Pay, demand and where to work, from BLS data with the year on every table.
low → high: location quotient
Click a state. States: Alabama · Alaska · Arizona · Arkansas · California · Colorado · Connecticut · Delaware · District of Columbia · Florida · Georgia · Hawaii · Idaho · Illinois · Indiana · Iowa · Kansas · Kentucky · Louisiana · Maine · Maryland · Massachusetts · Michigan · Minnesota · Mississippi · Missouri · Montana · Nebraska · Nevada · New Hampshire · New Jersey · New Mexico · New York · North Carolina · North Dakota · Ohio · Oklahoma · Oregon · Pennsylvania · Rhode Island · South Carolina · South Dakota · Tennessee · Texas · Utah · Vermont · Virginia · Washington · West Virginia · Wisconsin · Wyoming.
By AtiveSite · Published 07/11/2026 · Updated 07/11/2026 · Every figure is linked to its source below.
Postal service mail carriers (SOC 43-5052) employed 328,820 people in May 2025. The median pay is $60,550 a year ($29.11 an hour); the lowest-paid 10% earn under $42,390 and the highest-paid 10% more than $81,040. BLS projects its employment to change by -0.3% between 2025 and 2035 (about 19,600 openings a year including replacements). The typical way in: No formal educational credential.
Highest median pay: District of Columbia ($64,250), Rhode Island ($63,610), Arizona ($62,390). Most jobs: California (32,320), Texas (26,700), Florida (20,810).
| Measure ⇅ | Annual ⇅ | Hourly equivalent ⇅ |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $42,390 | $20.38 |
| 25th percentile | $48,940 | $23.53 |
| Median | $60,550 | $29.11 |
| Mean | $62,540 | $30.07 |
| 75th percentile | $81,000 | $38.94 |
| 90th percentile (experienced) | $81,040 | $38.96 |
Estimate for a wage earner: 2026 federal brackets and standard deduction (IRS), Social Security 6.2% up to $184,500, Medicare 1.45% (+0.9% above $200,000 single / $250,000 married), and a state rate you set. It ignores credits, pre-tax deductions, local taxes and benefits. Sources: IRS: tax year 2026 inflation adjustments · SSA wage base per Federal Register notice 2025-19763.
Hourly equivalents divide by 2,080 hours. Pay above $239,200 is shown as "≥ $239,200" (BLS top code).
| Measure ⇅ | Value ⇅ |
|---|---|
| Jobs 2025 | 316,400 |
| Jobs 2035 (projected) | 315,500 |
| Change in jobs | -900 |
| Percent change | -0.3% |
| Openings a year (growth + replacements) | 19,600 |
| Self-employed share | n/a |
| Typical entry education | No formal educational credential |
| Work experience in a related occupation | None |
| Typical on-the-job training | Short-term on-the-job training |
Licences and certifications are set by states and employers; the education shown is the usual entry requirement, not a legal one.
