Postal Service Mail Carriers earn a median of $60,550 per year ($29.11/hr) (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Employment is projected to fall 0.3% through 2035, with about 19,600 openings a year (BLS EP, 2025–2035). Typical entry-level education: No formal educational credential.
- SOC 43-5052
- Office and Administrative Support
- Last updated October 15, 2026
At a glance
Postal Service Mail Carrier in four numbers
- Median pay
- $60,550a year, or $29.11/hrBLS OEWS, May 2025Lowest 10% $42KTop 10% $81K
US median, all jobs: $50,980
- Projected growth
- -0.3%DecliningBLS EP, 2025–2035This career−0.3%All jobs+3.5%
Projected employment change, 2025–2035 Item Value This career −0.3% All jobs +3.5% - Openings a year
- 19,600316,400 jobs todayBLS EP, 2025–2035
- Jobs in 2025316.4K
- Projected 2035315.5K
Employment, 2025–2035 Item Value Jobs in 2025 316.4K Projected 2035 315.5K - Typical education
- No formal credentialneeded to enterBLS EP, 2025–2035; mix: O*NET
- Less than high school14.6%
- High school78.2%
- Some college7.2%
Highest education held by postal service mail carriers Segment Value Less than high school 14.6% High school 78.2% Some college 7.2%
Also advertised as: City Carrier, City Carrier Assistant (CCA), City Letter Carrier, City Mail Carrier, Letter Carrier, Mail Carrier.
Pay
How much do postal service mail carriers make?
Postal Service Mail Carriers earn a median of $60,550 a year ($29.11 an hour, or about $5,050 a month); the lowest-paid 10% earn less than $42,390 and the top 10% more than $81,040 (BLS OEWS, May 2025).
The best-paying state is District of Columbia, with a median of $64,250. See Postal service mail carrier salary in District of Columbia and every other state. By city, pay is highest around Bozeman ($69,930 average): salary in every city.
Every postal service mail carrier in the US, by percentile of annual wage
Median
$60,550
Middle half earn $48,940 to $81,000
- 10th
- $42,390
- 25th
- $48,940
- 75th
- $81,000
- 90th
- $81,040
All US occupations: $50,980
| Percentile | Value |
|---|---|
| 10th | $42,390 |
| 25th | $48,940 |
| Median | $60,550 |
| 75th | $81,000 |
| 90th | $81,040 |
| All US occupations | $50,980 |
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025
- Median annual wage
- $60,550
- Median hourly wage
- $29.11/hr
- Mean annual wage
- $62,540
- People employed
- 328,820
Versus all US occupations
At $60,550, Postal Service Mail Carriers earn 19% above the $50,980 median across all US occupations, a difference of $9,570 a year.
Versus office and administrative support occupations
Inside the Office and Administrative Support group, where the middle occupation pays $49,230, this is 23% above the group median.
Pay range
The top 10% earn $81,040 or more while the bottom 10% earn $42,390, a gap of 1.9×. That is a typical spread for a US occupation.
Rank in the bank
This median pays more than 33% of the 1,741 occupations in the NueCareer career bank.
Cost of living
District of Columbia posts the highest raw median ($64,250), but once local prices are taken into account Arkansas leads at $68,670 in national-average dollars.
Pay by state
Which states pay postal service mail carriers the most?
State medians come from the same OEWS release as the national figures. The cost-of-living column divides each state median by that state's BEA Regional Price Parity, restating pay in national-average dollars so a high-cost state and a low-cost one can be compared directly.
| State | Median | COL-adjusted | Employed |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1District of Columbia | $64,250 | $58,462 | 930 |
| 2Rhode Island | $63,610 | $62,192 | 1,220 |
| 3Arizona | $62,390 | $61,970 | 5,300 |
| 4California | $62,090 | $56,078 | 32,320 |
| 5Illinois | $62,070 | $62,096 | 14,730 |
| 6Maryland | $62,070 | $59,137 | 6,420 |
| 7Massachusetts | $62,070 | $58,691 | 7,630 |
| 8Nevada | $62,070 | $62,083 | 2,530 |
| 9New York | $62,070 | $57,514 | 20,580 |
| 10Virginia | $62,070 | $61,392 | 7,900 |
Job outlook
Is postal service mail carrier a growing career?
Employment change over 2025–2035, against every US occupation
Declining. -0.3% projected growth vs 3.5% for all occupations.
