How much does a mail carrier make? Mail Carrier salary and hourly pay
A mail carrier in the US earns a median of $60,550 a year, about $29.11 an hour. The lowest-paid 10% earn under $42,390 and the top 10% earn over $81,040. Pay depends heavily on the state: the top-paying state, District of Columbia, has a median of $64,250.
Mail Carrier pay calculator
Gross pay before taxes. If you enter your own hourly rate, it replaces the BLS figure. Otherwise hourly rate = BLS annual figure ÷ 2,080 hours (40 hours × 52 weeks), the same convention BLS uses.
How much does a mail carrier make an hour?
The median mail carrier earns $29.11 an hour. Hourly pay ranges from about $20.38 for the lowest-paid 10% to $38.96 for the highest-paid 10%.
| Pay level | Per year | Per hour |
|---|---|---|
| Entry level (bottom 10%) | $42,390 | $20.38 |
| Lower 25% | $48,940 | $23.53 |
| Median (typical) | $60,550 | $29.11 |
| Upper 25% | $81,000 | $38.94 |
| Top 10% | $81,040 | $38.96 |
Mail Carrier salary by state
Median annual pay for mail carriers in every state, from BLS May 2025 data.
| State | Median per year | ≈ Per hour |
|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $57,700 | $27.74 |
| Alaska | $59,880 | $28.79 |
| Arizona | $62,390 | $30.00 |
| Arkansas | $59,700 | $28.70 |
| California | $62,090 | $29.85 |
| Colorado | $59,880 | $28.79 |
| Connecticut | $61,130 | $29.39 |
| Delaware | $59,880 | $28.79 |
| District of Columbia | $64,250 | $30.89 |
| Florida | $61,130 | $29.39 |
| Georgia | $57,700 | $27.74 |
| Hawaii | $59,880 | $28.79 |
| Idaho | $57,820 | $27.80 |
| Illinois | $62,070 | $29.84 |
| Indiana | $59,880 | $28.79 |
| Iowa | $59,880 | $28.79 |
| Kansas | $58,540 | $28.14 |
| Kentucky | $58,910 | $28.32 |
| Louisiana | $58,910 | $28.32 |
| Maine | $59,010 | $28.37 |
| Maryland | $62,070 | $29.84 |
| Massachusetts | $62,070 | $29.84 |
| Michigan | $59,880 | $28.79 |
| Minnesota | $59,990 | $28.84 |
| Mississippi | $57,470 | $27.63 |
| Missouri | $59,880 | $28.79 |
| Montana | $59,010 | $28.37 |
| Nebraska | $59,880 | $28.79 |
| Nevada | $62,070 | $29.84 |
| New Hampshire | $59,990 | $28.84 |
| New Jersey | $61,130 | $29.39 |
| New Mexico | $59,880 | $28.79 |
| New York | $62,070 | $29.84 |
| North Carolina | $59,990 | $28.84 |
| North Dakota | $59,010 | $28.37 |
| Ohio | $61,130 | $29.39 |
| Oklahoma | $59,880 | $28.79 |
| Oregon | $59,400 | $28.56 |
| Pennsylvania | $59,880 | $28.79 |
| Rhode Island | $63,610 | $30.58 |
| South Carolina | $57,700 | $27.74 |
| South Dakota | $60,760 | $29.21 |
| Tennessee | $58,570 | $28.16 |
| Texas | $60,550 | $29.11 |
| Utah | $59,880 | $28.79 |
| Vermont | $59,010 | $28.37 |
| Virginia | $62,070 | $29.84 |
| Washington | $59,990 | $28.84 |
| West Virginia | $57,700 | $27.74 |
| Wisconsin | $59,880 | $28.79 |
| Wyoming | $59,880 | $28.79 |
Highest-paying states for mail carriers
- District of Columbia: $64,250 median
- Rhode Island: $63,610 median
- Arizona: $62,390 median
- California: $62,090 median
- Illinois: $62,070 median
The lowest medians are in Mississippi ($57,470), Alabama ($57,700), Georgia ($57,700), South Carolina ($57,700), West Virginia ($57,700). The most mail carrier jobs are in California (32,320 jobs), Texas (26,700 jobs), Florida (20,810 jobs), New York (20,580 jobs), Illinois (14,730 jobs).
How much does a mail carrier make a month?
At the median salary of $60,550, a mail carrier earns about $5,046 a month, $2,329 every two weeks or $1,164 a week, before taxes.
Entry-level vs. experienced mail carrier pay
New mail carriers typically start near the bottom of the range: the lowest-paid 10% earn under $42,390 a year and the lowest 25% under $48,940. The top 25% earn over $81,000 and the top 10% over $81,040. BLS does not break pay down by years of experience; these percentiles are the closest official measure.
Mail Carrier salary vs. similar jobs
| Job | Median per year |
|---|---|
| Mail carrier | $60,550 |
| Pilot | $232,140 |
| Paralegal | $62,890 |
| Police officer | $76,210 |
| Firefighter | $59,280 |
| Real estate agent | $52,830 |
| Flight attendant | $63,580 |
Common questions
How much does a mail carrier make?
The US median is $60,550 a year ($29.11 an hour), based on BLS May 2025 data.
How much does a mail carrier make an hour?
The median is about $29.11 an hour. The bottom 10% earn about $20.38 and the top 10% about $38.96 an hour.
Which state pays mail carriers the most?
District of Columbia has the highest median at $64,250, followed by Rhode Island ($63,610) and Arizona ($62,390).
How much does a mail carrier make a month?
At the US median of $60,550 a year, about $5,046 a month or $2,329 every two weeks, before taxes.
How much does an entry-level mail carrier make?
The lowest-paid 10% earn under $42,390 a year and the lowest 25% under $48,940, the closest official measure of starting pay.
How much do the top 10% of mail carriers make?
The top 10% earn over $81,040 a year; the top 25% earn over $81,000.
How much does a mail carrier make in California, Texas, Florida and New York?
Median annual pay is $62,090 in California, $60,550 in Texas, $61,130 in Florida, $62,070 in New York, per BLS May 2025 data.
Last reviewed October 31, 2026. All figures are from the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 survey (occupation code 43-5052, “Postal Service Mail Carriers”), the most recent official release; “median” means half earn more and half earn less. Figures are gross pay before taxes and benefits. See the BLS OEWS tables and the BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook. This page is general information, not career or financial advice.