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The average salary for a postal mail carrier in the United States is approximately $35,935 per year, equating to around $17 per hour. These figures can vary significantly based on location, experience, and specific job roles. For instance, postal mail carriers with several years of experience often see increases in their earnings. Additionally, working in urban areas or high-demand regions can lead to higher pay.
Several states offer competitive salaries for postal mail carriers. For example, states such as California and New York consistently rank among the highest-paying regions for this profession. Major cities also tend to provide better opportunities, with metropolitan areas offering additional benefits and higher hourly wages. The demand for postal services continues to grow, making this a stable career choice.
As postal mail carriers gain experience, they can pursue opportunities for advancement within the postal service, such as supervisory roles or specialized positions. This path not only increases earning potential but also provides valuable career development.
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The highest-paying states for postal mail carriers are Washington, Oregon, and Massachusetts. The lowest average postal mail carrier salary states are Alabama, Maine, and Georgia.
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Idaho | $39,993 | $19.23 |
| 2 | South Dakota | $38,750 | $18.63 |
| 3 | Washington | $43,362 | $20.85 |
| 4 | Nevada | $39,510 | $19.00 |
| 5 | Oregon | $43,222 | $20.78 |
| 6 | Utah | $38,000 | $18.27 |
| 7 | Michigan | $37,606 | $18.08 |
| 8 | Massachusetts | $42,999 | $20.67 |
| 9 | Montana | $39,653 | $19.06 |
| 10 | Rhode Island | $38,818 | $18.66 |
| 11 | Vermont | $42,155 | $20.27 |
| 12 | Alaska | $42,803 | $20.58 |
| 13 | North Dakota | $38,550 | $18.53 |
| 14 | California | $39,065 | $18.78 |
| 15 | Arizona | $36,123 | $17.37 |
| 16 | Indiana | $35,900 | $17.26 |
| 17 | New Jersey | $40,375 | $19.41 |
| 18 | Connecticut | $39,760 | $19.12 |
| 19 | Oklahoma | $35,754 | $17.19 |
| 20 | New Hampshire | $38,525 | $18.52 |
| 21 | Colorado | $36,304 | $17.45 |
| 22 | Ohio | $36,450 | $17.52 |
| 23 | Minnesota | $38,680 | $18.60 |
| 24 | Wisconsin | $37,377 | $17.97 |
| 25 | Pennsylvania | $38,037 | $18.29 |
| 26 | Iowa | $37,081 | $17.83 |
| 27 | Kentucky | $35,097 | $16.87 |
| 28 | Kansas | $35,114 | $16.88 |
| 29 | Arkansas | $34,807 | $16.73 |
| 30 | Tennessee | $34,751 | $16.71 |
| 31 | Wyoming | $37,143 | $17.86 |
| 32 | New Mexico | $36,331 | $17.47 |
| 33 | New York | $39,258 | $18.87 |
| 34 | Nebraska | $36,292 | $17.45 |
| 35 | Louisiana | $35,351 | $17.00 |
| 36 | Texas | $34,204 | $16.44 |
| 37 | Missouri | $35,406 | $17.02 |
| 38 | Illinois | $35,232 | $16.94 |
| 39 | Mississippi | $34,422 | $16.55 |
| 40 | West Virginia | $35,384 | $17.01 |
| 41 | Georgia | $33,399 | $16.06 |
| 42 | North Carolina | $34,040 | $16.37 |
| 43 | Hawaii | $35,949 | $17.28 |
| 44 | Alabama | $33,974 | $16.33 |
| 45 | Maryland | $36,940 | $17.76 |
| 46 | South Carolina | $32,755 | $15.75 |
| 47 | Florida | $31,516 | $15.15 |
| 48 | Delaware | $34,709 | $16.69 |
| 49 | Maine | $33,849 | $16.27 |
| 50 | Virginia | $32,230 | $15.50 |
| 51 | District of Columbia | $34,658 | $16.66 |
The highest-paying cities for postal mail carriers are Portland, OR, Seattle, WA, and Boston, MA.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Portland, OR | $43,781 | $21.05 |
| 2 | Seattle, WA | $43,616 | $20.97 |
| 3 | Boston, MA | $42,995 | $20.67 |
| 4 | Anchorage, AK | $42,320 | $20.35 |
| 5 | Newark, NJ | $40,597 | $19.52 |
| 6 | Meridian, ID | $40,375 | $19.41 |
| 7 | Bridgeport, CT | $39,635 | $19.06 |
| 8 | New York, NY | $39,228 | $18.86 |
| 9 | Las Vegas, NV | $39,026 | $18.76 |
| 10 | Providence, RI | $38,834 | $18.67 |
| 11 | Minneapolis, MN | $38,698 | $18.60 |
| 12 | Manchester, NH | $38,547 | $18.53 |
| 13 | Los Angeles, CA | $38,293 | $18.41 |
| 14 | Philadelphia, PA | $38,236 | $18.38 |
| 15 | Salt Lake City, UT | $38,205 | $18.37 |
| 16 | Billings, MT | $38,199 | $18.36 |
| 17 | Sioux Falls, SD | $38,170 | $18.35 |
| 18 | Fargo, ND | $37,896 | $18.22 |
| 19 | Detroit, MI | $37,538 | $18.05 |
| 20 | Baltimore, MD | $37,247 | $17.91 |
A postal mail carrier's salary ranges from $21,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $59,000 at the 90th percentile.

| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $59,000 | $4,917 | $28 |
| 75th Percentile | $46,000 | $3,833 | $22 |
| Average | $35,935 | $2,995 | $17 |
| 25th Percentile | $27,000 | $2,250 | $13 |
| 10th Percentile | $21,000 | $1,750 | $10 |
The highest paying types of postal mail carriers are postman, rural route carrier, and rural carrier associate.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Carry Out Clerk | $33,667 | $2,806 | $16.19 | 227,485 |
| Delivery And Mail Sorter | $34,977 | $2,915 | $16.82 | 41,820 |
| Key Carrier | $32,262 | $2,689 | $15.51 | 82,534 |
| Carrier | $37,242 | $3,103 | $17.90 | 17,784 |
| Mail Clerk | $30,383 | $2,532 | $14.61 | 80,560 |
| Postal Carrier | $36,502 | $3,042 | $17.55 | 16,224 |
Top companies hiring postal mail carriers now:
The average postal mail carrier salary has fallen by $-2,871 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average postal mail carrier earned $38,806 annually, but today, they earn $35,935 a year. That works out to a -12% change in pay for postal mail carriers over the last decade.
Compare postal mail carrier salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Compare postal mail carrier salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $35,900 | $17.28 | -0.5% |
| 2024 | $36,100 | $17.35 | -7.6% |
| 2023 | $38,800 | $18.67 | -3.2% |
| 2022 | $40,100 | $19.28 | -1.9% |
| 2021 | $40,900 | $19.65 | -0.3% |
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Boise YSA Stake | Postal Mail Delivery To | Boise, ID | 09/11/2024 | $72,400 |
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