43 Series · SOC 43-9051

Mail Clerks and Mail Machine Operators, Except Postal Service Salary

National pay, percentile range, growth outlook, and state-by-state detail from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS survey (May 2025).

$39,280
Median / year
+3%
2024→2025
$54,820
Top 10% earn
-6.6%
Growth '24–'34
55,230
Estimated US jobs

Mail Clerks and Mail Machine Operators, Except Postal Service earn a median of $39,280 per year.

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS survey, the median annual wage is $39,280, based on the most recent survey of employers. Reported pay ranges from $30,780 (10th percentile) to $54,820 (90th percentile) nationally, across roughly 55,230 estimated jobs in covered establishments. The highest published state median in this ranking is District of Columbia ($49,240).

43 Series · Source: BLS OEWS Compare with another job →
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The pay verdict

Mail Clerks and Mail Machine Operators, Except Postal Service earn a median of $39,280, putting them among the lower-paid US occupations and higher than 11% of the 825 occupations with a published BLS median. Within Office and Administrative Support, it ranks #48 of 54 by median pay. Employment is projected to fall 6.6% by 2034.

$39,280
Median annual wage
Top 89%
of 825 US occupations with published wages
#48 of 54
in Office and Administrative Support
1.8×
90th-to-10th pay spread

Highest-paying state: District of Columbia at $49,240. Typical entry-level education: High school diploma or equivalent.

Observed pay change

What changed, BLS OEWS 2019–2025

May 2019 → May 2025
  • The published national median for Mail Clerks and Mail Machine Operators, Except Postal Service moved from $30,960 in May 2019 to $39,280 in May 2025 (+26.9%).
  • Across the 749 occupations priced in both releases under SOC-2018, the median occupation changed +24.5%.
  • Mail Clerks and Mail Machine Operators, Except Postal Service sits +2.4 pp near that median, nominal dollars, no price deflator applied.

Mail Clerks and Mail Machine Operators, Except Postal Service (SOC 43-9051) has a national median of $39,280 per year in the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics May 2025 release. The published 10th-to-90th-percentile boundaries run from $30,780 to $54,820, and the published mean is $41,650. Those summary statistics describe the estimated distribution; their difference alone does not identify its cause. OEWS estimates 55,230 jobs in covered establishments nationally. WageDex has published rows for 51 state or territory areas and 223 metropolitan or nonmetropolitan wage areas. The published national median moved from $38,150 in the May 2024 OEWS release to $39,280 in May 2025, a rise of $1,130 (+3%). This is a change between two BLS survey estimates, not an inflation-adjusted same-worker pay raise.

BLS Employment Projections forecast a -6.6% change in employment from 2024 to 2034, which we classify as declining relative to the all-occupations baseline of 3.1%. About 6,900 openings are projected per year from growth, occupational transfers, and labor-force exits. BLS assigns High school diploma or equivalent as typical education needed for entry, and BLS classifies its typical on-the-job preparation as short-term on-the-job training. BLS does not publish a separate occupation-specific fatality and injury rate for this role in the current release. The safety panel below shows its broad Office and Administrative Support Occupations SOC-group context and is not an occupation-level measurement or ranking.

Geographic variation matters as much as the headline median. District of Columbia pays the highest state median at $49,240, which is +25% above the national figure. The highest published metropolitan-area median in this ranking is Springfield, MA at $51,490. The observed difference does not identify its cause. Pair the national median with the state and metropolitan-area rows below while keeping the geography and statistic consistent. OEWS includes tips, commissions, incentive pay, and production bonuses, but not employer benefits, overtime premiums, stock compensation, or nonproduction bonuses. See our methodology for the sourcing and calculation details.

BLS OEWS May 2025 55,230 jobs Median $39,280/yr

Median Salary

$39,280

per year

Median Hourly

$18.89/hr

per hour

Mean Salary

$41,650

average

Employment

55,230

jobs nationwide

How does this pay compare nationally?

