Mail carriers are federal employees who deliver letters to homes, offices, and businesses across cities, towns, and states. In this article, we’ll explain what a mail carrier does, how much a mailman makes, and everything you need to know about a mailman salary.
Table of contents
What Does A Mailman Do?
Mail carriers are mostly responsible for collecting and delivering mail processed by the US Postal Service (USPS). They are federal employees who must meet certain standards in order to be hired.
USPS mail carriers deliver mail to homes and businesses in cities, towns, and rural areas. They travel planned routes, gather and deliver mail, obtain signatures, and answer customer questions about postal regulations and services. Mail may be delivered on foot or by a mail truck, depending on the location. Delivery occurs irrespective of the weather, although schedules may be delayed.
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How Much Does A Mailman Make?
According to a report from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the mean mailman salary is $52,180 per year, but it changes based on experience and location.
California has the highest-paid mail carriers, with an annual mean of $54,450 and an hourly mean wage of $26.18. Texas, New York, Florida, and Illinois are closely behind, with mean annual salaries ranging from $52,760 to $51,760.
Glassdoor, on the other hand, reports that the estimated total pay for a Mail Carrier is $52,224 per year in the United States area, with an average salary of $34,118 per year.
The salaries of Mailmen in the US range from $11,000 to $373,999, with a median salary of $59,517. The middle 57% of Mailmen make between $59,518 and $164,054, with the top 86% making $373,999. This is from data reported on Comparably.
Average Mailman Salary Per Hour
According to a report from Indeed, the average salary for a mail carrier is $28.17 per hour in the United States and $6,667 overtime per year. This figure is collated from 1.7k salaries reported on the website.
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Mailman Salary Per State
Here’s an updated list of a mailman salary across the 50 states in the U.S.
| State | Annual Salary | Monthly Pay | Weekly Pay | Hourly Wage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| New York | $38,864 | $3,239 | $747 | $18.68 |
| New Hampshire | $36,775 | $3,065 | $707 | $17.68 |
| Montana | $34,512 | $2,876 | $664 | $16.59 |
| Arizona | $34,203 | $2,850 | $658 | $16.44 |
| Wyoming | $33,929 | $2,827 | $652 | $16.31 |
| New Jersey | $33,913 | $2,826 | $652 | $16.30 |
| Massachusetts | $33,117 | $2,760 | $637 | $15.92 |
| West Virginia | $32,883 | $2,740 | $632 | $15.81 |
| Indiana | $32,872 | $2,739 | $632 | $15.80 |
| Hawaii | $32,812 | $2,734 | $631 | $15.78 |
| Tennessee | $32,790 | $2,733 | $631 | $15.76 |
| Nevada | $32,666 | $2,722 | $628 | $15.70 |
| Washington | $32,235 | $2,686 | $620 | $15.50 |
| Connecticut | $32,169 | $2,681 | $619 | $15.47 |
| Pennsylvania | $32,155 | $2,680 | $618 | $15.46 |
| Minnesota | $31,699 | $2,642 | $610 | $15.24 |
| Rhode Island | $31,616 | $2,635 | $608 | $15.20 |
| Alaska | $31,313 | $2,609 | $602 | $15.05 |
| Oregon | $31,047 | $2,587 | $597 | $14.93 |
| North Dakota | $30,828 | $2,569 | $593 | $14.82 |
| Wisconsin | $30,508 | $2,542 | $587 | $14.67 |
| Maryland | $30,422 | $2,535 | $585 | $14.63 |
| Ohio | $30,199 | $2,517 | $581 | $14.52 |
| Alabama | $29,928 | $2,494 | $576 | $14.39 |
| Iowa | $29,799 | $2,483 | $573 | $14.33 |
| Vermont | $29,728 | $2,477 | $572 | $14.29 |
| Virginia | $29,663 | $2,472 | $570 | $14.26 |
| California | $29,603 | $2,467 | $569 | $14.23 |
| Utah | $29,595 | $2,466 | $569 | $14.23 |
| Idaho | $29,383 | $2,449 | $565 | $14.13 |
| South Dakota | $29,222 | $2,435 | $562 | $14.05 |
| New Mexico | $29,196 | $2,433 | $561 | $14.04 |
| Florida | $29,085 | $2,424 | $559 | $13.98 |
| Nebraska | $28,962 | $2,414 | $557 | $13.92 |
| Delaware | $28,940 | $2,412 | $557 | $13.91 |
| Colorado | $28,437 | $2,370 | $547 | $13.67 |
| South Carolina | $28,323 | $2,360 | $545 | $13.62 |
| Kansas | $27,966 | $2,331 | $538 | $13.45 |
| Maine | $27,899 | $2,325 | $537 | $13.41 |
| Arkansas | $27,856 | $2,321 | $536 | $13.39 |
| Georgia | $27,821 | $2,318 | $535 | $13.38 |
| Mississippi | $27,588 | $2,299 | $531 | $13.26 |
| Oklahoma | $27,360 | $2,280 | $526 | $13.15 |
| Michigan | $27,326 | $2,277 | $526 | $13.14 |
| Kentucky | $26,987 | $2,249 | $519 | $12.97 |
| Illinois | $26,571 | $2,214 | $511 | $12.77 |
| Missouri | $26,054 | $2,171 | $501 | $12.53 |
| Texas | $25,941 | $2,162 | $499 | $12.47 |
| Louisiana | $25,601 | $2,133 | $492 | $12.31 |
| North Carolina | $23,790 | $1,983 | $458 | $11.44 |
Other Mailman Benefits
Salary is only a small portion of overall mail carrier compensation. Those who are working for the USPS can expect a wholesome benefits package that includes a retirement plan and a federal pension. According to the USPS, mailman benefits include:
- Health insurance through the Federal Employees Health Benefits program, the majority of which is paid for by the Postal Service. There are various plans available including HMOs and Free-For-Service plans.
