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Postal service clerk: pay, job outlook and how to become one

Updated October 28, 2026. Based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and O*NET data. Published by Humblebee.

$62,130median pay per year, or $29.87 an hour, May 2025[1]
  1. $42,600lowest 10% earn less
  2. $56,74025th percentile
  3. $62,130median
  4. $70,89075th percentile
  5. $75,030top 10% earn more
Middle half of workers in the inner band[5]Median for all US jobs, $50,980[6]

Postal service clerks earned a median of $62,130 a year in May 2025[1], and the job typically needs no formal degree[2]. Employment is projected to shrink slightly by 2035[3], while jobs overall are projected to grow[4].

Job growth, 2025–35
-0.3%[3]
Openings per year
5,300[7]
Typical entry education
No formal educational credential[2]

How much do postal service clerks make?

The median pay for postal service clerks was $62,130 a year, or $29.87 an hour, in May 2025[1]. Half of them earned more and half earned less[1]. The average was a little lower, at $61,860 a year or $29.74 an hour[8].

For all occupations in the US, the median was $50,980 a year[6]. So the typical postal service clerk earned about $11,150 more than the typical US worker[1][6].

Pay does not spread out much in this job. The lowest-paid 10% earned less than $42,600 a year, and the highest-paid 10% earned more than $75,030[5]. BLS publishes percentile wages as boundaries, not as a starting salary[9].

Level Annual pay Hourly pay
10th percentile[5][10] $42,600 $20.48
25th percentile[5][10] $56,740 $27.28
Median[1] $62,130 $29.87
75th percentile[5][10] $70,890 $34.08
90th percentile[5][10] $75,030 $36.07

These figures cover wage and salary workers, part time and full time. They leave out the self-employed, bonuses that are not tied to production, and the cost of benefits such as health insurance[11].

Pay by state and city

State medians are close together. The District of Columbia was first at $67,790 a year, followed by New Jersey and North Carolina at $64,290 each[12]. At the other end, Alaska and North Dakota both had a median of $57,820[12].

The most jobs were in California (6,410), New York (5,030), Texas (4,900), Pennsylvania (3,650) and Florida (3,540)[13].

Among metro areas with at least 100 jobs, Greensboro-High Point, NC and Winston-Salem, NC were listed first, both at $66,750[14]. Raleigh-Cary, NC followed at $66,520[14]. The New York-Newark-Jersey City area had the most jobs, at 4,340, with a median of $63,650[15]. Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim had 2,160 jobs and a median of $63,670[15].

Show median pay in 50 states and DC
StateMedian per yearJobs
District of Columbia[12]$67,790110
New Jersey$64,2902,230
North Carolina$64,2902,070
California$63,6506,410
Hawaii$63,650430
Michigan$63,6502,340
Louisiana$63,2101,100
Maryland$63,2101,240
Tennessee$63,2101,330
New York$62,6905,030
Ohio$62,6902,430
Florida$62,6103,540
Georgia$62,6102,070
Kentucky$62,6101,220
Massachusetts$62,6101,950
Nevada$62,610460
New Hampshire$62,610500
South Carolina$62,610960
Texas$62,6104,900
Virginia$62,6101,980
Connecticut$62,130860
Maine$62,130670
Arizona$61,7101,190
Delaware$61,710230
Illinois$61,7102,720
Indiana$61,7101,520
Alabama$61,6401,240
Rhode Island$61,570250
Washington$61,5701,460
Minnesota$61,0501,380
Mississippi$61,050790
Pennsylvania$61,0503,650
Vermont$61,050400
West Virginia$61,050890
Wisconsin$61,0501,400
Colorado$60,5301,230
Idaho$60,530480
Kansas$60,5301,290
Oregon$60,530960
Utah$60,530620
Iowa$59,9701,190
Missouri$59,9701,780
New Mexico$59,970660
Wyoming$59,970250
Arkansas$59,490970
Nebraska$59,490690
Oklahoma$59,4901,040
Montana$58,470510
South Dakota$58,470390
Alaska$57,820410
North Dakota$57,820330

How to become a postal service clerk

The BLS typical path lists no formal educational credential, no work experience in a related job and short-term on-the-job training[2]. The details below come from a BLS profile of postal service workers, which covers a wider group than clerks alone[16].