Where Mail Clerks and Mail Machine Operators, Except Postal Service pay sits nationally

Median annual wage vs. 825 detailed BLS occupations with a published median

$39,280 Bottom 11% higher than 11% of 825 US occupations

$0–$20,000: 0 US occupations (0%). Below this entry. $20,000–$40,000: 98 US occupations (12%). This entry sits in this band. $40,000–$60,000: 298 US occupations (36%). Above this entry. $60,000–$80,000: 209 US occupations (25%). Above this entry. $80,000–$100,000: 82 US occupations (10%). Above this entry. $100,000–$120,000: 58 US occupations (7%). Above this entry. $120,000–$140,000: 32 US occupations (4%). Above this entry. $140,000–$160,000: 14 US occupations (2%). Above this entry. $160,000–$180,000: 9 US occupations (1%). Above this entry. $180,000 and above: 25 US occupations (3%). Above this entry. This job $0 $180,000+ every BLS occupation, bucketed by value

Each bar is a $20K-wide band; taller bars hold more US occupations. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.

Read the chart as text · as of May 2025
Band Count Share
$0–$20,000 0 US occupations 0%
$20,000–$40,000 (this entry) 98 US occupations 12%
$40,000–$60,000 298 US occupations 36%
$60,000–$80,000 209 US occupations 25%
$80,000–$100,000 82 US occupations 10%
$100,000–$120,000 58 US occupations 7%
$120,000–$140,000 32 US occupations 4%
$140,000–$160,000 14 US occupations 2%
$160,000–$180,000 9 US occupations 1%
$180,000 and above 25 US occupations 3%

$39,280 · 11th percentile of 825 US occupations

Source U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS · May 2025

Does this job pay well and grow?

Each dot is a 43-series occupation, placed by projected 2024–2034 growth and median pay. The highlighted dot is Mail Clerks and Mail Machine Operators, Except Postal Service; the upper-right quadrant is the sweet spot (high pay + fast growth).