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Postal Service Mail Carriers | −0.3% |
| All US occupations | +3.5% |
Source: BLS EP, 2025–2035
Declining
BLS projects employment of Postal Service Mail Carriers to change -0.3% over 2025–2035, while total US employment is projected to rise 3.5%. That is 900 fewer jobs.
Annual openings
About 19,600 openings are projected each year, 6.2% of the 316,400 jobs that existed in 2025. Most come from workers leaving the occupation, not from growth alone.
Overall employment of postal service workers is projected to grow 1 percent from 2025 to 2035, decline.
Many of those openings are expected to result from the need to replace workers who transfer to different occupations or exit the labor force, such as to retire.
The postal service likely will need fewer workers because new mail sorting technology can read text and automatically sort, forward, and process mail. The greater use of online services to pay bills and the increased use of online communications should also reduce the need for sorting and processing workers.
Meanwhile, the amount of time carriers save on sorting letter mail and flat mail will allow them to increase the size of their routes, which should reduce the need to hire more carriers. In addition, the postal service is adopting more centralized mail delivery, such as the use of cluster mailboxes, to cut down on the number of door-to-door deliveries.
AI exposure: moderate
BLS places this occupation in its moderate relative AI exposure category, below the middle of the pack: some of the work overlaps with what AI can do, much of it does not.
Getting in
How to become a postal service mail carrier
To enter these occupations, postal service workers typically need no formal educational credential. However, job candidates must pass a written exam as part of the application process. The exam covers four areas: address cross comparison, forms completion, memory and coding, and personal characteristics and experience. For more information, contact the post office or mail processing center where you want to work.
Postal service workers must meet certain employment qualifications. For example, they must be at least 18 years old, or 16 years old with a high school diploma; be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident; and pass a criminal background check, a medical assessment, and a drug screening. They also may be asked to show that they can lift and handle heavy mail sacks.
- 1
Typical entry-level education
No formal educational credential
- 2
Work experience in a related occupation
None
- 3
Typical on-the-job training
Short-term on-the-job training
- 4
Preparation needed (O*NET job zone)
Some preparation
BLS Employment Projections, 2025–2035; job zone from O*NET 31.0 Database.
What education people in the job have
O*NET incumbent survey: the highest level of education reported by people already working as postal service mail carriers.
- High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED)78.2%
- Less than a High School Diploma14.6%
- Some College Courses7.2%
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED) | 78.2% |
| Less than a High School Diploma | 14.6% |
| Some College Courses | 7.2% |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
The work
What does a postal service mail carrier do?
Sort and deliver mail for the United States Postal Service (USPS). Deliver mail on established route by vehicle or on foot. Includes postal service mail carriers employed by USPS contractors.
Postal service workers sell postage and related products and collect, sort, and deliver mail.
Day-to-day tasks
- Scan labels on letters or parcels to confirm receipt.
- Hold mail for customers who are away from delivery locations.
- Leave notices telling patrons where to collect mail that could not be delivered.
- Report any unusual circumstances concerning mail delivery, including the condition of street letter boxes.
- Provide customers with change of address cards and other forms.
- Sign for cash-on-delivery and registered mail before leaving the post office.
- Return to the post office with mail collected from homes, businesses, and public mailboxes.
- Deliver mail to residences and business establishments along specified routes by walking or driving, using a combination of satchels, carts, cars, and small trucks.
O*NET core tasks, ordered by reported importance.
Working conditions and hours
Most postal service workers work full time, and some work more than 40 hours per week. Because mail usually is delivered 6 days a week, many postal service workers must work on Saturdays. Some also work on Sundays.
Where the work happens
Indoors, climate-controlled
NeverEvery dayOutdoors in all weather
NeverEvery dayOutdoors in all weather at least weekly.
Physical demands
Sitting
NeverAlmost all the timeStanding
NeverAlmost all the timeBending or twisting
NeverAlmost all the time
Working with people
Contact with other people
NoneConstantFace-to-face discussions
NeverEvery dayDealing with the public
Not importantExtremely importantDealing with customers or the public is very important.
Pressure and stakes
Strict deadlines
NeverEvery dayMeeting strict deadlines at least weekly.
Conflict situations
NeverEvery dayCost of a mistake
Not seriousExtremely serious
Autonomy
Freedom to decide
NoneA lot
Schedules: BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2025–2035 edition. Conditions: O*NET Work Context survey. Each item has its own scale, so each dot is read against the two answers that end its own line.