Some workers may be asked to show they can lift and handle heavy mail sacks[17]. Postal workers who drive need a driver's license[20].

In an O*NET survey of 31 workers, 68% said a high school diploma or equivalent is the education level required[21]. BLS notes that no credential is typically required, though many postal workers hold at least a high school diploma[22].

What postal service clerks do

Postal service clerks handle a mix of counter and sorting work in a post office[23]. Typical tasks include:

People in the job report titles such as window clerk, distribution clerk and sales and service associate[25].

Where they work

Postal service clerks work indoors, typically in a post office[26]. In the BLS profile covering the wider group, the Postal Service is listed as the largest employer, at 100%[27].

That profile says postal workers mostly work full time, and some work more than 40 hours a week[28]. Mail goes out 6 days a week, so many have to work Saturdays, and some also work Sundays[28]. Customer service and attention to detail are named as important qualities for clerks[29][30]. The profile also says the work can call for standing or walking for long periods and lifting heavy mail bags[31][32].

Job outlook

BLS projects employment of postal service clerks to fall 0.3% from 2025 to 2035, from about 70,900 to 70,700 jobs[3]. Employment in all occupations is projected to grow 3.5% over the same years[4]. These projection counts include self-employed workers, so they differ from the 73,720 wage and salary jobs counted in the May 2025 pay survey[33][3].

Even with a small projected decline, about 5,300 openings a year are projected on average[7]. Openings count jobs left by people who retire or switch occupations, as well as new jobs[7]. Each year, 4.2% of postal service clerks are projected to leave the labor force and 3.3% to move to a different occupation[34].

Is it a good fit?

The facts point to a job with a low entry bar. No degree is typically required, and training lasts a few weeks[2][19]. Pay is above the all-occupations median, and it varies little from state to state[1][6][12]. The hiring steps include a written exam, a background check, a medical assessment and a drug screening[18][17]. The work involves counter service, sorting and sometimes Saturday shifts[24][28]. The number of jobs is projected to stay about flat, so openings come mostly from people leaving the occupation rather than from growth[3][7][34].

Related occupations from O*NET, with BLS median pay and projected growth[35].

Frequently asked questions

How much does a postal service clerk make an hour?
The median was $29.87 an hour in May 2025, and the average was $29.74[1][8]. The lowest-paid 10% earned less than $20.48 an hour, and the highest-paid 10% earned more than $36.07[10].
What education do you need to be a postal service clerk?
BLS lists no formal educational credential as the typical entry requirement, with short-term on-the-job training[2]. Applicants must pass a written exam[18].
How long is postal service clerk training?
New postal service workers usually get on-the-job training that lasts a few weeks[19]. The BLS profile covers a wider group than clerks[16].
Are postal service clerk jobs in demand?
Employment is projected to decline 0.3% from 2025 to 2035, against 3.5% growth for all occupations[3][4]. About 5,300 openings a year are still projected[7].
Which state pays postal service clerks the most?
The District of Columbia had the top median, $67,790 a year[12]. Among the states, New Jersey and North Carolina were listed first at $64,290 each[12].