Among 24 43-series occupations with growth data, Mail Clerks and Mail Machine Operators, Except Postal Service sits on the slower-growing side at -6.6% growth and $39,280 median pay. Scatter plot of 24 data points. $30000$40000$50000$60000$70000$80000 -20%-15%-10%-5%0%5%10% Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) Median annual wage Customer Service Rep… - Projected growth 2024–2034 (%): -5.5% · Median annual wage: $44770Office Clerks, General - Projected growth 2024–2034 (%): -6.7% · Median annual wage: $45010Secretaries and Admi… - Projected growth 2024–2034 (%): -1.6% · Median annual wage: $47540First-Line Superviso… - Projected growth 2024–2034 (%): -0.3% · Median annual wage: $69500Bookkeeping, Account… - Projected growth 2024–2034 (%): -5.8% · Median annual wage: $50670Medical Secretaries … - Projected growth 2024–2034 (%): 4.2% · Median annual wage: $45930Shipping, Receiving,… - Projected growth 2024–2034 (%): -7.7% · Median annual wage: $45260Executive Secretarie… - Projected growth 2024–2034 (%): -1.6% · Median annual wage: $76590Billing and Posting … - Projected growth 2024–2034 (%): -0.4% · Median annual wage: $48500Production, Planning… - Projected growth 2024–2034 (%): -1.8% · Median annual wage: $59650Tellers - Projected growth 2024–2034 (%): -12.9% · Median annual wage: $43030Postal Service Mail … - Projected growth 2024–2034 (%): -3.5% · Median annual wage: $60550Hotel, Motel, and Re… - Projected growth 2024–2034 (%): 3.7% · Median annual wage: $35070Insurance Claims and… - Projected growth 2024–2034 (%): -3.7% · Median annual wage: $49230Dispatchers, Except … - Projected growth 2024–2034 (%): -0.9% · Median annual wage: $50340Office and Administr… - Projected growth 2024–2034 (%): -7.8% · Median annual wage: $45670Court, Municipal, an… - Projected growth 2024–2034 (%): 3% · Median annual wage: $48700Loan Interviewers an… - Projected growth 2024–2034 (%): -2.3% · Median annual wage: $50020Bill and Account Col… - Projected growth 2024–2034 (%): -10.5% · Median annual wage: $47030Legal Secretaries an… - Projected growth 2024–2034 (%): -5.8% · Median annual wage: $55570Eligibility Intervie… - Projected growth 2024–2034 (%): 1% · Median annual wage: $54210Payroll and Timekeep… - Projected growth 2024–2034 (%): -16.7% · Median annual wage: $58260Interviewers, Except… - Projected growth 2024–2034 (%): -11.6% · Median annual wage: $45920Mail Clerks and Mail Machine Operators, Except Postal Service - Projected growth 2024–2034 (%): -6.6% · Median annual wage: $39280
Among 24 43-series occupations with growth data, Mail Clerks and Mail Machine Operators, Except Postal Service sits on the slower-growing side at -6.6% growth and $39,280 median pay.
Read the chart as text
  • Customer Service Rep…: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) -5.5%, Median annual wage $44770
  • Office Clerks, General: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) -6.7%, Median annual wage $45010
  • Secretaries and Admi…: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) -1.6%, Median annual wage $47540
  • First-Line Superviso…: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) -0.3%, Median annual wage $69500
  • Bookkeeping, Account…: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) -5.8%, Median annual wage $50670
  • Medical Secretaries …: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 4.2%, Median annual wage $45930
  • Shipping, Receiving,…: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) -7.7%, Median annual wage $45260
  • Executive Secretarie…: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) -1.6%, Median annual wage $76590
  • Billing and Posting …: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) -0.4%, Median annual wage $48500
  • Production, Planning…: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) -1.8%, Median annual wage $59650
  • Tellers: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) -12.9%, Median annual wage $43030
  • Postal Service Mail …: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) -3.5%, Median annual wage $60550
  • Hotel, Motel, and Re…: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 3.7%, Median annual wage $35070
  • Insurance Claims and…: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) -3.7%, Median annual wage $49230
  • Dispatchers, Except …: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) -0.9%, Median annual wage $50340
  • Office and Administr…: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) -7.8%, Median annual wage $45670
  • Court, Municipal, an…: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 3%, Median annual wage $48700
  • Loan Interviewers an…: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) -2.3%, Median annual wage $50020
  • Bill and Account Col…: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) -10.5%, Median annual wage $47030
  • Legal Secretaries an…: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) -5.8%, Median annual wage $55570
  • Eligibility Intervie…: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 1%, Median annual wage $54210
  • Payroll and Timekeep…: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) -16.7%, Median annual wage $58260
  • Interviewers, Except…: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) -11.6%, Median annual wage $45920
  • Mail Clerks and Mail Machine Operators, Except Postal Service: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) -6.6%, Median annual wage $39280

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS (wages, May 2025) and Employment Projections (2024–2034).

Job Outlook (2024–2034)

Projected Growth

-6.6%

Declining

Annual Openings

6,900

per year (projected)

Employment Change

-4,400

67,400 (2024) → 62,900 (2034)

Typical Education

High school diploma or equivalent

On-the-Job Training

Short-term on-the-job training

Source: BLS Employment Projections, 2024–2034

Workplace Safety

All safety ratings →
Group

Office and Administrative Support Occupations context

Broad SOC context, not an occupation grade

Fatality Rate

0.5/100K

Injury Rate

1/100

Danger Index

4.3/100

Source: BLS Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries (CFOI) & Survey of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses (SOII), 2023

Career Intelligence

Skills, knowledge, and tasks most important for Mail Clerks and Mail Machine Operators, Except Postal Service roles, ranked by importance. Source: O*NET.

