How much does a mail clerk make?
a year · about $19 an hour
A typical mail clerk in the United States makes $39,280 a year, about $19 an hour, below a typical US worker ($50,980) (median, May 2025, US Bureau of Labor Statistics).
What do they do?
They sort and route incoming mail, then address, stamp, fold, stuff, seal, and add postage to outgoing letters and packages. They may also keep records and completed forms.
Did you know? Some U.S. mail clerks wrap packages or bundles by hand—or use a tying machine to tie them.
Is that a lot?
Compared with jobs you knowIf 100 people had this job
Most earn between $30,780 and $54,820How do you become one?
In the U.S., a high school diploma or GED is common, though some jobs may not require one. Workers usually learn on the job, with training ranging from a few days to about a year.
School needed: High school plus some training
Good for people who like keeping things organized and building and doing
Why does pay differ?
In the United States, pay can differ with experience, useful skills or credentials, the employer or industry, location, and hours worked. More complex duties—such as operating mail-processing machines—may also make jobs pay differently.
Where does it pay most?
Highest in Massachusetts ($48,860), lowest in Louisiana ($34,860).
See every state
Top 5 and bottom 3 states, typical (median) yearly pay.
Jobs like this
Data table and sources
| Lower earner (10th from bottom) | Typical person (median) | Higher earner (10th from top) | People in this job |
|---|---|---|---|
| $30,780 | $39,280 | $54,820 | about 55,000 |
| State | Typical person (median) | People in this job |
|---|---|---|
| Massachusetts | $48,860 | about 1,000 |
| Washington | $46,380 | about 1,000 |
| Minnesota | $44,840 | about 1,000 |
| California | $44,410 | about 5,000 |
| Connecticut | $43,970 | about 680 |
Official definition: Prepare incoming and outgoing mail for distribution. Time-stamp, open, read, sort, and route incoming mail; and address, seal, stamp, fold, stuff, and affix postage to outgoing mail or packages. Duties may also include keeping necessary records and completed forms.
Source: US Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS May 2025 (bls.gov); descriptions and related jobs from O*NET 31.0. Figures as of May 2025, full-time yearly pay (hourly × 2,080 hours). bls.gov/oes · O*NET OnLine
Pages used for the text
- www.onetonline.org/link/details/43-9051.00
- www.mynextmove.org/profile/summary/43-9051.00
- www.bls.gov/oes/2023/may/oes439051.htm
- www.bls.gov/careeroutlook/2015/article/wage-differences.htm
- www.onetonline.org/search/task/choose/43-9051.00
Data: US BLS OEWS, May 2025 · 1 USD = 150 JPY