Postal service clerks salary
| Measure | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $42,600 | $20.48 |
| Median (50th percentile) | $62,130 | $29.87 |
| Mean (average) | $61,860 | $29.74 |
| 90th percentile | $75,030 | $36.07 |
These wages describe everyone employed in the occupation, from new entrants to experienced workers. They are not starting salaries and not earnings of graduates from any particular program. Verified data
Postal service clerks pay by state and metro area
Table: median wage and employment for all 54 states and territories
| State | Median | 10th pct | 90th pct | Employment | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $61,640 | $42,600 | $75,030 | 1,240 | 1.24 |
| Alaska | $57,820 | $36,320 | $71,930 | 410 | 2.68 |
| Arizona | $61,710 | $42,600 | $75,030 | 1,190 | 0.78 |
| Arkansas | $59,490 | $42,600 | $75,030 | 970 | 1.56 |
| California | $63,650 | $54,330 | $76,360 | 6,410 | 0.74 |
| Colorado | $60,530 | $42,600 | $75,030 | 1,230 | 0.9 |
| Connecticut | $62,130 | $54,330 | $75,030 | 860 | 1.07 |
| Delaware | $61,710 | $42,600 | $75,030 | 230 | 0.98 |
| District of Columbia | $67,790 | $56,390 | $76,360 | 110 | 0.33 |
| Florida | $62,610 | $42,600 | $75,030 | 3,540 | 0.75 |
| Georgia | $62,610 | $42,600 | $75,030 | 2,070 | 0.89 |
| Guam | $68,810 | $42,600 | $75,030 | 30 | 1.08 |
| Hawaii | $63,650 | $54,330 | $76,360 | 430 | 1.44 |
| Idaho | $60,530 | $42,600 | $75,030 | 480 | 1.18 |
| Illinois | $61,710 | $42,600 | $75,030 | 2,720 | 0.94 |
| Indiana | $61,710 | $42,600 | $75,030 | 1,520 | 1 |
| Iowa | $59,970 | $42,600 | $75,030 | 1,190 | 1.61 |
| Kansas | $60,530 | $42,600 | $75,030 | 1,290 | 1.89 |
| Kentucky | $62,610 | $42,600 | $75,030 | 1,220 | 1.29 |
| Louisiana | $63,210 | $42,600 | $76,360 | 1,100 | 1.2 |
| Maine | $62,130 | $42,600 | $75,030 | 670 | 2.2 |
| Maryland | $63,210 | $54,330 | $75,030 | 1,240 | 0.94 |
| Massachusetts | $62,610 | $55,350 | $75,030 | 1,950 | 1.13 |
| Michigan | $63,650 | $42,600 | $75,030 | 2,340 | 1.12 |
| Minnesota | $61,050 | $42,600 | $75,030 | 1,380 | 0.99 |
| Mississippi | $61,050 | $42,600 | $75,030 | 790 | 1.43 |
| Missouri | $59,970 | $42,600 | $75,030 | 1,780 | 1.28 |
| Montana | $58,470 | $36,360 | $72,950 | 510 | 2.12 |
| Nebraska | $59,490 | $42,600 | $75,030 | 690 | 1.41 |
| Nevada | $62,610 | $42,600 | $75,030 | 460 | 0.63 |
| New Hampshire | $62,610 | $54,330 | $75,030 | 500 | 1.53 |
| New Jersey | $64,290 | $54,330 | $76,360 | 2,230 | 1.1 |
| New Mexico | $59,970 | $42,600 | $75,030 | 660 | 1.6 |
| New York | $62,690 | $53,290 | $75,030 | 5,030 | 1.1 |
| North Carolina | $64,290 | $55,350 | $75,030 | 2,070 | 0.88 |
| North Dakota | $57,820 | $36,360 | $74,030 | 330 | 1.62 |
| Ohio | $62,690 | $42,600 | $75,030 | 2,430 | 0.92 |
| Oklahoma | $59,490 | $42,600 | $75,030 | 1,040 | 1.29 |
| Oregon | $60,530 | $42,600 | $75,030 | 960 | 1.03 |
| Pennsylvania | $61,050 | $42,600 | $75,030 | 3,650 | 1.27 |
| Puerto Rico | $62,610 | $55,350 | $75,030 | 670 | 1.51 |
| Rhode Island | $61,570 | $42,600 | $75,030 | 250 | 1.06 |
| South Carolina | $62,610 | $42,600 | $75,030 | 960 | 0.88 |
| South Dakota | $58,470 | $36,360 | $75,030 | 390 | 1.78 |
| Tennessee | $63,210 | $42,600 | $75,030 | 1,330 | 0.85 |
| Texas | $62,610 | $42,600 | $75,030 | 4,900 | 0.73 |
| Utah | $60,530 | $42,600 | $75,030 | 620 | 0.75 |
| Vermont | $61,050 | $42,600 | $75,030 | 400 | 2.77 |
| Virgin Islands | $63,660 | $42,600 | $76,360 | 60 | 4.21 |
| Virginia | $62,610 | $42,600 | $75,030 | 1,980 | 1.01 |
| Washington | $61,570 | $42,600 | $75,030 | 1,460 | 0.87 |
| West Virginia | $61,050 | $42,600 | $75,030 | 890 | 2.69 |
| Wisconsin | $61,050 | $42,600 | $75,030 | 1,400 | 1 |
| Wyoming | $59,970 | $36,360 | $75,030 | 250 | 1.88 |
A location quotient above 1 means the occupation is more concentrated in that state than in the nation overall.