Top Skills

Reading Comprehension 3.0
Speaking 3.0
Critical Thinking 3.0
Monitoring 3.0
Time Management 3.0
Active Listening 2.9
Writing 2.9
Coordination 2.9
Operations Monitoring 2.9
Operation and Control 2.9

Knowledge Areas

Customer and Personal Service 3.9
English Language 3.4
Mathematics 3.0
Law and Government 2.5
Education and Training 2.5
Administrative 2.5
Administration and Management 2.4
Public Safety and Security 2.3
Transportation 2.1
Computers and Electronics 2.0

Key Tasks

  • Wrap packages or bundles by hand, or by using tying machines.
  • Weigh packages or letters to determine postage needed, using weighing scales and rate charts.
  • Verify that items are addressed correctly, marked with the proper postage, and in suitable condition for processing.
  • Inspect mail machine output for defects and determine how to eliminate causes of any defects.
  • Remove containers of sorted mail or parcels and transfer them to designated areas according to established procedures.
  • Sort and route incoming mail, and collect outgoing mail, using carts as necessary.
  • Remove from machines printed materials, such as labeled articles, postmarked envelopes or tape, and folded sheets.
  • Affix postage to packages or letters by hand, or stamp materials, using postage meters.
  • Determine manner in which mail is to be sent, and prepare it for delivery to mailing facilities.
  • Release packages or letters to customers upon presentation of written notices or other identification.

Source: O*NET Online, National Center for O*NET Development. Data represents typical importance ratings for this occupation.

Salary Range

Annual Salary Distribution

10th$30,780
25th$35,470
Median$39,280
75th$46,450
90th$54,820

Hourly Rate Distribution

10th$14.80
25th$17.05
Median$18.89
75th$22.33
90th$26.36

Mail Clerks and Mail Machine Operators, Except Postal Service pay history, 2015–2025

Published national median across 11 BLS OEWS releases. Nominal dollars, not inflation-adjusted.

$25,000$30,000$35,000$40,000 20152016201720182019202020212022202320242025 National median - 2015: $28,570National median - 2016: $29,160National median - 2017: $29,620National median - 2018: $30,430National median - 2019: $30,960National median - 2020: $31,920National median - 2021: $32,550National median - 2022: $35,070National median - 2023: $36,880National median - 2024: $38,150National median - 2025: $39,280$39,280
National median annual wage for Mail Clerks and Mail Machine Operators, Except Postal Service, May 2015 to May 2025 OEWS releases
Read the chart as text
Period National median
2015 $28,570
2016 $29,160
2017 $29,620
2018 $30,430
2019 $30,960
2020 $31,920
2021 $32,550
2022 $35,070
2023 $36,880
2024 $38,150
2025 $39,280

2015 median

$28,570

2025 median

$39,280

2019–2025 change (same SOC)

+$8,320 (+26.9%)

Avg/year (same SOC)

+4%

Published national median annual wage and estimated employment for Mail Clerks and Mail Machine Operators, Except Postal Service by OEWS release year
Release Median Change Estimated jobs
May 2015 $28,570 First banked release 95,640
May 2016 $29,160 +2.1% 91,530
May 2017 $29,620 +1.6% 85,800
May 2018 $30,430 +2.7% 86,150
May 2019 $30,960 Classification break 83,580
May 2020 $31,920 +3.1% 79,310
May 2021 $32,550 +2.0% 69,400
May 2022 $35,070 +7.7% 67,750
May 2023 $36,880 +5.2% 66,600
May 2024 $38,150 +3.4% 62,730
May 2025 $39,280 +3.0% 55,230

Across the 11 releases WageDex holds for this occupation, the published national median went from $28,570 in May 2015 to $39,280 in May 2025. Within the SOC-2018 classification (2019–2025), the like-for-like change averages +4% per year in nominal terms. Within the same SOC classification, estimated employment went from 83,580 in May 2019 to 55,230 in May 2025.

Each figure is a separate BLS survey estimate, so a change between releases reflects the estimated occupation-wide median in each year. It is not the raise any individual worker received, and it is not adjusted for inflation. Years where BLS did not publish an annual median for this occupation are omitted rather than filled in. This span also crosses a classification change: releases before May 2019 use the 2010 Standard Occupational Classification and later releases use the 2018 SOC, so figures either side of that boundary are not strictly like-for-like. Headline change rates on this page use only the same-classification subset.

