Postal Service Mail Sorters, Processors, and Processing Machine Operators
Postal Service Mail Sorters, Processors, and Processing Machine Operators (SOC 43-5053) earn a median $58,470 a year ($28.11 an hour) in the United States, with 105,200 employed as of May 2025; the highest-paying state is District of Columbia.
What postal service mail sorters, processors, and processing machine operators do
Postal service mail sorters, processors, and processing machine operators get inbound and outbound mail ready for distribution for the United States Postal Service, and the group includes workers employed by USPS contractors. They examine, sort, and route mail. They load and run mail processing, sorting, and canceling machinery, and now and then adjust or repair it, including computer scanning equipment, optical character readers, and bar-code sorters, and they clear jams in the equipment. Odd-sized mail is sorted by hand, as is mail that other workers could not sort, and items needing special handling are set apart. Workers also keep records of shipments, pouches, and sacks and do other duties related to mail handling within the postal service. Alternate titles include distribution clerk, flat sorter operator, and automation clerk. Counter clerks and mail carriers, who serve customers or deliver along routes, are both excluded and have their own codes.
Typical entry: O*NET survey respondents most often report a high school diploma or equivalent as the education level for this occupation.
Also called: Assorter, Automation Clerk, Computer Forwarding System Markup Clerk (CFS Markup Clerk), Dead Mail Checker, Distribution Clerk.
National wage percentiles, May 2025
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||
| United States | Hourly | $21.89 | $23.50 | $28.11 | $36.07 | $36.19 | $28.57 | 105,200 |
| Annual | $45,530 | $48,880 | $58,470 | $75,030 | $75,280 | $59,430 | ||
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 sorters, processors, and processing machine operators 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 | $20.99 | $25.62 | $32.09 | $36.19 | $36.76 | $30.57 | 400 | 0.56 | 0.83 |
| Annual | $43,660 | $53,290 | $66,750 | $75,280 | $76,460 | $63,580 | ||||
| South Dakota | Hourly | $23.50 | $26.61 | $29.60 | $34.58 | $36.19 | $30.22 | 210 | 0.45 | 0.67 |
| Annual | $48,880 | $55,350 | $61,570 | $71,930 | $75,280 | $62,850 | ||||
| Iowa | Hourly | $20.48 | $24.41 | $29.10 | $36.07 | $36.71 | $29.16 | 1,040 | 0.67 | 0.99 |
| Annual | $42,600 | $50,770 | $60,530 | $75,030 | $76,360 | $60,640 | ||||
| New Jersey | Hourly | $22.81 | $24.41 | $29.10 | $36.19 | $36.71 | $29.93 | 3,660 | 0.85 | 1.26 |
| Annual | $47,440 | $50,770 | $60,530 | $75,280 | $76,360 | $62,250 | ||||
| Wyoming | Hourly | $21.89 | $26.12 | $29.10 | $36.07 | $36.19 | $29.71 | 120 | 0.41 | 0.61 |
| Annual | $45,530 | $54,330 | $60,530 | $75,030 | $75,280 | $61,790 | ||||
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 | $22.81 | $24.41 | $28.60 | $36.07 | $36.19 | $29.58 | 10,090 | 0.55 | 0.82 |
| Annual | $47,440 | $50,770 | $59,490 | $75,030 | $75,280 | $61,530 | ||||
| New York | Hourly | $21.89 | $24.41 | $28.11 | $36.07 | $36.19 | $29.18 | 8,290 | 0.86 | 1.27 |
| Annual | $45,530 | $50,770 | $58,470 | $75,030 | $75,280 | $60,690 | ||||
| Texas | Hourly | $19.52 | $22.81 | $27.11 | $36.07 | $36.19 | $28.00 | 7,900 | 0.56 | 0.83 |
| Annual | $40,600 | $47,440 | $56,390 | $75,030 | $75,280 | $58,240 | ||||
| Florida | Hourly | $20.48 | $23.50 | $27.61 | $33.58 | $36.19 | $28.23 | 7,240 | 0.73 | 1.08 |
| Annual | $42,600 | $48,880 | $57,430 | $69,850 | $75,280 | $58,730 | ||||
| Pennsylvania | Hourly | $21.89 | $24.26 | $27.61 | $34.58 | $36.19 | $28.55 | 5,630 | 0.93 | 1.37 |
