How much does a post office clerk make?
a year · about $30 an hour
A typical post office clerk in the United States makes $62,130 a year, about $30 an hour, about the same as a typical US worker (median, May 2025, US Bureau of Labor Statistics).
What do they do?
At the counter, a clerk weighs parcels, works out postage, sells stamps or money orders, and answers mailing questions. Between customers, they check postage and may sort letters and packages into the right slots.
Did you know? Before ZIP Codes arrived in 1963, U.S. postal clerks had to memorize the names and locations of thousands of post offices to sort mail.
Is that a lot?
Compared with jobs you knowIf 100 people had this job
Most earn between $42,600 and $75,030How do you become one?
In the U.S., a high school diploma is helpful but usually not required; apply for a USPS sales-and-service clerk job and pass its online customer-service assessment (Exam 477). You generally must be 18 (or 16 with a diploma) and learn on the job.
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 U.S., career USPS clerks receive regular pay-step increases, so experience can raise their base pay. Night work and overtime may add extra pay, and the number of hours worked affects total earnings.
Where does it pay most?
Highest in New Jersey ($64,290), lowest in Montana ($58,470).
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| $42,600 | $62,130 | $75,030 | about 74,000 |
| State | Typical person (median) | People in this job |
|---|---|---|
| New Jersey | $64,290 | about 2,000 |
| North Carolina | $64,290 | about 2,000 |
| California | $63,650 | about 6,000 |
| Michigan | $63,650 | about 2,000 |
| Louisiana | $63,210 | about 1,000 |
Official definition: Perform any combination of tasks in a United States Postal Service (USPS) post office, such as receive letters and parcels; sell postage and revenue stamps, postal cards, and stamped envelopes; fill out and sell money orders; place mail in pigeon holes of mail rack or in bags; and examine mail for correct postage. Includes postal service clerks employed by USPS contractors.
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.bls.gov/ooh/office-and-administrative-support/postal-service-workers.htm
- about.usps.com/careers/how-to-apply/exams.htm
- about.usps.com/careers/how-to-apply
- apwu.org/sites/default/files/clerk_craft_rev_dec_2024.pdf
- apwu.org/night-shift-differential-rates
- about.usps.com/publications/pub100k.pdf
Data: US BLS OEWS, May 2025 · 1 USD = 150 JPY