Core skills
O*NET importance, 1 to 5
- Active Listening3.0
- Speaking3.0
- Critical Thinking3.0
- Reading Comprehension2.6
- Monitoring2.6
- Writing2.1
- Active Learning2.0
- Learning Strategies1.8
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Active Listening | 3.0 |
| Speaking | 3.0 |
| Critical Thinking | 3.0 |
| Reading Comprehension | 2.6 |
| Monitoring | 2.6 |
| Writing | 2.1 |
| Active Learning | 2.0 |
| Learning Strategies | 1.8 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
Transferable skills
O*NET importance, 1 to 5
- Social Perceptiveness3.0
- Time Management2.9
- Coordination2.8
- Service Orientation2.6
- Judgment and Decision Making2.6
- Complex Problem Solving2.3
- Operations Monitoring2.3
- Operation and Control2.3
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Social Perceptiveness | 3.0 |
| Time Management | 2.9 |
| Coordination | 2.8 |
| Service Orientation | 2.6 |
| Judgment and Decision Making | 2.6 |
| Complex Problem Solving | 2.3 |
| Operations Monitoring | 2.3 |
| Operation and Control | 2.3 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
Tools and software
- Office suite software · in demand
- Operating system software · in demand
- Word processing software · in demand
- Data base user interface and query software
- Enterprise resource planning ERP software
- Human resources software
- Map creation software
- Time accounting software
“In demand” marks an O*NET Employer-Based Hot Technology, software named in real job postings for this occupation.
The workforce
Who works as a postal service mail carrier?
Women make up 35.8% of postal service mail carriers, against 47.1% of all employed people: more men than in the workforce as a whole.
23.7% are 55 or older, close to the 23.2% across all jobs.
The median worker is 45.5 years old (all workers: 42.1).
- Women
- 35.8%All workers 47.1% · BLS CPS, 2025
- Median age
- 45.5All workers 42.1 · BLS CPS, 2025
- Aged 55+
- 23.7%All workers 23.2% · BLS CPS, 2025
- Employed (CPS)
- 371,000BLS CPS, 2025
| Group | Share of postal service mail carriers | All employed people |
|---|---|---|
| Women | 35.8% | 47.1% |
| White | 61.3% | 75.7% |
| Black or African American | 24.9% | 12.7% |
| Asian | 9.1% | 7.5% |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 14.7% | 20.0% |
| Aged 55 and over | 23.7% | 23.2% |
| Aged 16 to 24 | 3.5% | 12.2% |
Current Population Survey annual averages, 2025 (BLS tables 11 and 11b). Race groups can overlap with Hispanic or Latino ethnicity, so they do not sum to 100%.
Personality fit
What personality type suits a postal service mail carrier?
O*NET Occupational Interests (RIASEC), scored 1 to 7
| Axis | Postal Service Mail Carrier |
|---|---|
| Realistic | 4 |
| Investigative | 1 |
| Artistic | 1 |
| Social | 3 |
| Enterprising | 3 |
| Conventional | 6 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
What the work is built around
Day to day this is work built around organising, following procedures and working precisely with data, combined with hands-on, practical work with tools, machines or the outdoors.
- Conventional6.3
- Realistic3.6
- Enterprising2.9
- Social2.7
- Investigative1.0
- Artistic1.0
Closest MBTI types
NueCareer fit scores: cosine similarity between each MBTI type's interest vector and this occupation's O*NET interest profile. Not a BLS or O*NET figure; the method is documented on our methodology page.
Explore further
Careers related to Postal Service Mail Carrier
O*NET related occupations
- Office and Administrative Support
- Office and Administrative Support
- Office and Administrative Support
Mail Clerk and Mail Machine Operator, Except Postal Service
$39,280median a year
Most earn $31K to $55K
−7.2%High school - Office and Administrative Support
- Office and Administrative Support
- Office and Administrative Support
Postal Service Mail Sorter, Processor, and Processing Machine Operator
$58,470median a year
Most earn $46K to $75K
−5.3%No formal credential
More office and administrative support careers
Median annual pay, with postal service mail carriers highlighted
- Executive Secretary and Executive Administrative Assistant$76,590
- Postal Service Mail Carrier$60,550
- Legal Secretary and Administrative Assistant$55,570
- Public Safety Telecommunicator$53,040
- Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerk$50,670
- Human Resources Assistant, Except Payroll and Timekeeping$50,610
- Secretary and Administrative Assistant, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive$47,540
- Teller$43,030
- Receptionist and Information Clerk$38,010
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Executive Secretary and Executive Administrative Assistant | $76,590 |
| Postal Service Mail Carrier | $60,550 |
| Legal Secretary and Administrative Assistant | $55,570 |
| Public Safety Telecommunicator | $53,040 |
| Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerk | $50,670 |
| Human Resources Assistant, Except Payroll and Timekeeping | $50,610 |
| Secretary and Administrative Assistant, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive | $47,540 |
| Teller | $43,030 |
| Receptionist and Information Clerk | $38,010 |
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025
Lists Postal Service Mail Carrier appears on
Questions
Postal Service Mail Carrier: frequently asked questions
How much do postal service mail carriers make?