| Annual | $45,530 | $50,460 | $57,430 | $71,930 | $75,280 | $59,390 | ||||
Five highest-paying metropolitan areas
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| Duluth, MN-WI | Hourly | $20.48 | $28.11 | $34.13 | $36.07 | $36.19 | $31.61 | 40 | 0.34 | 0.50 |
| Annual | $42,600 | $58,470 | $70,990 | $75,030 | $75,280 | $65,750 | ||||
| Erie, PA | Hourly | $24.79 | $28.11 | $33.50 | $36.07 | $36.71 | $31.85 | 30 | 0.25 | 0.37 |
| Annual | $51,560 | $58,470 | $69,680 | $75,030 | $76,360 | $66,250 | ||||
| Wichita, KS | Hourly | $23.50 | $28.60 | $32.09 | $36.07 | $36.19 | $31.63 | 210 | 0.67 | 0.99 |
| Annual | $48,880 | $59,490 | $66,750 | $75,030 | $75,280 | $65,800 | ||||
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | Hourly | $23.50 | $26.61 | $30.60 | $36.19 | $36.71 | $30.86 | 1,510 | 0.64 | 0.94 |
| Annual | $48,880 | $55,350 | $63,650 | $75,280 | $76,360 | $64,200 | ||||
| Rocky Mount, NC | Hourly | $23.16 | $27.11 | $30.10 | $36.07 | $36.19 | $30.37 | 80 | 1.46 | 2.16 |
| Annual | $48,160 | $56,390 | $62,610 | $75,030 | $75,280 | $63,170 | ||||
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 | $22.68 | $24.41 | $28.60 | $36.07 | $36.71 | $29.60 | 9,010 | 0.95 | 1.40 |
| Annual | $47,170 | $50,770 | $59,490 | $75,030 | $76,360 | $61,560 | ||||
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | Hourly | $20.48 | $23.50 | $28.03 | $36.07 | $36.19 | $28.46 | 4,920 | 1.09 | 1.61 |
| Annual | $42,600 | $48,880 | $58,300 | $75,030 | $75,280 | $59,210 | ||||
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | Hourly | $22.81 | $24.41 | $28.60 | $36.07 | $36.38 | $29.19 | 4,700 | 0.75 | 1.11 |
| Annual | $47,440 | $50,770 | $59,490 | $75,030 | $75,670 | $60,710 | ||||
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | Hourly | $19.02 | $21.89 | $27.11 | $36.07 | $36.19 | $27.74 | 3,850 | 0.95 | 1.41 |
| Annual | $39,560 | $45,530 | $56,390 | $75,030 | $75,280 | $57,690 | ||||
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | Hourly | $21.89 | $23.58 | $27.61 | $36.07 | $36.19 | $28.69 | 2,870 | 0.99 | 1.46 |
| Annual | $45,530 | $49,050 | $57,430 | $75,030 | $75,280 | $59,660 | ||||
Published medians, May 2021 to May 2025
BLS published a median annual wage of $48,550 for postal service mail sorters, processors, and processing machine operators in May 2021 and $58,470 in May 2025, with employment of 112,130 and 105,200.
| Release | Median annual | Median hourly | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 2021 | $48,550 | $23.34 | 112,130 |
| May 2022 | $49,130 | $23.62 | 119,530 |
| May 2023 | $53,440 | $25.69 | 116,540 |
| May 2024 | $56,530 | $27.18 | 111,930 |
| May 2025 | $58,470 | $28.11 | 105,200 |
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 | $32.09 | $66,750 | $43,660 | $76,460 | 400 | 0.56 | 0.83 |
| 2 | South Dakota profile | $29.60 | $61,570 | $48,880 | $75,280 | 210 | 0.45 | 0.67 |
| 3 | Iowa profile | $29.10 | $60,530 | $42,600 | $76,360 | 1,040 | 0.67 | 0.99 |
| 4 | New Jersey profile | $29.10 | $60,530 | $47,440 | $76,360 | 3,660 | 0.85 | 1.26 |
| 5 | Wyoming profile | $29.10 | $60,530 | $45,530 | $75,280 | 120 | 0.41 | 0.61 |
| 6 | North Dakota profile | $28.77 | $59,840 | $42,600 | $75,280 | 240 | 0.55 | 0.82 |
| 7 | Minnesota profile | $28.72 | $59,740 | $48,880 | $75,280 | 1,840 | 0.62 | 0.92 |
| 8 | California profile | $28.60 | $59,490 | $47,440 | $75,280 | 10,090 | 0.55 | 0.82 |
| 9 | Hawaii profile | $28.60 | $59,490 | $42,600 | $75,280 | 370 | 0.59 | 0.87 |
| 10 | Maine profile | $28.60 | $59,490 | $47,440 | $75,280 | 440 | 0.69 | 1.02 |
| 11 | Michigan profile | $28.60 | $59,490 | $47,440 | $75,280 | 3,370 | 0.77 | 1.13 |
| 12 | Nebraska profile | $28.60 | $59,490 | $45,530 | $75,280 | 640 | 0.63 | 0.92 |