Metro areas with the most jobs
Highest paying metro areas
Job outlook for postal service clerks
- Average annual openings, 2025 to 2035: 5,300. Openings include new jobs plus replacement needs when workers retire or leave the occupation. Official projection
- Read the official BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook profile.
These are official BLS projections. ConnectPrep does not alter them or present its own forecasts as official statistics.
Education and training for postal service clerks
- Typical entry education
- No formal educational credential
- Related work experience
- None
- On-the-job training
- Short-term on-the-job training
- O*NET Job Zone
- Job Zone 1-2: Very Little to Some Preparation Needed
Highest education of people working in this occupation
O*NET describes this preparation level as: Usually requires a high school diploma or GED, though some occupations may not.
Degrees and programs that lead to this career
Programs officially mapped to this occupation in the NCES and BLS CIP to SOC crosswalk. A mapping means the program commonly prepares students for the occupation, not that every graduate works in it. Official crosswalk
- NO MATCH CIP 99.9999
Skills, knowledge, and daily work
Most important skills
Most important knowledge areas
Typical tasks
- Weigh letters and parcels, compute mailing costs based on type, weight, and destination, and affix correct postage.
- Check mail to ensure correct postage and that packages and letters are in proper condition for mailing.
- Sort incoming and outgoing mail, according to type and destination, by hand or by operating electronic mail-sorting and scanning devices.
- Obtain signatures from recipients of registered or special delivery mail.
- Answer questions regarding mail regulations and procedures, postage rates, and post office boxes.
- Transport mail from one work station to another.
Technology skills
- Microsoft Windows (hot technology)
- Budgeting software
- Delivery operations information system DOIS
- Electronic Time Clock ETC
- Inventory tracking software
- NCR Advanced Store
- Time and Attendance Collection System TACS
Transferable skills for career changers: Service Orientation, Social Perceptiveness, Time Management, Judgment and Decision Making, Coordination, Complex Problem Solving.
Common job titles: Bulk Mail Technician, Clerk, Distribution Clerk, Part Time Flexible Clerk (PTF Clerk), Postal Clerk, Sales and Distribution Clerk, Sales and Service Associate (SSA), Window Clerk.
Is it worth it? Model the cost of getting there
Use the ROI calculator to compare the cost of the education this career usually requires against staying on your current path. It starts from the official wage distribution above, and you can change every assumption.
Frequently asked questions
How much do postal service clerks make?
The national median annual wage for postal service clerks was $62,130 in May 2025, according to the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics program. The lowest paid 10 percent earned less than $42,600 and the highest paid 10 percent earned more than $75,030. These figures cover all workers in the occupation, not only new entrants.
What education do postal service clerks need?
BLS lists no formal educational credential as the typical education needed to enter this occupation, with none of related work experience and short-term on-the-job training on-the-job training typically needed to become competent.
Is postal service clerks a growing career?
BLS projects employment of postal service clerks to change -0.3% from 2025 to 2035, compared with +3.5% for all occupations. About 5,300 openings are projected each year on average, including openings from workers who retire or change occupations.
Which states pay postal service clerks the most?
By median annual wage in May 2025, the highest paying states were Guam ($68,810), District of Columbia ($67,790), New Jersey ($64,290). Pay differences partly reflect differences in living costs.