43 Series · SOC 43-5053
Postal Service Mail Sorters, Processors, and Processing Machine Operators Salary
National pay, percentile range, growth outlook, and state-by-state detail from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS survey (May 2025).
- $58,470
- Median / year
- $75,280
- Top 10% earn
- -8.4%
- Growth '23–'33
- 105,200
- US workers
Postal Service Mail Sorters, Processors, and Processing Machine Operators earn a median of $58,470 per year.
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS survey, the median annual wage is $58,470, based on the most recent survey of employers. Reported pay ranges from $45,530 (10th percentile) to $75,280 (90th percentile) nationally, across roughly 105,200 US workers. District of Columbia pays the most ($66,750), since pay varies by state and metro area.
The pay verdict
Postal Service Mail Sorters, Processors, and Processing Machine Operators earn a median of $58,470, putting them below the typical US occupation and higher than 45% of the 825 occupations with a published BLS median. Within Office and Administrative Support, it ranks #7 of 54 by median pay. Employment is projected to fall 8.4% by 2033.
- $58,470
- Median annual wage
- Top 55%
- of 825 US occupations with published wages
- #7 of 54
- in Office and Administrative Support
- 1.7×
- 90th-to-10th pay spread
Highest-paying state: District of Columbia at $66,750. Typical entry-level education: No formal educational credential.
Postal Service Mail Sorters, Processors, and Processing Machine Operators (SOC 43-5053) pays a national median of $58,470 per year according to the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey released in May 2025. Full-range compensation stretches from $45,530 at the 10th percentile to $75,280 at the 90th, with a mean of $59,430 indicating a right-skew where top earners pull the average above the midpoint. An estimated 105,200 Americans work in this occupation across 53 reporting states and 169 metro areas.
BLS Employment Projections forecast a -8.4% change in employment from 2024 to 2034, which the agency classifies as declining relative to the 5% all-occupations baseline. About 7,800 openings are projected per year, combining new positions with replacement needs from retirements and occupation-switchers. Typical entry-level preparation is No formal educational credential and short-term on-the-job training of on-the-job training. The BLS Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries (CFOI) and Survey of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses (SOII) produce a workplace-safety grade of A for this role, with a fatality rate of 0.5 per 100,000 and injury rate of 1 per 100.
Geographic variation matters as much as the headline median. District of Columbia pays the highest state median at $66,750, which is +14% above the national figure. The top metro is Duluth, MN-WI at $70,990 - metro premiums typically reflect higher cost of living, industry concentration, or specialized employer demand. When using this page for negotiation or career planning, pair the national median with the state and metro rows below, remember that BLS wages exclude benefits, bonuses, and overtime, and revisit after each May OEWS release since percentiles shift with cost-of-living cycles and industry demand. See our methodology for exactly how these figures are sourced, computed, and verified.
Median Salary
$58,470
per year
Median Hourly
$28.11/hr
per hour
Mean Salary
$59,430
average
Employment
105,200
jobs nationwide
How does this pay compare nationally?
Where Postal Service Mail Sorters, Processors, and Processing Machine Operators pay sits nationally
Median annual wage vs. 825 detailed BLS occupations with a published median
$58,470 Bottom 45% higher than 45% of 825 US occupations
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.
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 Postal Service Mail Sorters, Processors, and Processing Machine Operators; the upper-right quadrant is the sweet spot (high pay + fast growth).
Among 24 43-series occupations with growth data, Postal Service Mail Sorters, Processors, and Processing Machine Operators sits on the slower-growing side at -8.4% growth and $58,470 median pay.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS (wages, May 2025) and Employment Projections (2024–2034).
Job Outlook (2024–2034)
Projected Growth
-8.4%
Declining
Annual Openings
7,800
per year (projected)
Typical Education
No formal educational credential
On-the-Job Training
Short-term on-the-job training
Source: BLS Employment Projections, 2024–2034
Workplace Safety
All safety ratings →Very Safe
Safety Grade (BLS 2023)
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 Postal Service Mail Sorters, Processors, and Processing Machine Operators roles, ranked by importance. Source: O*NET.
Top Skills
Knowledge Areas
Key Tasks
- ▸ Direct items according to established routing schemes, using computer-controlled keyboards or voice-recognition equipment.