Salary by State

View all 51 states →
# State Median Salary vs National
1 District of Columbia $49,240 +25% above national
2 Massachusetts $48,860 +24% above national
3 Washington $46,380 +18% above national
4 Vermont $45,380 +16% above national
5 Utah $45,150 +15% above national
6 Minnesota $44,840 +14% above national
7 Maine $44,780 +14% above national
8 California $44,410 +13% above national
9 Connecticut $43,970 +12% above national
10 New Jersey $43,700 +11% above national
11 Oregon $43,450 +11% above national
12 Colorado $43,430 +11% above national
13 New York $42,020 +7% above national
14 New Hampshire $41,060 +5% above national
15 Nevada $40,520 +3% above national
16 Maryland $40,280 +3% above national
17 Nebraska $40,080 +2% above national
18 New Mexico $40,080 +2% above national
19 Idaho $39,890 +2% above national
20 Florida $39,300 same as national
21 Montana $38,880 1% below national
22 Indiana $38,490 2% below national
23 Ohio $38,470 2% below national
24 Texas $38,470 2% below national
25 Rhode Island $38,330 2% below national
26 Hawaii $38,270 3% below national
27 Arizona $38,260 3% below national
28 Illinois $38,190 3% below national
29 North Dakota $38,120 3% below national
30 Missouri $38,110 3% below national
31 Pennsylvania $37,980 3% below national
32 Arkansas $37,940 3% below national
33 Kentucky $37,890 4% below national
34 North Carolina $37,830 4% below national
35 Wisconsin $37,730 4% below national
36 South Dakota $37,580 4% below national
37 Michigan $36,900 6% below national
38 South Carolina $36,780 6% below national
39 Virginia $36,780 6% below national
40 Oklahoma $36,680 7% below national
41 Delaware $36,450 7% below national
42 Alabama $36,190 8% below national
43 Georgia $36,110 8% below national
44 Kansas $36,020 8% below national
45 Iowa $35,610 9% below national
46 Tennessee $35,610 9% below national
47 West Virginia $35,140 11% below national
48 Louisiana $34,860 11% below national
49 Mississippi $34,350 13% below national
50 Wyoming $32,940 16% below national
51 Puerto Rico $23,560 40% below national

