How much does a mail clerk make?
Answer: A typical mail clerk in the United States makes $39,280 a year (median, May 2025, US Bureau of Labor Statistics).
Line up 100 people; this is the one in the middle (median). about 55,000 people work in this job. Below the US-wide typical pay ($50,980).
If 100 people had this job
Lowest at bottom-left, highest at top-rightHover over a person to see their yearly pay
Mail clerk pay in the United States (May 2025, median and spread)
| 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 |
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.
What if you lived in a different state?
Pay varies a lot by state in the USTop 5 and bottom 3 states, typical (median) yearly pay.
What does a mail clerk do?
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.
What's a typical day like?
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.
How to get this job
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.
High school plus some training (preparation level 2 of 5)
Good for people who like keeping things organized and building and doing.
Did you know?
Some U.S. mail clerks wrap packages or bundles by hand—or use a tying machine to tie them.
Similar jobs
Jobs using similar skills (O*NET)Earn more in the same field
Office and Administrative Support jobs that pay a bit moreSources and data
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