Salary guide
Postal Mail Carrier Salary & Pay Scale (2026)
What postal mail carriers earn per year, per hour and per month, with the full percentile range, the factors that move pay and how to earn more.
The median postal mail carrier salary in the U.S. is $60,550 per year, or $29.11 per hour, based on Bureau of Labor Statistics data for May 2025. The lowest-paid 10% earned under $42,390, while the top 10% earned more than $81,040.
Pay data: BLS OEWS, May 2025 · Outlook: BLS 2025–35 · Checked October 15, 2026
Postal Mail Carrier pay scale
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly* | What it usually reflects |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $42,390 | $20.38 | Typical for new workers, part-time markets and lower-paying settings |
| 25th percentile | $48,940 | $23.53 | Early career, a year or two of experience |
| Median (50th) | $60,550 | $29.11 | Mid-career: half earn more, half earn less |
| 75th percentile | $81,000 | $38.94 | Experienced workers, specialists and higher-paying employers |
| 90th percentile | $81,040 | $38.96 | Top earners: senior, specialized, supervisory or high-cost areas |
*Hourly figures are annual wages divided by 2,080 hours. Percentile descriptions are general patterns, not guarantees.
Monthly and biweekly pay
| Pay period | At 25th percentile | At median | At 75th percentile |
|---|---|---|---|
| Per year | $48,940 | $60,550 | $81,000 |
| Per month | $4,078 | $5,046 | $6,750 |
| Every two weeks | $1,882 | $2,329 | $3,115 |
| Per week | $941 | $1,164 | $1,558 |
Gross pay before taxes and deductions.
What affects postal mail carrier pay
- Licenses and endorsements (CDL Class A, hazmat, tanker)
- Overtime and peak-season premium pay
- Long-haul versus local routes
- Equipment certifications and safety record
- Geography and cost of living: metropolitan areas and some states pay well above the national median
How to earn more as a postal mail carrier
- Get credentialed: Valid driver’s license, USPS carrier academy completion, Postal vehicle certification.
- Build specialty experience: Hold a regular route.
- Move up: roles such as supervisor and postmaster typically pay more.
- Negotiate: research local pay and use our salary negotiation guide.
Postal Mail Carrier pay vs. related careers
Job outlook
BLS projects employment of postal mail carriers to change by -0.3% from 2025–35, little or no change compared with the 3.5% average for all occupations. About 19,600 openings are projected each year, on average, including openings to replace workers who retire or change occupations.
About this data
Figures come from the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey (May 2025), which covers wage and salary workers nationwide under SOC code 43-5052 (“Postal service mail carriers”). Wages exclude self-employment income, overtime and most bonuses unless they are part of regular pay. We refresh these numbers when BLS releases new estimates each spring.
Postal Mail Carrier salary FAQ
How much does a postal mail carrier make per hour?
The median hourly wage for postal mail carriers was $29.11 in May 2025 (BLS). Hourly pay for the lowest 10% was about $20.38 and the top 10% earned about $38.96 or more.
How much does a postal mail carrier make a month?
At the median annual wage of $60,550, that works out to about $5,046 per month before taxes, or about $2,329 every two weeks.
What is the starting salary for a postal mail carrier?
New postal mail carriers often start near the lower end of the range. The 10th percentile was $42,390 and the 25th percentile was $48,940 per year in May 2025. Starting pay depends on location, employer and credentials.
How can postal mail carriers earn more?
Common ways include earning Valid driver’s license and USPS carrier academy completion, gaining specialty experience, taking shifts or roles with premium pay, and moving up the career ladder to roles such as supervisor.
Sources
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025, SOC 43-5052 (Postal service mail carriers).
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, BLS Employment Projections, Table 1.2 (2025–35).
- O*NET OnLine summary for Postal service mail carriers (U.S. Department of Labor).
- BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook.
Reviewed by the Career Education Institute Curriculum Team. Pay figures are national estimates; local pay varies. See our editorial policy.