Salary by Metro Area

View all 182 metro areas →
# Metro Area Median Salary vs National
1 Springfield, MA $51,490 +31% above national
2 Trenton-Princeton, NJ $49,520 +26% above national
3 Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA $49,270 +25% above national
4 Duluth, MN-WI $48,430 +23% above national
5 Salem, OR $48,420 +23% above national
6 Salt Lake City-Murray, UT $48,120 +23% above national
7 San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA $48,050 +22% above national
8 Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH $47,500 +21% above national
9 San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA $47,430 +21% above national
10 Mankato, MN $47,050 +20% above national
11 Provo-Orem-Lehi, UT $47,050 +20% above national
12 Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA $46,930 +19% above national
13 Worcester, MA $46,290 +18% above national
14 Reno, NV $46,230 +18% above national
15 New Haven, CT $45,710 +16% above national
16 York-Hanover, PA $45,390 +16% above national
17 Burlington-South Burlington, VT $45,380 +16% above national
18 Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI $44,840 +14% above national
19 Portland-South Portland, ME $44,800 +14% above national
20 Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford, CT $44,760 +14% above national
21 Bridgeport-Stamford-Danbury, CT $44,580 +13% above national
22 Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA $44,280 +13% above national
23 New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ $44,220 +13% above national
24 St. Cloud, MN $44,220 +13% above national
25 Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX $43,590 +11% above national
26 Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA $43,540 +11% above national
27 Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO $43,430 +11% above national
28 Brownsville-Harlingen, TX $43,240 +10% above national
29 Iowa City, IA $43,240 +10% above national
30 San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA $43,180 +10% above national
31 Jacksonville, FL $43,080 +10% above national
32 Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD $43,000 +9% above national
33 Carson City, NV $42,660 +9% above national
34 Madison, WI $42,340 +8% above national
35 Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY $42,320 +8% above national
36 Colorado Springs, CO $42,200 +7% above national
37 Syracuse, NY $42,150 +7% above national
38 Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA $41,940 +7% above national
39 Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood, IN $41,800 +6% above national
40 Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV $41,760 +6% above national
41 Kingston, NY $41,390 +5% above national
42 Durham-Chapel Hill, NC $41,210 +5% above national
43 Anchorage, AK $41,200 +5% above national
44 Boise City, ID $41,150 +5% above national
45 Visalia, CA $40,830 +4% above national
46 Waterbury-Shelton, CT $40,700 +4% above national
47 Providence-Warwick, RI-MA $40,660 +4% above national
48 Albuquerque, NM $40,640 +3% above national
49 Tucson, AZ $40,620 +3% above national
50 Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA $40,600 +3% above national
51 Omaha, NE-IA $40,590 +3% above national
52 Las Vegas-Henderson-North Las Vegas, NV $40,520 +3% above national
53 Huntsville, AL $40,300 +3% above national
54 Fayetteville-Springdale-Rogers, AR $40,230 +2% above national
55 Manchester-Nashua, NH $40,230 +2% above national
56 Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY $40,220 +2% above national
57 Raleigh-Cary, NC $40,130 +2% above national
58 Bozeman, MT $40,070 +2% above national
59 Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN $39,990 +2% above national
60 Killeen-Temple, TX $39,890 +2% above national
61 Spokane-Spokane Valley, WA $39,870 +2% above national
62 Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL $39,740 +1% above national
63 Cleveland, OH $39,730 +1% above national
64 Columbus, OH $39,680 +1% above national
65 Lincoln, NE $39,650 +1% above national
66 Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN $39,580 +1% above national
67 Gulfport-Biloxi, MS $39,540 +1% above national
68 Rochester, NY $39,520 +1% above national
69 Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA $39,460 same as national
70 Grand Rapids-Wyoming-Kentwood, MI $39,390 same as national
71 Lansing-East Lansing, MI $39,310 same as national
72 Bakersfield-Delano, CA $39,120 same as national
73 Asheville, NC $39,100 same as national
74 Kiryas Joel-Poughkeepsie-Newburgh, NY $39,070 1% below national
75 Kansas City, MO-KS $39,060 1% below national
76 Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC $39,000 1% below national
77 Greenville-Anderson-Greer, SC $39,000 1% below national
78 North Port-Bradenton-Sarasota, FL $39,000 1% below national
79 Birmingham, AL $38,780 1% below national
80 Bellingham, WA $38,760 1% below national
81 Utica-Rome, NY $38,730 1% below national
82 Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX $38,630 2% below national
83 Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN $38,570 2% below national
84 Fort Wayne, IN $38,540 2% below national
