How much does a postmaster make?
a year · about $46 an hour
A typical postmaster in the United States makes $96,660 a year, about $46 an hour, about 1.9× a typical US worker (median, May 2025, US Bureau of Labor Statistics).
What do they do?
They check staffing and schedules, then watch letters and parcels move through the office and adjust work when needed. They also help customers, solve complaints, train staff, and file reports.
Did you know? Abraham Lincoln was a postmaster at 24; when people did not collect their mail, he sometimes delivered it himself, carrying it in his hat.
Is that a lot?
Compared with jobs you knowIf 100 people had this job
Most earn between $85,090 and $111,740How do you become one?
Start USPS at 18 (or 16 with a diploma), gaining mail and customer-service experience. Apply for postmaster jobs with leadership, budgeting, and community skills; USPS weighs education, training, and experience.
School needed: High school plus some training
Good for people who like leading and selling and keeping things organized
Why does pay differ?
In the United States, a postmaster’s pay depends on the USPS grade of the job and whether it is full- or part-time. Experience and location can also matter: USPS considers experience when setting pay, and reported wages differ by area.
Where does it pay most?
Highest in Florida ($102,880), lowest in Alaska ($59,340).
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| $85,090 | $96,660 | $111,740 | about 14,000 |
| State | Typical person (median) | People in this job |
|---|---|---|
| Florida | $102,880 | about 350 |
| California | $101,150 | about 800 |
| New Jersey | $101,100 | about 440 |
| Rhode Island | $99,900 | about 40 |
| Tennessee | $99,170 | about 260 |
Official definition: Plan, direct, or coordinate operational, administrative, management, and support services of a U.S. post office; or coordinate activities of workers engaged in postal and related work in assigned post office.
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/11-9131.00
- about.usps.com/careers/how-to-apply
- about.usps.com/manuals/elm/elmc4.pdf
- www.bls.gov/oes/2021/May/oes119131.htm
- facts.usps.com/history/
Data: US BLS OEWS, May 2025 · 1 USD = 150 JPY