- ▸ Check items to ensure that addresses are legible and correct, that sufficient postage has been paid or the appropriate documentation is attached, and that items are in a suitable condition for processing.
- ▸ Clear jams in sorting equipment.
- ▸ Bundle, label, and route sorted mail to designated areas, depending on destinations and according to established procedures and deadlines.
- ▸ Operate various types of equipment, such as computer scanning equipment, addressographs, mimeographs, optical character readers, and bar-code sorters.
- ▸ Move containers of mail, using equipment, such as forklifts and automated "trains".
- ▸ Open and label mail containers.
- ▸ Load and unload mail trucks, sometimes lifting containers of mail onto equipment that transports items to sorting stations.
- ▸ Sort odd-sized mail by hand, sort mail that other workers have been unable to sort, and segregate items requiring special handling.
- ▸ Distribute incoming mail into the correct boxes or pigeonholes.
Source: O*NET Online, National Center for O*NET Development. Data represents typical importance ratings for this occupation.
Salary Range
Annual Salary Distribution
Hourly Rate Distribution
10th Percentile
$45,530
25th Percentile
$48,880
Median
$58,470
75th Percentile
$75,030
90th Percentile
$75,280
Salary by State
Highest Paying States
View all 53 states →
| # | State | Median Salary | vs National |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | District of Columbia | $66,750 | +14% above national |
| 2 | South Dakota | $61,570 | +5% above national |
| 3 | Iowa | $60,530 | +4% above national |
| 4 | New Jersey | $60,530 | +4% above national |
| 5 | Wyoming | $60,530 | +4% above national |
| 6 | Guam | $60,530 | +4% above national |
| 7 | North Dakota | $59,840 | +2% above national |
| 8 | Minnesota | $59,740 | +2% above national |
| 9 | California | $59,490 | +2% above national |
| 10 | Hawaii | $59,490 | +2% above national |
| 11 | Maine | $59,490 | +2% above national |
| 12 | Michigan | $59,490 | +2% above national |
| 13 | Nebraska | $59,490 | +2% above national |
| 14 | Rhode Island | $59,490 | +2% above national |
| 15 | Vermont | $59,490 | +2% above national |
| 16 | Washington | $59,490 | +2% above national |
| 17 | Arkansas | $58,470 | same as national |
| 18 | Colorado | $58,470 | same as national |
| 19 | Connecticut | $58,470 | same as national |
| 20 | Delaware | $58,470 | same as national |
| 21 | Louisiana | $58,470 | same as national |
| 22 | Maryland | $58,470 | same as national |
| 23 | Massachusetts | $58,470 | same as national |
| 24 | Nevada | $58,470 | same as national |
| 25 | New Mexico | $58,470 | same as national |
| 26 | New York | $58,470 | same as national |
| 27 | Ohio | $58,470 | same as national |
| 28 | Oklahoma | $58,470 | same as national |
| 29 | West Virginia | $58,470 | same as national |
| 30 | Wisconsin | $58,470 | same as national |
| 31 | South Carolina | $58,390 | same as national |
| 32 | Illinois | $58,300 | same as national |
| 33 | New Hampshire | $58,300 | same as national |
| 34 | Virginia | $58,300 | same as national |
| 35 | Oregon | $57,890 | 1% below national |
| 36 | Mississippi | $57,800 | 1% below national |
| 37 | Alabama | $57,430 | 2% below national |
| 38 | Florida | $57,430 | 2% below national |
| 39 | Idaho | $57,430 | 2% below national |
| 40 | Kentucky | $57,430 | 2% below national |
| 41 | Missouri | $57,430 | 2% below national |
| 42 | Montana | $57,430 | 2% below national |
| 43 | Pennsylvania | $57,430 | 2% below national |
| 44 | Utah | $57,430 | 2% below national |
| 45 | Tennessee | $56,390 | 4% below national |
| 46 | Texas | $56,390 | 4% below national |
| 47 | Puerto Rico | $56,390 | 4% below national |
| 48 | Alaska | $55,350 | 5% below national |
| 49 | Arizona | $55,350 | 5% below national |
| 50 | North Carolina | $55,350 | 5% below national |
| 51 | Kansas | $54,540 | 7% below national |
| 52 | Georgia | $53,290 | 9% below national |
| 53 | Indiana | $48,880 | 16% below national |
Salary by Metro Area
Highest Paying Metros
View all 169 metro areas →
| # | Metro Area | Median Salary | vs National |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Duluth, MN-WI | $70,990 | +21% above national |
| 2 | Erie, PA | $69,680 | +19% above national |
| 3 | Wichita, KS | $66,750 | +14% above national |