85 Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford, FL $38,530 2% below national
86 Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD $38,520 2% below national
87 Lancaster, PA $38,480 2% below national
88 Dayton-Kettering-Beavercreek, OH $38,460 2% below national
89 Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ $38,260 3% below national
90 Harrisburg-Carlisle, PA $38,180 3% below national
91 Richmond, VA $38,170 3% below national
92 Fargo, ND-MN $38,120 3% below national
93 Columbia, MO $38,110 3% below national
94 Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA $38,100 3% below national
95 Memphis, TN-MS-AR $38,100 3% below national
96 Cedar Rapids, IA $38,050 3% below national
97 Sioux Falls, SD-MN $38,020 3% below national
98 St. Louis, MO-IL $38,010 3% below national
99 Wilmington, NC $38,000 3% below national
100 Augusta-Richmond County, GA-SC $37,950 3% below national
101 Evansville, IN $37,900 4% below national
102 Stockton-Lodi, CA $37,900 4% below national
103 Lexington-Fayette, KY $37,890 4% below national
104 Little Rock-North Little Rock-Conway, AR $37,870 4% below national
105 Amarillo, TX $37,840 4% below national
106 Huntington-Ashland, WV-KY-OH $37,840 4% below national
107 Ann Arbor, MI $37,800 4% below national
108 Helena, MT $37,750 4% below national
109 Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI $37,730 4% below national
110 Akron, OH $37,630 4% below national
111 Oklahoma City, OK $37,620 4% below national
112 Fayetteville, NC $37,550 4% below national
113 Binghamton, NY $37,520 4% below national
114 Billings, MT $37,440 5% below national
115 Lexington Park, MD $37,430 5% below national
116 Montgomery, AL $37,430 5% below national
117 Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX $37,380 5% below national
118 Scranton--Wilkes-Barre, PA $37,320 5% below national
119 Bloomington, IL $37,290 5% below national
120 Oshkosh-Neenah, WI $37,230 5% below national
121 Green Bay, WI $37,110 6% below national
122 State College, PA $37,100 6% below national
123 Canton-Massillon, OH $37,090 6% below national
124 Tallahassee, FL $37,070 6% below national
125 Urban Honolulu, HI $37,020 6% below national
126 Peoria, IL $36,920 6% below national
127 Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI $36,900 6% below national
128 San Antonio-New Braunfels, TX $36,870 6% below national
129 Lynchburg, VA $36,820 6% below national
130 Olympia-Lacey-Tumwater, WA $36,810 6% below national
131 Fresno, CA $36,690 7% below national
132 Kalamazoo-Portage, MI $36,680 7% below national
133 Tulsa, OK $36,680 7% below national
134 Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN $36,670 7% below national
135 Pittsburgh, PA $36,660 7% below national
136 South Bend-Mishawaka, IN-MI $36,630 7% below national
137 New Orleans-Metairie, LA $36,620 7% below national
138 Jackson, MS $36,500 7% below national
139 Columbia, SC $36,440 7% below national
140 Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ $36,400 7% below national
141 Cape Coral-Fort Myers, FL $36,330 8% below national
142 Winston-Salem, NC $36,320 8% below national
143 Wichita, KS $36,310 8% below national
144 Deltona-Daytona Beach-Ormond Beach, FL $36,290 8% below national
145 Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC $36,210 8% below national
146 Toledo, OH $36,100 8% below national
147 Columbus, GA-AL $35,990 8% below national
148 Springfield, IL $35,820 9% below national
149 Reading, PA $35,800 9% below national
150 Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA $35,720 9% below national
151 Lakeland-Winter Haven, FL $35,610 9% below national
152 Jefferson City, MO $35,550 9% below national
153 Rapid City, SD $35,540 10% below national
154 Topeka, KS $35,500 10% below national
155 Champaign-Urbana, IL $35,460 10% below national
156 Greensboro-High Point, NC $35,320 10% below national
157 Springfield, MO $35,300 10% below national
158 Knoxville, TN $35,280 10% below national
159 Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC $35,260 10% below national
160 Pensacola-Ferry Pass-Brent, FL $35,070 11% below national
161 Youngstown-Warren, OH $35,030 11% below national
162 Waco, TX $34,960 11% below national
163 Slidell-Mandeville-Covington, LA $34,880 11% below national
164 Lubbock, TX $34,800 11% below national
165 Cheyenne, WY $34,690 12% below national
166 Traverse City, MI $34,670 12% below national
167 Shreveport-Bossier City, LA $34,520 12% below national
168 Charleston-North Charleston, SC $34,510 12% below national
169 Roanoke, VA $34,310 13% below national
170 Baton Rouge, LA $34,140 13% below national
171 Appleton, WI $33,900 14% below national
172 Spartanburg, SC $33,870 14% below national
173 Hagerstown-Martinsburg, MD-WV $33,750 14% below national
174 El Paso, TX $33,730 14% below national
175 Chattanooga, TN-GA $33,430 15% below national
176 Savannah, GA $33,200 15% below national
177 Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL $32,140 18% below national
178 Charleston, WV $31,060 21% below national
179 Logan, UT-ID $30,510 22% below national
180 Kingsport-Bristol, TN-VA $29,990 24% below national
181 McAllen-Edinburg-Mission, TX $29,480 25% below national
182 San Juan-Bayamon-Caguas, PR $24,090 39% below national