| State ⇅ | Jobs ⇅ | Location quotient ⇅ | Median pay ⇅ | Entry (10th pct.) ⇅ | Top (90th pct.) ⇅ | Median vs US ⇅ | Yearly rent as % of median pay ⇅ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | 5,840 | 1.31 | $57,700 | $42,390 | $81,040 | -5% | 22% |
| Alaska | 450 | 0.65 | $59,880 | $46,030 | $81,040 | -1% | 29% |
| Arizona | 5,300 | 0.77 | $62,390 | $42,390 | $81,040 | +3% | 32% |
| Arkansas | 3,030 | 1.10 | $59,700 | $42,390 | $81,040 | -1% | 20% |
| California | 32,320 | 0.84 | $62,090 | $43,120 | $81,040 | +3% | 41% |
| Colorado | 5,100 | 0.84 | $59,880 | $42,390 | $81,040 | -1% | 37% |
| Connecticut | 4,510 | 1.26 | $61,130 | $42,390 | $81,040 | +1% | 30% |
| Delaware | 1,130 | 1.10 | $59,880 | $42,390 | $81,040 | -1% | 31% |
| District of Columbia | 930 | 0.63 | $64,250 | $44,160 | $81,040 | +6% | 36% |
| Florida | 20,810 | 0.99 | $61,130 | $42,390 | $81,040 | +1% | 36% |
| Georgia | 10,790 | 1.04 | $57,700 | $42,390 | $81,040 | -5% | 31% |
| Hawaii | 1,200 | 0.90 | $59,880 | $48,940 | $81,040 | -1% | 39% |
| Idaho | 1,660 | 0.92 | $57,820 | $42,390 | $81,040 | -5% | 29% |
| Illinois | 14,730 | 1.14 | $62,070 | $43,120 | $81,040 | +3% | 26% |
| Indiana | 6,910 | 1.02 | $59,880 | $42,390 | $81,040 | -1% | 22% |
| Iowa | 3,730 | 1.13 | $59,880 | $42,390 | $81,040 | -1% | 20% |
| Kansas | 3,310 | 1.09 | $58,540 | $42,390 | $81,040 | -3% | 22% |
| Kentucky | 4,640 | 1.10 | $58,910 | $42,390 | $81,040 | -3% | 20% |
| Louisiana | 5,090 | 1.24 | $58,910 | $42,390 | $81,040 | -3% | 22% |
| Maine | 1,510 | 1.11 | $59,010 | $42,390 | $81,040 | -3% | 25% |
| Maryland | 6,420 | 1.10 | $62,070 | $42,390 | $81,040 | +3% | 33% |
| Massachusetts | 7,630 | 0.99 | $62,070 | $44,160 | $81,040 | +3% | 36% |
| Michigan | 11,610 | 1.25 | $59,880 | $42,390 | $81,040 | -1% | 23% |
| Minnesota | 5,890 | 0.94 | $59,990 | $42,390 | $81,040 | -1% | 26% |
| Mississippi | 3,290 | 1.34 | $57,470 | $42,390 | $81,040 | -5% | 21% |
| Missouri | 7,260 | 1.17 | $59,880 | $42,390 | $81,040 | -1% | 21% |
| Montana | 830 | 0.77 | $59,010 | $42,390 | $81,040 | -3% | 24% |
| Nebraska | 2,150 | 0.99 | $59,880 | $42,390 | $81,040 | -1% | 22% |
| Nevada | 2,530 | 0.77 | $62,070 | $42,390 | $81,040 | +3% | 33% |
| New Hampshire | 1,560 | 1.08 | $59,990 | $42,390 | $81,040 | -1% | 31% |
| New Jersey | 10,160 | 1.12 | $61,130 | $43,120 | $81,040 | +1% | 35% |
| New Mexico | 1,570 | 0.85 | $59,880 | $42,390 | $81,040 | -1% | 22% |
| New York | 20,580 | 1.00 | $62,070 | $43,120 | $81,040 | +3% | 32% |
| North Carolina | 11,030 | 1.06 | $59,990 | $42,390 | $82,370 | -1% | 27% |
| North Dakota | 800 | 0.88 | $59,010 | $42,390 | $81,040 | -3% | 20% |
| Ohio | 12,680 | 1.08 | $61,130 | $42,390 | $81,040 | +1% | 21% |
| Oklahoma | 4,130 | 1.14 | $59,880 | $42,390 | $81,040 | -1% | 21% |
| Oregon | 3,760 | 0.90 | $59,400 | $42,390 | $81,040 | -2% | 32% |
| Pennsylvania | 13,900 | 1.08 | $59,880 | $42,390 | $81,040 | -1% | 25% |
| Rhode Island | 1,220 | 1.15 | $63,610 | $43,120 | $81,040 | +5% | 27% |
| South Carolina | 5,650 | 1.16 | $57,700 | $42,390 | $81,040 | -5% | 26% |
| South Dakota | 850 | 0.88 | $60,760 | $42,390 | $81,040 | +0% | 20% |