| 4 | South Nebraska nonmetropolitan area | $64,160 | +10% above national |
| 5 | San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $63,650 | +9% above national |
| 6 | Rocky Mount, NC | $62,610 | +7% above national |
| 7 | Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA | $61,710 | +6% above national |
| 8 | McAllen-Edinburg-Mission, TX | $61,570 | +5% above national |
| 9 | Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA | $61,570 | +5% above national |
| 10 | Lansing-East Lansing, MI | $60,740 | +4% above national |
| 11 | Burlington-South Burlington, VT | $60,530 | +4% above national |
| 12 | Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA | $60,530 | +4% above national |
| 13 | Evansville, IN | $60,530 | +4% above national |
| 14 | Fresno, CA | $60,530 | +4% above national |
| 15 | Madison, WI | $60,530 | +4% above national |
| 16 | Mankato, MN | $60,530 | +4% above national |
| 17 | Peoria, IL | $60,530 | +4% above national |
| 18 | Sioux Falls, SD-MN | $60,530 | +4% above national |
| 19 | East South Dakota nonmetropolitan area | $60,530 | +4% above national |
| 20 | Upper Peninsula of Michigan nonmetropolitan area | $60,360 | +3% above national |
| 21 | Medford, OR | $60,200 | +3% above national |
| 22 | Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $60,200 | +3% above national |
| 23 | San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | $60,200 | +3% above national |
| 24 | San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $60,200 | +3% above national |
| 25 | Great Falls, MT | $60,010 | +3% above national |
| 26 | Portland-South Portland, ME | $59,760 | +2% above national |
| 27 | Kalamazoo-Portage, MI | $59,740 | +2% above national |
| 28 | St. Cloud, MN | $59,740 | +2% above national |
| 29 | Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | $59,740 | +2% above national |
| 30 | Trenton-Princeton, NJ | $59,740 | +2% above national |
| 31 | Amarillo, TX | $59,490 | +2% above national |
| 32 | Baton Rouge, LA | $59,490 | +2% above national |
| 33 | Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | $59,490 | +2% above national |
| 34 | Cape Coral-Fort Myers, FL | $59,490 | +2% above national |
| 35 | Casper, WY | $59,490 | +2% above national |
| 36 | Champaign-Urbana, IL | $59,490 | +2% above national |
| 37 | Charleston, WV | $59,490 | +2% above national |
| 38 | Corpus Christi, TX | $59,490 | +2% above national |
| 39 | Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI | $59,490 | +2% above national |
| 40 | Eugene-Springfield, OR | $59,490 | +2% above national |
| 41 | Fargo, ND-MN | $59,490 | +2% above national |
| 42 | Fayetteville-Springdale-Rogers, AR | $59,490 | +2% above national |
| 43 | Johnstown, PA | $59,490 | +2% above national |
| 44 | Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $59,490 | +2% above national |
| 45 | Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI | $59,490 | +2% above national |
| 46 | Missoula, MT | $59,490 | +2% above national |
| 47 | New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | $59,490 | +2% above national |
| 48 | North Port-Bradenton-Sarasota, FL | $59,490 | +2% above national |
| 49 | Omaha, NE-IA | $59,490 | +2% above national |
| 50 | Providence-Warwick, RI-MA | $59,490 | +2% above national |
| 51 | Provo-Orem-Lehi, UT | $59,490 | +2% above national |
| 52 | Redding, CA | $59,490 | +2% above national |
| 53 | Reno, NV | $59,490 | +2% above national |
| 54 | Roanoke, VA | $59,490 | +2% above national |
| 55 | Scranton--Wilkes-Barre, PA | $59,490 | +2% above national |
| 56 | Urban Honolulu, HI | $59,490 | +2% above national |
| 57 | Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC | $59,490 | +2% above national |
| 58 | Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | $59,490 | +2% above national |
| 59 | Wenatchee-East Wenatchee, WA | $59,490 | +2% above national |
| 60 | Youngstown-Warren, OH | $59,490 | +2% above national |
| 61 | Maryland nonmetropolitan area | $59,490 | +2% above national |
| 62 | Bismarck, ND | $59,130 | +1% above national |
| 63 | Tallahassee, FL | $59,130 | +1% above national |
| 64 | Cheyenne, WY | $59,110 | +1% above national |
| 65 | Springfield, MO | $58,980 | +1% above national |
| 66 | Traverse City, MI | $58,980 | +1% above national |
| 67 | Columbia, MO | $58,780 | +1% above national |
