What Postal Service Mail Carriers do
The U.S. Department of Labor's O*NET database describes the work of Postal Service Mail Carriers this way: "Sort and deliver mail for the United States Postal Service (USPS). Deliver mail on established route by vehicle or on foot. Includes postal service mail carriers employed by USPS contractors."
The core tasks O*NET records for this occupation include: "Obtain signed receipts for registered, certified, and insured mail, collect associated charges, and complete any necessary paperwork"; "Sort mail for delivery, arranging it in delivery sequence"; "Deliver mail to residences and business establishments along specified routes by walking or driving, using a combination of satchels, carts, cars, and small trucks"; "Return to the post office with mail collected from homes, businesses, and public mailboxes"; "Turn in money and receipts collected along mail routes".
Education, experience and training
According to the BLS Employment Projections, the typical education needed to enter this occupation is no formal educational credential. Typical on-the-job training to reach competency is short-term on-the-job training.
Job outlook for Postal Service Mail Carriers
The Bureau of Labor Statistics counted 316,400 jobs in this occupation in 2025 and projects 315,500 in 2035, a decrease of 900 jobs (-0.3%). That is slower than the 3.5% projected for all occupations.
About 19,600 openings a year are projected on average, counting both new positions and positions vacated by workers who retire or switch occupations. Relative to today's employment that is 6.2% a year, against 10.3% for all occupations. BLS lists a national median annual wage of $60,550, compared with $50,980 for all occupations.
Where Postal Service Mail Carriers earn the most
Across the 6 states with published data, the employment-weighted average of local median wages for this occupation ranges from $60,632 in Texas to $63,057 in California, a gap of $2,425 (1.04 times). 6 of those 6 states average above the BLS national median of $60,550 and 0 average at or below it.
California employs the most people in this occupation among the states covered, 32,290, which is 20.9% of the 154,210 counted across them. New Jersey follows with 28,910.
Highest-paying states
California ($63,057), Indiana ($62,277) and Illinois ($61,984) lead the ranking, while Texas ($60,632) and New Jersey ($61,813) are at the bottom. The table below lists every state with a link to its county-level detail.
Postal Service Mail Carriers: pay against the cost of living
We compare 6 labor markets, each represented by its most populous county. After federal, Social Security, Medicare and state taxes and the four basics (a one-bedroom rental, food, home energy and gasoline), the largest yearly margin is in Lake County, IN (Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN) at $30,574. The smallest margin is $8,308 in Kings County, NY.
The median wage for this occupation covers all four basics in 6 of the 6 markets. A one-bedroom apartment takes between 27.4% and 66.6% of take-home pay, depending on the market.
Occupations related to Postal Service Mail Carriers
Postal Service Mail Sorters, Processors, and Processing Machine Operators belong to the same detailed SOC group. Other occupations in the same SOC minor group (43-5000) include Production, Planning, and Expediting Clerks, Cargo and Freight Agents, Dispatchers, Except Police, Fire, and Ambulance and Shipping, Receiving, and Inventory Clerks.
Frequently asked questions about Postal Service Mail Carriers
How much do Postal Service Mail Carriers earn in the United States?
BLS lists a national median annual wage of $60,550. Across the states covered here the average local median ranges from $60,632 to $63,057.
Which state pays Postal Service Mail Carriers the most?
California, with an employment-weighted average local median wage of $63,057. Indiana is next at $62,277.
Is Postal Service Mail Carriers a growing occupation?
BLS projects employment to shrink by 0.3% between 2025 and 2035, compared with 3.5% for all occupations, with about 19,600 openings a year.
What education do Postal Service Mail Carriers need?
The typical entry-level education is no formal educational credential and short-term on-the-job training, according to BLS.
Where can Postal Service Mail Carriers afford to live best?
Among the markets covered, Lake County, IN leaves the largest yearly margin after taxes, rent, food, energy and gasoline: $30,574 on a median wage of $63,750.