Postal Service Mail Carriers earn a median of $60,550 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025), 19% above the $50,980 US median across all occupations. That works out at $29.11/hr. The middle half earn between $48,940 and $81,000. The top 10% earn $81,040 or more.
How much do postal service mail carriers make an hour?
The median hourly wage for postal service mail carriers is $29.11 (BLS OEWS, May 2025). On a full-year basis the $60,550 annual median works out to about $5,050 a month before tax.
What is the starting salary for a postal service mail carrier?
BLS does not publish a starting salary. The nearest measure is the low end of the pay range: the lowest-paid 10% of postal service mail carriers earn less than $42,390 a year and the bottom quarter less than $48,940 (BLS OEWS, May 2025). New workers often start near that end, but where a particular job starts depends on the employer, the state and the credentials you bring, so read these as the bottom of the range rather than a guaranteed entry wage.
Do postal service mail carriers make $100k?
Rarely. Even the 90th percentile is $81,040, so fewer than 10% of postal service mail carriers earn $100,000 or more (BLS OEWS, May 2025). No state's median reaches $100,000; the highest is District of Columbia at $64,250.
Which states pay postal service mail carriers the most?
The highest state medians for Postal Service Mail Carriers are District of Columbia ($64,250), Rhode Island ($63,610), Arizona ($62,390) (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Adjusted for local prices using BEA Regional Price Parities, Arkansas moves to the top at $68,670.
What kind of postal service mail carrier earns the most?
BLS does not split postal service mail carriers' pay by specialty or employer, but its range shows how far the top end runs: the highest-paid 10% earn more than $81,040, against a median of $60,550 (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Location moves pay the most in the published data: the best-paying states are District of Columbia ($64,250), Rhode Island ($63,610), Arizona ($62,390).
Do you need a degree to become a postal service mail carrier?
No. BLS lists no formal educational credential as the typical entry requirement for Postal Service Mail Carriers, and O*NET rates the preparation needed as some preparation. BLS also lists short-term on-the-job training as typical on-the-job training. In O*NET's survey of people already doing the job, 78.2% hold high school diploma or the equivalent (such as a ged).
How long does it take to become a postal service mail carrier?
BLS does not publish a fixed length; it depends on the route. What it does publish: the typical way in for postal service mail carriers is no formal educational credential. Once hired, BLS lists short-term on-the-job training as typical. O*NET classes the work as needing some preparation.
Is postal service mail carrier a growing career?
No. BLS projects employment to fall 0.3% over 2025–2035, a loss of 900 jobs (BLS EP, 2025–2035). BLS still projects about 19,600 openings a year, mostly from workers retiring or moving to other work.
What does a postal service mail carrier do?
Postal service workers sell postage and related products and collect, sort, and deliver mail. A core O*NET task: scan labels on letters or parcels to confirm receipt. Employers most often ask for Office suite software, Operating system software, Word processing software.
Do postal service mail carriers work 40 hours a week?
More work over 40 hours than at exactly 40. In O*NET's survey of people in the job, 43% of postal service mail carriers usually work more than 40 hours a week, 36% work exactly 40 and 20% work fewer. 82% say their schedule is regular and 18% irregular. Source: O*NET 31.0 Database, Work Context.
What personality type suits a postal service mail carrier?
O*NET scores Postal Service Mail Carriers highest on the Conventional and Realistic interest areas, so the work mixes organising, following procedures and working precisely with data with hands-on, practical work with tools, machines or the outdoors. On NueCareer's MBTI-to-interest mapping the closest types are ESTJ, ISFJ, ISTJ. Personality is a fit signal, not a gate. The free NueCareer quiz scores your own profile against all 1,731 careers in the bank.
What percentage of postal service mail carriers are women?
Women make up 35.8% of postal service mail carriers, against 47.1% of all employed people: more men than in the workforce as a whole. 23.7% are 55 or older, close to the 23.2% across all jobs. The median worker is 45.5 years old (all workers: 42.1). Source: BLS Current Population Survey, 2025 annual averages.