- Dental and vision insurance through the Federal Employees Dental and Vision Insurance Program. Employees usually pay the full cost of these plans, but it’s greatly reduced because of the federal group rate.
- Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAs). This can be used for out-of-pocket health care costs and dependent care
- Long-term care insurance through the Federal Long-Term Care Insurance Program, which goes toward nursing homes and assisted living expenses that aren’t covered by health insurance or Medicare
- Asides from the typical mailman salary, a retirement pension is put in place as part of the Federal Employment Retirement System
- A Thrift Savings Plan, which is essentially a 401(k) retirement savings plan that enables employees to make regular, tax-deferred payments of up to 5 percent of their annual salary
- Life insurance has competitive group rates through the Federal Employees’ Group Life Insurance Program. The USPS fully pays for basic coverage.
- A commuter program that allows tax-free purchases of transportation and parking in line with IRS maximums
- Paid vacation and sick leave. Employees get 13 paid days annually for their first three years, 20 paid days annually after three years, and 26 paid days annually after 15 years. They can also accumulate 4 hours of leave per period to use in the event of illness or accident.
- 10 paid holidays per year
These mailman benefits can greatly increase a Postal Service employee’s overall annual salary if fully utilized.
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States With The Highest Mailman Employment Rate
Here’s a list of the states with the highest employment level in Postal Service Mail Carriers as stated on bls.gov:
| State | Employment | Employment per thousand jobs | Location quotient | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| California | 33,190 | 2.01 | 0.84 | $ 26.87 | $ 55,900 |
| Texas | 26,400 | 2.16 | 0.91 | $ 26.15 | $ 54,400 |
| New York | 21,600 | 2.49 | 1.05 | $ 26.29 | $ 54,690 |
| Florida | 20,850 | 2.42 | 1.02 | $ 26.15 | $ 54,390 |
| Illinois | 15,330 | 2.73 | 1.15 | $ 26.27 | $ 54,640 |
Mail Carrier Education Requirements
Mail carriers don’t need a college education or prior experience, however, those working for the USPS must pass Test 473. This test includes questions about checking addresses, completing forms, memory, and day-to-day responsibilities.
In addition, applicants must have a high school diploma or equivalent, a safe driving record, and the ability to lift a maximum of 70 lbs. They must also pass a background check and physical exam.
Once on the job, mail carriers have access to various leadership and educational programs within the USPS that can help them grow their career and even prime them for graduating to an executive-level role.
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Job Outlook
According to a report from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the overall employment of postal service workers is projected to decline by 9 percent from 2020 to 2030.
Despite declining employment, about 31,900 openings for postal service workers are projected each year, on average, over the decade. All of those openings are expected to result from the need to replace workers who transfer to other occupations or exit the labor force, such as to retire.
FAQs On Mail Carrier
Mail carriers collect and deliver various letters, packages, messages, documents, and products to private residences and businesses.
To become a mail carrier, you need to take the following steps:
Acquire a high school diploma or GED.
Meet the minimum job requirements.
Pass the postal exam.
Complete the interviewing process.
Get additional training.
You don’t need to earn a certification to work, but you will need a valid driver’s license to drive mail trucks.
In general, mail carriers work about 40 hours per week. However, many mail carriers may work overtime to complete their routes.
Conclusion
If you think a career as a mail carrier may be ideal for you, visit the USPS Careers page. You can find more information about working for the USPS, current openings, and the online application process.
References
- bls.gov – Postal Service Workers
- chron.com – Salary of A Mailman
- comparably.com – Mailman Salary
- indeed.com – Mail Carrier Salary In The United States
- thebalancecareers.com – What Does a Mail Carrier Do?
- ziprecruiter.com – What Is the Average MAIL Carrier Salary by State
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