| 68 | Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO | $58,780 | +1% above national |
| 69 | South Bend-Mishawaka, IN-MI | $58,780 | +1% above national |
| 70 | Abilene, TX | $58,470 | same as national |
| 71 | Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY | $58,470 | same as national |
| 72 | Albuquerque, NM | $58,470 | same as national |
| 73 | Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ | $58,470 | same as national |
| 74 | Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX | $58,470 | same as national |
| 75 | Bakersfield-Delano, CA | $58,470 | same as national |
| 76 | Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD | $58,470 | same as national |
| 77 | Cleveland, OH | $58,470 | same as national |
| 78 | Columbia, SC | $58,470 | same as national |
| 79 | Columbus, OH | $58,470 | same as national |
| 80 | Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL | $58,470 | same as national |
| 81 | Dayton-Kettering-Beavercreek, OH | $58,470 | same as national |
| 82 | Eau Claire, WI | $58,470 | same as national |
| 83 | El Paso, TX | $58,470 | same as national |
| 84 | Fort Wayne, IN | $58,470 | same as national |
| 85 | Grand Rapids-Wyoming-Kentwood, MI | $58,470 | same as national |
| 86 | Greensboro-High Point, NC | $58,470 | same as national |
| 87 | Greenville-Anderson-Greer, SC | $58,470 | same as national |
| 88 | Knoxville, TN | $58,470 | same as national |
| 89 | Lancaster, PA | $58,470 | same as national |
| 90 | Lexington-Fayette, KY | $58,470 | same as national |
| 91 | Lincoln, NE | $58,470 | same as national |
| 92 | Little Rock-North Little Rock-Conway, AR | $58,470 | same as national |
| 93 | Macon-Bibb County, GA | $58,470 | same as national |
| 94 | Montgomery, AL | $58,470 | same as national |
| 95 | Oklahoma City, OK | $58,470 | same as national |
| 96 | Pittsburgh, PA | $58,470 | same as national |
| 97 | Raleigh-Cary, NC | $58,470 | same as national |
| 98 | Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | $58,470 | same as national |
| 99 | Rochester, NY | $58,470 | same as national |
| 100 | San Antonio-New Braunfels, TX | $58,470 | same as national |
| 101 | Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA | $58,470 | same as national |
| 102 | Springfield, IL | $58,470 | same as national |
| 103 | Worcester, MA | $58,470 | same as national |
| 104 | Yakima, WA | $58,470 | same as national |
| 105 | Southern Vermont nonmetropolitan area | $58,470 | same as national |
| 106 | Chattanooga, TN-GA | $58,390 | same as national |
| 107 | Green Bay, WI | $58,390 | same as national |
| 108 | Manchester-Nashua, NH | $58,390 | same as national |
| 109 | Muncie, IN | $58,390 | same as national |
| 110 | Shreveport-Bossier City, LA | $58,390 | same as national |
| 111 | Bangor, ME | $58,300 | same as national |
| 112 | Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | $58,300 | same as national |
| 113 | Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI | $58,300 | same as national |
| 114 | Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL | $58,300 | same as national |
| 115 | North Coast Region of California nonmetropolitan area | $58,300 | same as national |
| 116 | Midland, TX | $57,950 | 1% below national |
| 117 | Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN | $57,890 | 1% below national |
| 118 | Tucson, AZ | $57,870 | 1% below national |
| 119 | Beaumont-Port Arthur, TX | $57,800 | 1% below national |
| 120 | Lubbock, TX | $57,800 | 1% below national |
| 121 | Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA | $57,660 | 1% below national |
| 122 | Gulfport-Biloxi, MS | $57,620 | 1% below national |
| 123 | Altoona, PA | $57,430 | 2% below national |
| 124 | Augusta-Richmond County, GA-SC | $57,430 | 2% below national |
| 125 | Birmingham, AL | $57,430 | 2% below national |
| 126 | Boise City, ID | $57,430 | 2% below national |
| 127 | Cedar Rapids, IA | $57,430 | 2% below national |
| 128 | Charleston-North Charleston, SC | $57,430 | 2% below national |
| 129 | Grand Junction, CO | $57,430 | 2% below national |
| 130 | Jackson, MS | $57,430 | 2% below national |
| 131 | Lafayette, LA | $57,430 | 2% below national |
| 132 | Las Vegas-Henderson-North Las Vegas, NV | $57,430 | 2% below national |
| 133 | Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL | $57,430 | 2% below national |
