How much does a postal service clerk make?
The median postal service clerk in the United States earns $61,630 per year, about $29.63 an hour. That is the midpoint of the profession: half of all postal service clerks earn more, and half earn less.
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2024. SOC code 43-5051.
Postal service clerk salary range
Pay for postal service clerks spans a wide band. The lowest paid 10 percent earn under $42,600 a year, while the highest paid 10 percent take home more than $74,050. The average (mean) wage is $61,070, close to the median.
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $42,600 | $20.48 | Lowest paid |
| 25th percentile | $55,410 | $26.64 | |
| Median (50th) | $61,630 | $29.63 | Midpoint |
| 75th percentile | $74,050 | $35.60 | |
| 90th percentile | $74,050 | $35.60 | Highest paid |
Figures are national wage estimates for postal service clerks (SOC 43-5051), U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS, May 2024.
Postal service clerk salary by state
Where you work changes the paycheck. Postal service clerks earn the most in District of Columbia at $65,770 a year, and the least in Alaska at $55,720. The table below lists every state with published data, ranked by median annual salary.
| State | Median annual | Employed |
|---|---|---|
| District of Columbia | $65,770 | 130 |
| Hawaii | $63,690 | 460 |
| New Jersey | $63,690 | 2,400 |
| North Carolina | $63,690 | 2,180 |
| California | $63,670 | 6,890 |
| Michigan | $63,270 | 2,470 |
| Tennessee | $63,270 | 1,340 |
| Kentucky | $62,670 | 1,280 |
| South Carolina | $62,670 | 970 |
| Georgia | $62,190 | 2,190 |
| Louisiana | $61,710 | 1,190 |
| Texas | $61,710 | 5,150 |
| Arizona | $61,630 | 1,230 |
| Florida | $61,630 | 3,770 |
| Indiana | $61,630 | 1,530 |
| Maryland | $61,630 | 1,360 |
| Massachusetts | $61,630 | 2,090 |
| Nevada | $61,630 | 480 |
| New York | $61,630 | 5,480 |
| Ohio | $61,630 | 2,570 |
| West Virginia | $61,630 | 910 |
| Alabama | $61,110 | 1,270 |
| Illinois | $61,110 | 2,920 |
| Minnesota | $61,110 | 1,440 |
| New Hampshire | $61,110 | 520 |
| Virginia | $61,110 | 2,190 |
| Delaware | $60,740 | 240 |
| Connecticut | $60,590 | 960 |
| Oregon | $60,590 | 990 |
| Pennsylvania | $60,590 | 3,820 |
| Vermont | $60,590 | 420 |
| Washington | $60,590 | 1,490 |
| Wisconsin | $60,590 | 1,540 |
| Idaho | $60,030 | 490 |
| Maine | $60,030 | 710 |
| New Mexico | $60,030 | 690 |
| Rhode Island | $60,030 | 270 |
| Colorado | $59,760 | 1,270 |
| Mississippi | $59,550 | 820 |
| Utah | $59,550 | 640 |
| Missouri | $59,250 | 1,850 |
| Iowa | $58,950 | 1,300 |
| Kansas | $58,950 | 1,350 |
| Oklahoma | $58,950 | 1,090 |
| Wyoming | $58,650 | 280 |
| Arkansas | $58,510 | 1,020 |
| Nebraska | $58,510 | 750 |
| Montana | $57,870 | 520 |
| South Dakota | $57,800 | 420 |
| North Dakota | $57,140 | 350 |
| Alaska | $55,720 | 430 |
State median wages for postal service clerks (SOC 43-5051), U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS state files, May 2024. States where the BLS does not publish a median are not shown.
Job outlook for postal service clerks
The BLS projects employment of postal service clerks to shrink from 2025 to 2035 (down 0.3%). That is a decline, against 3.5% average growth for all occupations. That works out to roughly 70,900 jobs in 2025 moving toward 70,700 by 2035.
Across the decade, the BLS expects about 5,300 openings a year for postal service clerks. Most come from the need to replace workers who move to other jobs or leave the workforce, on top of any new positions from growth.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections program, 2025-35 (Table 1.2, Occupational projections and worker characteristics).
How to become a postal service clerk
The typical entry-level education for postal service clerks is no formal educational credential, according to the BLS. New hires typically complete short-term on-the-job training to reach full competency.
A four-year college degree is usually not required to start, which makes this one of the jobs you can enter without a bachelor's degree. See more high paying jobs without a degree .
Education, training, and experience data: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections program.
What affects how much a postal service clerk earns
Employer, industry, seniority, and metro area drive pay. Large organizations and high cost cities pay above small offices and entry-level roles.
Location is one of the clearest factors. The gap between the top paying state (District of Columbia, $65,770) and the lowest (Alaska, $55,720) shows how much geography alone can move the number, before experience or specialization.
About 78,060 people work as postal service clerks in the United States. At $61,630 a year, the job pays above the $49,500 median for all U.S. jobs.
Postal service clerk salary FAQ
How much does a postal service clerk make an hour?
The median hourly wage for a postal service clerk is $29.63. The middle half of postal service clerks earn between $26.64 and $35.60 per hour.
What is the highest postal service clerk salary?
The highest paid 10 percent of postal service clerks earn more than $74,050 per year. Top earners usually have the most experience and work in the best paying regions and industries.
How much does a postal service clerk make a year?
The median annual salary for a postal service clerk is $61,630. The average (mean) wage is $61,070, close to the median.
Is being a postal service clerk a well paid job?
At $61,630 a year, a postal service clerk earns above the $49,500 median for all U.S. jobs. About 78,060 people work as postal service clerks in the United States.
Which state pays postal service clerks the most?
District of Columbia has the highest median salary for postal service clerks at $65,770 a year. Hawaii ($63,690) and New Jersey ($63,690) follow. State medians come from the BLS OEWS state files, May 2024.
Is being a postal service clerk a good career?
Employment of postal service clerks is projected to shrink 0.3% from 2025 to 2035, a decline, against 3.5% average growth for all occupations. The BLS projects about 5,300 openings each year, from growth and from workers leaving the occupation.
Do you need a degree to become a postal service clerk?
No. The BLS lists the typical entry-level education for postal service clerks as no formal educational credential, so a four-year degree is usually not required to start.
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