Same SOC major group

Other detailed occupations in SOC major group 43 (Office and Administrative Support Occupations) - category peers, not a pay match.

Showing 5 of 53 detailed occupations BLS assigns to this SOC major group.

Nationwide occupations with similar pay or employment scale

Two OEWS peer sets outside this SOC major group (Office and Administrative Support Occupations). Same-category cards above stay inside the group; these neighborhoods are cross-group nearest neighbors on national median pay ($39,280 here) and reported employment (55,230 jobs here).

Peers are nearest-neighbor matches on BLS OEWS national median annual wage and reported employment. Employment peers exclude occupations already listed in the pay column so the two link sets stay distinct.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much do Mail Clerks and Mail Machine Operators, Except Postal Service make?
The median annual salary for Mail Clerks and Mail Machine Operators, Except Postal Service is $39,280 ($18.89/hour). The salary range spans from $30,780 at the 10th percentile to $54,820 at the 90th percentile.
Where does Mail Clerks and Mail Machine Operators, Except Postal Service pay rank nationally?
At a published national median of $39,280, Mail Clerks and Mail Machine Operators, Except Postal Service pay is higher than 11% of the 825 detailed occupations with a published BLS annual median in the May 2025 OEWS release. This compares occupation-level medians, not individual workers, job offers, or this occupation's own worker pay-percentile range.
What state pays Mail Clerks and Mail Machine Operators, Except Postal Service the most?
District of Columbia pays the highest median salary for Mail Clerks and Mail Machine Operators, Except Postal Service at $49,240/year, which is +25% above the national median.
What education do Mail Clerks and Mail Machine Operators, Except Postal Service need?
BLS assigns Mail Clerks and Mail Machine Operators, Except Postal Service to High school diploma or equivalent for typical education needed for entry. Typical on-the-job training assignment: Short-term on-the-job training.
Does BLS publish a safety rate for Mail Clerks and Mail Machine Operators, Except Postal Service?
BLS does not publish a separate occupation-specific fatality and injury rate for Mail Clerks and Mail Machine Operators, Except Postal Service in this release. WageDex shows the Office and Administrative Support Occupations SOC-group rate only as broad context and does not rank it as this occupation's measured rate.
Is Mail Clerks and Mail Machine Operators, Except Postal Service a good career?
Employment for Mail Clerks and Mail Machine Operators, Except Postal Service is projected to decline 6.6% from 2024 to 2034, which is declining. About 6,900 openings are projected each year.
How does Mail Clerks and Mail Machine Operators, Except Postal Service pay vary by state?
Mail Clerks and Mail Machine Operators, Except Postal Service salaries vary significantly by state. The highest-paying state is District of Columbia at $49,240/year, while Puerto Rico pays the least at $23,560/year. BLS data covers 51 states and territories.
Which metro areas pay the most for Mail Clerks and Mail Machine Operators, Except Postal Service?
The highest published metropolitan-area median in this ranking is Springfield, MA at $51,490/year. BLS reports a median for 182 metropolitan areas for this occupation. The ranking does not establish why values differ.

What to do with this data

How to use Mail Clerks and Mail Machine Operators, Except Postal Service pay figures in a real decision

  • The 75th-percentile wage is about $46,450/year. Treat it as the upper-quartile market boundary, not an automatic target for experience alone; role scope, location, industry, credentials, performance, and employer context still need separate evidence. Salary calculator
  • Location moves pay significantly: District of Columbia leads at $49,240/year for this role. Weigh state pay against local cost of living before relocating or negotiating remote. Pay by state
  • Compare this occupation against similar roles before you decide, so you are reading the pay band in context rather than in isolation. Compare jobs

These are BLS survey estimates for the occupation, not a salary offer or a prediction for any individual. Your pay depends on experience, employer, exact role, and location.

Data as of May 2025. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).

Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 annual release. Employment projections from BLS Employment Projections program, 2024–2034. Data reflects cross-industry estimates for all ownership types.

These are survey estimates for the occupation, not a salary offer or a prediction for any individual. See how to use them.

Source data and WageDex calculations are identified in context on this page. Occupation wages use BLS OEWS May 2025; outlook uses BLS Employment Projections for 2024–2034; safety, skills, knowledge, and task panels identify their BLS or O*NET sources in context. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.

This page is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial or career advice. Actual pay for a specific role, employer, or offer may differ from these national/state figures, consult a qualified career counselor, recruiter, or financial advisor before making decisions based on this data.