| 13 | Rhode Island profile | $28.60 | $59,490 | $45,530 | $75,280 | 600 | 1.20 | 1.77 |
| 14 | Vermont profile | $28.60 | $59,490 | $48,880 | $75,280 | 110 | 0.38 | 0.55 |
| 15 | Washington profile | $28.60 | $59,490 | $45,530 | $75,280 | 1,770 | 0.50 | 0.74 |
| 16 | Arkansas profile | $28.11 | $58,470 | $45,530 | $75,280 | 570 | 0.44 | 0.65 |
| 17 | Colorado profile | $28.11 | $58,470 | $45,530 | $76,360 | 1,910 | 0.66 | 0.98 |
| 18 | Connecticut profile | $28.11 | $58,470 | $47,440 | $75,280 | 1,020 | 0.60 | 0.89 |
| 19 | Delaware profile | $28.11 | $58,470 | $47,440 | $75,280 | 410 | 0.84 | 1.24 |
| 20 | Louisiana profile | $28.11 | $58,470 | $42,600 | $75,250 | 1,200 | 0.62 | 0.91 |
| 21 | Maryland profile | $28.11 | $58,470 | $45,530 | $75,280 | 2,430 | 0.88 | 1.30 |
| 22 | Massachusetts profile | $28.11 | $58,470 | $45,530 | $75,280 | 2,910 | 0.80 | 1.18 |
| 23 | Nevada profile | $28.11 | $58,470 | $42,600 | $75,280 | 920 | 0.60 | 0.88 |
| 24 | New Mexico profile | $28.11 | $58,470 | $42,600 | $75,280 | 350 | 0.40 | 0.60 |
| 25 | New York profile | $28.11 | $58,470 | $45,530 | $75,280 | 8,290 | 0.86 | 1.27 |
| 26 | Ohio profile | $28.11 | $58,470 | $45,530 | $75,280 | 3,700 | 0.67 | 0.99 |
| 27 | Oklahoma profile | $28.11 | $58,470 | $42,600 | $75,280 | 790 | 0.46 | 0.68 |
| 28 | West Virginia profile | $28.11 | $58,470 | $45,530 | $75,280 | 410 | 0.58 | 0.86 |
| 29 | Wisconsin profile | $28.11 | $58,470 | $47,440 | $75,280 | 1,420 | 0.48 | 0.72 |
| 30 | South Carolina profile | $28.07 | $58,390 | $42,600 | $75,280 | 1,280 | 0.55 | 0.82 |
| 31 | Illinois profile | $28.03 | $58,300 | $42,600 | $75,280 | 5,370 | 0.88 | 1.30 |
| 32 | New Hampshire profile | $28.03 | $58,300 | $47,440 | $76,360 | 690 | 1.00 | 1.48 |
| 33 | Virginia profile | $28.03 | $58,300 | $45,530 | $75,280 | 2,420 | 0.59 | 0.87 |
| 34 | Oregon profile | $27.83 | $57,890 | $47,440 | $75,280 | 1,090 | 0.55 | 0.82 |
| 35 | Mississippi profile | $27.79 | $57,800 | $45,530 | $75,030 | 350 | 0.30 | 0.44 |
| 36 | Alabama profile | $27.61 | $57,430 | $45,530 | $75,280 | 1,150 | 0.54 | 0.80 |
| 37 | Florida profile | $27.61 | $57,430 | $42,600 | $75,280 | 7,240 | 0.73 | 1.08 |
| 38 | Idaho profile | $27.61 | $57,430 | $42,600 | $75,030 | 250 | 0.29 | 0.43 |
| 39 | Kentucky profile | $27.61 | $57,430 | $42,600 | $75,030 | 950 | 0.47 | 0.70 |
| 40 | Missouri profile | $27.61 | $57,430 | $42,600 | $75,280 | 2,730 | 0.93 | 1.38 |
| 41 | Montana profile | $27.61 | $57,430 | $45,530 | $75,030 | 270 | 0.53 | 0.78 |
| 42 | Pennsylvania profile | $27.61 | $57,430 | $45,530 | $75,280 | 5,630 | 0.93 | 1.37 |
| 43 | Utah profile | $27.61 | $57,430 | $45,530 | $75,030 | 860 | 0.50 | 0.73 |
| 44 | Tennessee profile | $27.11 | $56,390 | $42,600 | $75,280 | 2,850 | 0.87 | 1.28 |
| 45 | Texas profile | $27.11 | $56,390 | $40,600 | $75,280 | 7,900 | 0.56 | 0.83 |
| 46 | Alaska profile | $26.61 | $55,350 | $42,600 | $75,030 | 230 | 0.70 | 1.04 |
| 47 | Arizona profile | $26.61 | $55,350 | $42,600 | $75,280 | 2,180 | 0.67 | 0.99 |
| 48 | North Carolina profile | $26.61 | $55,350 | $40,600 | $75,280 | 4,040 | 0.82 | 1.21 |
| 49 | Kansas profile | $26.22 | $54,540 | $39,560 | $75,280 | 870 | 0.61 | 0.89 |
| 50 | Georgia profile | $25.62 | $53,290 | $40,600 | $75,280 | 3,050 | 0.62 | 0.92 |
| 51 | Indiana profile | $23.50 | $48,880 | $39,560 | $75,030 | 2,600 | 0.81 | 1.20 |
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 43-5053 Postal Service Mail Sorters, Processors, and Processing Machine Operators.
- 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 43-5053, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- O*NET 30.1 Database, 43-5053.00, 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.