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Letter carrier: pay, job outlook and how to become one

Updated October 26, 2026. Based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and O*NET data. Published by Humblebee.

$60,550median pay per year, or $29.11 an hour, May 2025[1]
  1. $42,390lowest 10% earn less
  2. $48,94025th percentile
  3. $60,550median
  4. $81,00075th percentile
  5. $81,040top 10% earn more
Middle half of workers in the inner band[4]Median for all US jobs, $50,980[5]

The median pay for postal service mail carriers, the BLS category that covers letter carriers, was $60,550 a year in May 2025[1]. The job needs no formal degree, but employment is projected to dip 0.3% from 2025 to 2035[2][3].

Job growth, 2025–35
-0.3%[2]
Openings per year
19,600[6]
Typical entry education
No formal educational credential[3]

How much do letter carriers make?

The median pay for postal service mail carriers was $60,550 a year, or $29.11 an hour[1]. Half of workers earned more and half earned less[1]. The average was $62,540 a year, or $30.07 an hour[7]. Across all US occupations, the median was $50,980 a year[5].

The top of the range is tight. The lowest-paid 10% earned less than $42,390 a year, and the 25th percentile was $48,940[4]. The 75th percentile was $81,000 and the 90th percentile was $81,040[4]. Hourly, the 10th percentile was $20.38 and the 90th was $38.96[8].

Percentile Annual wage Source
10th[4] $42,390
25th[4] $48,940
Median[1] $60,550
75th[4] $81,000
90th[4] $81,040

A percentile wage is a boundary, and BLS publishes percentile wages, not a starting salary[9]. These figures count wage and salary workers only. They leave out the self-employed, and they do not include bonuses or the cost of benefits such as health insurance[10]. About 328,820 people held such jobs[11]. O*NET sample job titles include city carrier, rural carrier and mail carrier[12].

Pay by state and city

State medians sit in a fairly tight band. The District of Columbia was highest at $64,250 (930 jobs), followed by Rhode Island at $63,610 and Arizona at $62,390[13]. California came next at $62,090, and Illinois, Maryland, Massachusetts, Nevada, New York and Virginia all shared a median of $62,070[13]. Mississippi had the lowest published median at $57,470[13].

The states with the most jobs were California (32,320), Texas (26,700), Florida (20,810), New York (20,580) and Illinois (14,730)[14].

Among metro areas with at least 100 jobs, Lawrence, Kansas had the highest median at $70,530[15]. Bay City, Michigan followed at $68,640, then Napa, California at $67,140[15]. The New York metro area had the most jobs at 20,280 and a median of $62,070[16]. Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim had 10,940 jobs and a median of $64,250[16].

Show median pay in 50 states and DC
StateMedian per yearJobs
District of Columbia[13]$64,250930
Rhode Island$63,6101,220
Arizona$62,3905,300
California$62,09032,320
Illinois$62,07014,730
Maryland$62,0706,420
Massachusetts$62,0707,630
Nevada$62,0702,530
New York$62,07020,580
Virginia$62,0707,900
Connecticut$61,1304,510
Florida$61,13020,810
New Jersey$61,13010,160
Ohio$61,13012,680
South Dakota$60,760850
Texas$60,55026,700
Minnesota$59,9905,890
New Hampshire$59,9901,560
North Carolina$59,99011,030
Washington$59,9906,550
Alaska$59,880450
Colorado$59,8805,100
Delaware$59,8801,130
Hawaii$59,8801,200
Indiana$59,8806,910
Iowa$59,8803,730
Michigan$59,88011,610
Missouri$59,8807,260
Nebraska$59,8802,150
New Mexico$59,8801,570
Oklahoma$59,8804,130
Pennsylvania$59,88013,900
Utah$59,8802,460
Wisconsin$59,8806,470
Wyoming$59,880430
Arkansas$59,7003,030
Oregon$59,4003,760
Maine$59,0101,510
Montana$59,010830
North Dakota$59,010800
Vermont$59,010690
Kentucky$58,9104,640
Louisiana$58,9105,090
Tennessee$58,5707,310
Kansas$58,5403,310
Idaho$57,8201,660
Alabama$57,7005,840
Georgia$57,70010,790
South Carolina$57,7005,650
West Virginia$57,7001,850
Mississippi$57,4703,290

How to become a letter carrier

BLS lists no formal educational credential as the typical entry education, with no work experience needed and short-term on-the-job training[3]. The details below come from a BLS profile that covers mail carriers together with other postal service workers, so they describe the wider group[17].

Workers who drive need a driver's license. Mail carriers also need a safe driving record and must pass a road test before they can drive for work[21]. A state vision test is part of getting a license[22].

No formal credential is required, but in an O*NET survey of 33 carriers, 78% said a high school diploma or the equivalent was required, 15% said less than a high school diploma and 7% said some college courses[23]. The survey is small, so treat these shares as a rough guide.

Useful qualities include attention to detail, physical stamina and strength, and time management[24][25][26][27].

What letter carriers do

Letter carriers sort mail and deliver it on a set route, by vehicle or on foot[28]. Tasks reported to O*NET include:

Where they work

The postal service accounted for 100% of employment in the wider postal service worker group[30]. Carriers mostly work outdoors and deliver in all kinds of weather. Extreme heat or cold and slippery roads and walkways are among the hazards, but BLS says the work is not especially dangerous. Lifting and bending can lead to repetitive stress injuries[31].

Full-time work is typical, and some postal service workers put in more than 40 hours a week[32]. Mail is usually delivered 6 days a week, so Saturday work is common and some workers also work Sundays[32].

