16 |
| 50 | West Virginia profile | $27.74 | $57,700 | $42,390 | $81,040 | 1,850 | 2.64 | 1.25 |
| 51 | Mississippi profile | $27.63 | $57,470 | $42,390 | $81,040 | 3,290 | 2.83 | 1.34 |
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 43-5052 Postal Service Mail Carriers.
- 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 43-5052, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- O*NET 30.1 Database, 43-5052.00, 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.