| 134 | New Orleans-Metairie, LA | $57,430 | 2% below national |
| 135 | Oshkosh-Neenah, WI | $57,430 | 2% below national |
| 136 | Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | $57,430 | 2% below national |
| 137 | Salt Lake City-Murray, UT | $57,430 | 2% below national |
| 138 | Spokane-Spokane Valley, WA | $57,430 | 2% below national |
| 139 | Syracuse, NY | $57,430 | 2% below national |
| 140 | Toledo, OH | $57,430 | 2% below national |
| 141 | Tulsa, OK | $57,430 | 2% below national |
| 142 | Billings, MT | $56,930 | 3% below national |
| 143 | Harrisburg-Carlisle, PA | $56,430 | 3% below national |
| 144 | Akron, OH | $56,390 | 4% below national |
| 145 | Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | $56,390 | 4% below national |
| 146 | Fayetteville, NC | $56,390 | 4% below national |
| 147 | Johnson City, TN | $56,390 | 4% below national |
| 148 | Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN | $56,390 | 4% below national |
| 149 | Mobile, AL | $56,390 | 4% below national |
| 150 | Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford, FL | $56,390 | 4% below national |
| 151 | Pensacola-Ferry Pass-Brent, FL | $56,390 | 4% below national |
| 152 | St. Louis, MO-IL | $56,390 | 4% below national |
| 153 | Kiryas Joel-Poughkeepsie-Newburgh, NY | $55,870 | 4% below national |
| 154 | Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY | $55,690 | 5% below national |
| 155 | Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN | $55,660 | 5% below national |
| 156 | Anchorage, AK | $55,350 | 5% below national |
| 157 | Colorado Springs, CO | $55,350 | 5% below national |
| 158 | Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX | $55,350 | 5% below national |
| 159 | Jacksonville, FL | $55,350 | 5% below national |
| 160 | Kansas City, MO-KS | $55,350 | 5% below national |
| 161 | Richmond, VA | $55,350 | 5% below national |
| 162 | Springfield, MA | $54,540 | 7% below national |
| 163 | Gainesville, FL | $54,330 | 7% below national |
| 164 | Huntsville, AL | $54,330 | 7% below national |
| 165 | Memphis, TN-MS-AR | $54,330 | 7% below national |
| 166 | Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ | $54,330 | 7% below national |
| 167 | Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA | $50,770 | 13% below national |
| 168 | Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC | $47,440 | 19% below national |
| 169 | Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood, IN | $47,170 | 19% below national |
Similar Occupations in the Same Category
Other roles in SOC major group 43 (office and administrative support) with comparable pay and career paths.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does a Postal Service Mail Sorters, Processors, and Processing Machine Operators make? ▼
What state pays Postal Service Mail Sorters, Processors, and Processing Machine Operators the most? ▼
What education do you need to become a Postal Service Mail Sorters, Processors, and Processing Machine Operators? ▼
How dangerous is being a Postal Service Mail Sorters, Processors, and Processing Machine Operators? ▼
Is Postal Service Mail Sorters, Processors, and Processing Machine Operators a good career? ▼
How does Postal Service Mail Sorters, Processors, and Processing Machine Operators pay vary by state? ▼
Which metro areas pay the most for Postal Service Mail Sorters, Processors, and Processing Machine Operators? ▼
What to do with this data
How to use Postal Service Mail Sorters, Processors, and Processing Machine Operators pay figures in a real decision
- For an experienced offer, anchor on the 75th percentile (about $75,030/year), not the median. The median marks the middle worker; the upper quartile is the realistic target with strong experience. Salary calculator
- Location moves pay significantly: District of Columbia leads at $66,750/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.
Every figure on WageDex is rendered directly from U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics wage data, no number is typed in by an editor. This occupation's figures are computed directly from the BLS OEWS and Employment Projections datasets, nothing is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of May 2025.
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.