Facts and sources

  1. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median wage for Postal Service Clerks in the US was $62,130 per year and $29.87 per hour. Half of workers earned more and half earned less. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  2. BLS Employment Projections, typical path into Postal Service Clerks: education needed for entry: No formal educational credential; work experience in a related occupation: None; typical on-the-job training: Short-term on-the-job training. BLS Employment Projections
  3. BLS Employment Projections: employment of Postal Service Clerks is projected to decline 0.3% from 2025 to 2035, from about 70,900 to 70,700 jobs (a change of -200). These counts include self-employed workers. BLS Employment Projections
  4. BLS Employment Projections: employment in all occupations is projected to grow 3.5% from 2025 to 2035. BLS Employment Projections
  5. BLS OEWS, May 2025, annual wage percentiles for Postal Service Clerks: 10th percentile $42,600, 25th percentile $56,740, 75th percentile $70,890, 90th percentile $75,030. The 10th percentile means 10% of workers earned less. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  6. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median annual wage for all occupations in the US was $50,980. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  7. BLS Employment Projections: about 5,300 openings for Postal Service Clerks are projected each year, on average, from 2025 to 2035. Openings include jobs that open when workers retire or move to other occupations, not only new jobs. BLS Employment Projections
  8. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the mean (average) wage for Postal Service Clerks was $61,860 per year and $29.74 per hour. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  9. BLS OEWS FAQ: a percentile wage is a boundary. The median (50th percentile) separates the highest-paid 50% from the lowest-paid 50% of workers in the occupation. OEWS publishes percentile wages, not a starting salary. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  10. BLS OEWS, May 2025, hourly wage percentiles for Postal Service Clerks: 10th percentile $20.48, 25th percentile $27.28, 75th percentile $34.08, 90th percentile $36.07. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  11. BLS OEWS FAQ: OEWS covers part-time and full-time workers paid a wage or salary. It does not cover the self-employed, owners and partners in unincorporated firms, household workers or unpaid family workers. OEWS wages do not include nonproduction bonuses or employer costs of benefits such as health insurance or retirement contributions. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  12. Median annual wage for Postal Service Clerks in every state with published data, May 2025 (table on this page). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  13. BLS OEWS, May 2025, states with the most Postal Service Clerks jobs: California 6,410; New York 5,030; Texas 4,900; Pennsylvania 3,650; Florida 3,540. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  14. BLS OEWS, May 2025, metro areas with the highest median annual wage for Postal Service Clerks (areas with at least 100 jobs): Greensboro-High Point, NC $66,750; Winston-Salem, NC $66,750; Raleigh-Cary, NC $66,520; Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI $65,710; Fresno, CA $65,710; Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA $65,710; Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX $65,600; Akron, OH $64,670. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  15. BLS OEWS, May 2025, metro areas with the most Postal Service Clerks jobs: New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ 4,340 (median $63,650); Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA 2,160 (median $63,670); Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN 1,430 (median $63,670); Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD 1,400 (median $61,570); Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH 1,270 (median $62,610); Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV 1,130 (median $64,630). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  16. The BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook profile "Postal Service Workers" covers Postal Service Clerks together with other related occupations, so its text describes the wider group. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  17. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  18. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  19. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Training. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  20. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Licenses, Certifications, and Registrations. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  21. O*NET 43-5051.00 survey of workers (31 respondents), education level they say is required: High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED) 68%, Some College Courses 18%, Less than a High School Diploma 8%, Post-Secondary Certificate 7% (levels under 5% not listed). O*NET OnLine
  22. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Education. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  23. O*NET description of Postal Service Clerks. O*NET OnLine
  24. O*NET task list for Postal Service Clerks. O*NET OnLine
  25. O*NET 43-5051.00 sample job titles reported by workers: Bulk Mail Technician, Clerk, Distribution Clerk, Part Time Flexible Clerk (PTF Clerk), Postal Clerk, Sales and Distribution Clerk, Sales and Service Associate (SSA), Window Clerk. O*NET OnLine
  26. Occupational Outlook Handbook, Work Environment. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  27. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook, largest employers of postal service workers in 2025: Postal service 100%. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  28. Occupational Outlook Handbook, Work Environment: Work Schedules. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  29. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Important Qualities. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  30. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Important Qualities. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  31. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Important Qualities. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  32. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Important Qualities. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  33. BLS OEWS, May 2025: about 73,720 people were employed as Postal Service Clerks in the US (wage and salary jobs, not counting self-employed workers). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  34. BLS Employment Projections, 2025-35 annual average for Postal Service Clerks: 4.2% of workers leave the labor force each year and 3.3% move to a different occupation. BLS Employment Projections
  35. Related occupations (O*NET) with BLS pay, growth and entry education. O*NET OnLine

Notes are for reading the data only. They are not facts and cannot be cited: use the wage_scope and percentile_meaning facts instead. OEWS employment (jobs in May 2025) and Employment Projections employment (2025, includes self-employed) are different measures and can differ. O*NET education shares come from a small survey of workers in the occupation, not from all workers. The Occupational Outlook Handbook text covers a wider group of occupations than this page.

This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. CareerFacts has modified all or some of this information. USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.