Job outlook

BLS projects that employment of postal service mail carriers will fall 0.3% between 2025 and 2035[2]. That is about 316,400 jobs shrinking to about 315,500, with self-employed workers included[2]. For all occupations together, the projected change is growth of 3.5%[33].

Even so, about 19,600 openings are projected each year on average[6]. Openings include jobs that come up when people retire or switch occupations, not only new jobs[6]. Each year, 3% of carriers are projected to leave the labor force and 3.2% to move to a different occupation[34].

Is it a good fit?

The facts describe a job with a low barrier to entry and pay above the all-occupation median. The median was $60,550 a year, compared with $50,980 for all occupations[1][5]. No formal credential is typical, and training usually lasts a few weeks[3][20]. The application includes a written exam, a background check, a health review and a drug test[19][18]. The work is mostly outdoors, can involve lifting and long periods on foot, and Saturday work is common[25][26][31][32]. Total employment is projected to dip slightly, though about 19,600 openings a year are still expected[2][6].

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

Frequently asked questions

How much does a letter carrier make an hour?
The median for postal service mail carriers was $29.11 an hour in May 2025[1]. The 10th percentile was $20.38 and the 90th percentile was $38.96[8].
What education do you need to be a letter carrier?
BLS lists no formal educational credential as typical for entry[3]. Candidates still have to pass a written exam[19].
How long is training for a letter carrier?
On-the-job training usually lasts a few weeks[20].
Is letter carrier a growing job?
No. BLS projects a 0.3% decline from 2025 to 2035, while all occupations are projected to grow 3.5%[2][33]. About 19,600 openings a year are projected[6].
What is the highest paying state for letter carriers?
The District of Columbia had the highest median at $64,250, followed by Rhode Island at $63,610[13].

Facts and sources

  1. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median wage for Postal Service Mail Carriers in the US was $60,550 per year and $29.11 per hour. Half of workers earned more and half earned less. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  2. BLS Employment Projections: employment of Postal Service Mail Carriers is projected to decline 0.3% from 2025 to 2035, from about 316,400 to 315,500 jobs (a change of -900). These counts include self-employed workers. BLS Employment Projections
  3. BLS Employment Projections, typical path into Postal Service Mail Carriers: 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
  4. BLS OEWS, May 2025, annual wage percentiles for Postal Service Mail Carriers: 10th percentile $42,390, 25th percentile $48,940, 75th percentile $81,000, 90th percentile $81,040. The 10th percentile means 10% of workers earned less. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  5. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median annual wage for all occupations in the US was $50,980. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  6. BLS Employment Projections: about 19,600 openings for Postal Service Mail Carriers 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
  7. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the mean (average) wage for Postal Service Mail Carriers was $62,540 per year and $30.07 per hour. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  8. BLS OEWS, May 2025, hourly wage percentiles for Postal Service Mail Carriers: 10th percentile $20.38, 25th percentile $23.53, 75th percentile $38.94, 90th percentile $38.96. 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 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
  11. BLS OEWS, May 2025: about 328,820 people were employed as Postal Service Mail Carriers in the US (wage and salary jobs, not counting self-employed workers). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  12. O*NET 43-5052.00 sample job titles reported by workers: City Carrier, City Carrier Assistant (CCA), City Letter Carrier, City Mail Carrier, Letter Carrier, Mail Carrier, Rural Carrier, Rural Carrier Associate (RCA). O*NET OnLine
  13. Median annual wage for Postal Service Mail Carriers in every state with published data, May 2025 (table on this page). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  14. BLS OEWS, May 2025, states with the most Postal Service Mail Carriers jobs: California 32,320; Texas 26,700; Florida 20,810; New York 20,580; Illinois 14,730. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  15. BLS OEWS, May 2025, metro areas with the highest median annual wage for Postal Service Mail Carriers (areas with at least 100 jobs): Lawrence, KS $70,530; Bay City, MI $68,640; Napa, CA $67,140; Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA $66,440; Iowa City, IA $64,890; Naples-Marco Island, FL $64,460; Bloomington, IN $64,250; Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA $64,250. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  16. BLS OEWS, May 2025, metro areas with the most Postal Service Mail Carriers jobs: New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ 20,280 (median $62,070); Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA 10,940 (median $64,250); Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN 10,320 (median $63,750); Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX 7,100 (median $62,070); Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX 6,660 (median $62,070); Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD 6,560 (median $61,480). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  17. The BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook profile "Postal Service Workers" covers Postal Service Mail Carriers together with other related occupations, so its text describes the wider group. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  18. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  19. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  20. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Training. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  21. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Licenses, Certifications, and Registrations. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  22. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Important Qualities. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  23. O*NET 43-5052.00 survey of workers (33 respondents), education level they say is required: High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED) 78%, Less than a High School Diploma 15%, Some College Courses 7% (levels under 5% not listed). O*NET OnLine
  24. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Important Qualities. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  25. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Important Qualities. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  26. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Important Qualities. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  27. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Important Qualities. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  28. O*NET description of Postal Service Mail Carriers. O*NET OnLine
  29. O*NET task list for Postal Service Mail Carriers. O*NET OnLine
  30. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook, largest employers of postal service workers in 2025: Postal service 100%. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  31. Occupational Outlook Handbook, Work Environment. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  32. Occupational Outlook Handbook, Work Environment: Work Schedules. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  33. BLS Employment Projections: employment in all occupations is projected to grow 3.5% from 2025 to 2035. BLS Employment Projections
  34. BLS Employment Projections, 2025-35 annual average for Postal Service Mail Carriers: 3% of workers leave the labor force each year and 3.2% 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.