| Tennessee | 7,310 | 1.05 | $58,570 | $42,390 | $81,040 | -3% | 26% |
| Texas | 26,700 | 0.90 | $60,550 | $42,390 | $81,040 | +0% | 29% |
| Utah | 2,460 | 0.67 | $59,880 | $42,390 | $81,040 | -1% | 32% |
| Vermont | 690 | 1.07 | $59,010 | $42,390 | $81,040 | -3% | 27% |
| Virginia | 7,900 | 0.91 | $62,070 | $42,390 | $81,040 | +3% | 32% |
| Washington | 6,550 | 0.87 | $59,990 | $43,120 | $81,040 | -1% | 36% |
| West Virginia | 1,850 | 1.25 | $57,700 | $42,390 | $81,040 | -5% | 18% |
| Wisconsin | 6,470 | 1.04 | $59,880 | $42,390 | $81,040 | -1% | 23% |
| Wyoming | 430 | 0.72 | $59,880 | $43,120 | $81,040 | -1% | 20% |
Location quotient above 1 means the occupation is more concentrated in the state than in the nation. "n/a" means BLS suppressed the figure. Rent uses the state median gross rent (ACS).
The 60 highest-paying metropolitan areas among those with at least 300 jobs in this occupation.
| Metropolitan area ⇅ | Jobs ⇅ | Median pay ⇅ | Entry (10th pct.) ⇅ | Top (90th pct.) ⇅ | Location quotient ⇅ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA | 670 | $66,440 | $43,120 | $81,040 | 0.98 |
| Naples-Marco Island, FL | 400 | $64,460 | $43,120 | $83,740 | 1.08 |
| Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA | 690 | $64,250 | $42,390 | $81,040 | 0.81 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | 10,940 | $64,250 | $44,160 | $81,040 | 0.83 |
| McAllen-Edinburg-Mission, TX | 540 | $64,250 | $42,390 | $87,340 | 0.85 |
| New Orleans-Metairie, LA | 1,120 | $64,250 | $44,160 | $81,040 | 1.18 |
| Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ | 3,630 | $64,250 | $43,120 | $81,040 | 0.72 |
| Providence-Warwick, RI-MA | 1,830 | $64,250 | $43,120 | $81,040 | 1.21 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | 2,000 | $64,250 | $42,390 | $81,040 | 0.88 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | 4,730 | $64,250 | $48,940 | $81,040 | 0.94 |
| Toledo, OH | 730 | $64,250 | $44,160 | $81,040 | 1.18 |
| Tucson, AZ | 870 | $64,250 | $42,390 | $82,740 | 1.05 |
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | 6,250 | $64,250 | $43,120 | $81,040 | 0.94 |
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | 10,320 | $63,750 | $44,160 | $81,040 | 1.08 |
| Stockton-Lodi, CA | 600 | $63,610 | $42,390 | $81,040 | 0.97 |
| Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY | 1,370 | $63,380 | $43,120 | $81,040 | 1.21 |
| Lincoln, NE | 320 | $63,380 | $42,390 | $81,040 | 0.83 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | 2,820 | $63,380 | $43,120 | $81,040 | 0.87 |
| Durham-Chapel Hill, NC | 570 | $62,960 | $42,390 | $81,040 | 0.78 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | 3,420 | $62,960 | $48,940 | $81,040 | 0.78 |
| El Paso, TX | 620 | $62,590 | $42,390 | $81,040 | 0.86 |
| Youngstown-Warren, OH | 560 | $62,590 | $43,120 | $81,040 | 1.66 |
| Lansing-East Lansing, MI | 520 | $62,520 | $42,390 | $81,040 | 1.13 |
| Albuquerque, NM | 790 | $62,340 | $43,120 | $81,040 | 0.92 |
| Las Vegas-Henderson-North Las Vegas, NV | 1,800 | $62,190 | $43,120 | $81,040 | 0.75 |
| Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | 5,430 | $62,090 | $48,940 | $81,040 | 0.95 |
| Fayetteville, NC | 420 | $62,090 | $42,390 | $81,040 | 1.51 |
| Lexington-Fayette, KY | 520 | $62,090 | $43,120 | $81,040 | 0.86 |
| Modesto, CA | 400 | $62,090 | $42,390 | $81,040 | 0.96 |
| Ogden, UT | 420 | $62,090 | $42,390 | $81,040 | 0.74 |
| Provo-Orem-Lehi, UT | 470 | $62,090 | $42,390 | $81,040 | 0.73 |
| Greensboro-High Point, NC | 750 | $62,080 | $42,390 | $81,330 | 0.97 |
| Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY | 940 | $62,070 | $42,390 | $81,040 | 0.99 |
| Asheville, NC | 410 | $62,070 | $42,390 | $82,740 | 1.08 |
| Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD | 2,980 | $62,070 | $42,390 | $81,040 | 1.04 |
| Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN | 2,140 | $62,070 | $42,390 | $81,040 | 0.92 |
| Columbus, OH | 1,920 | $62,070 | $42,390 | $81,040 | 0.82 |
| Corpus Christi, TX | 370 | $62,070 | $43,120 | $81,040 | 0.91 |
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | 7,100 | $62,070 | $42,390 | $81,040 | 0.83 |
| Dayton-Kettering-Beavercreek, OH | 910 | $62,070 | $43,120 | $81,040 | 1.16 |
| Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI | 5,390 | $62,070 | $43,120 | $81,040 | 1.34 |
| Evansville, IN | 300 | $62,070 | $42,390 | $81,040 | 1.05 |
| Flint, MI | 470 | $62,070 | $42,390 | $81,040 | 1.65 |
| Fort Collins-Loveland, CO | 300 | $62,070 | $42,390 | $81,040 | 0.84 |
| Fort Wayne, IN | 440 | $62,070 | $42,390 | $81,040 | 0.91 |
| Fresno, CA | 830 | $62,070 | $42,390 | $81,040 | 0.83 |
| Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX | 6,660 | $62,070 | $42,390 | $81,040 | 0.96 |
| Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood, IN | 1,980 | $62,070 | $42,390 | $81,040 | 0.85 |
| Kiryas Joel-Poughkeepsie-Newburgh, NY | 730 | $62,070 | $42,390 | $81,040 | 1.28 |
| Little Rock-North Little Rock-Conway, AR | 780 | $62,070 | $42,390 | $81,040 | 1.02 |
| Lubbock, TX | 330 | $62,070 | $42,390 | $81,040 | 0.95 |
| Manchester-Nashua, NH | 510 | $62,070 | $44,160 | $81,040 | 1.21 |
| Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL | 5,720 | $62,070 | $44,160 | $81,040 | 0.96 |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | 20,280 | $62,070 | $43,120 | $81,040 | 1.01 |
| North Port-Bradenton-Sarasota, FL | 840 | $62,070 | $42,390 | $81,040 | 1.17 |
| Omaha, NE-IA | 1,000 | $62,070 | $42,390 | $81,040 | 0.95 |
| Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford, FL | 2,250 | $62,070 | $42,390 | $81,040 | 0.75 |
| Palm Bay-Melbourne-Titusville, FL | 600 | $62,070 | $42,390 | $81,040 | 1.15 |
| Raleigh-Cary, NC | 1,390 | $62,070 | $42,390 | $83,740 | 0.89 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | 3,130 | $62,070 | $42,390 | $81,040 | 0.86 |
The median is $60,550 a year ($29.11 an hour); the lowest-paid tenth earn under $42,390 and the highest-paid tenth over $81,040 (BLS OEWS, May 2025).
328,820 in May 2025, and BLS projects -0.3% growth to 2035.
The typical entry education is: No formal educational credential (BLS).
District of Columbia, with a median of $64,250 (among states with published figures).