Occupation salary profile

Postal Service Mail Carriers

SOC 43-5052 BLS OEWS May 2025

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.

National median · BLS
$60,550
▲ +5.32% YoY
H-1B sponsor median
—
Too few H-1B filings
Average salary · BLS
$62,540
Mean annual wage
U.S. employment
328,820
Jobs (BLS)
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Pay range for Postal Service Mail Carriers

Annual base pay at each percentile. BLS covers all U.S. workers in this occupation.

Percentile All U.S. workers (BLS)
10th — entry pay$42,390
25th$48,940
Median (50th)$60,550
75th$81,000
90th — top pay$81,040

Hourly ⇄ annual pay

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Based on hrs/week × weeks/year = 2,080 hrs
Projections 2025–2035

Job outlook for Postal Service Mail Carriers

BLS projects employment of postal service mail carriers to decline 0.3% from 2025 to 2035, while employment across all occupations grows 3.5%. About 19,600 openings are projected each year, on average, from new jobs and from replacing workers who retire or move to other occupations.

Jobs 2025 → 2035
316,400 → 315,500
-900 jobs
Projected change
-0.3%
All occupations: +3.5%
Openings per year
19,600
Average, 2025–2035
Typical entry education
No formal educational credential
No related experience required
On-the-job training
Short-term on-the-job training
Preparation needed (O*NET Job Zone 2)
Very Little to Some Preparation Needed. Usually requires a high school diploma or GED, though some occupations may not.
Fastest-declining jobs → Best-paying jobs that need no formal education →

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections 2025–2035 · BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook →

Skills & tools

Skills needed for Postal Service Mail Carriers

How important each skill and knowledge area is for this job, rated by O*NET on a 1–5 scale from surveys of workers and occupational analysts.

Top skills
  • Active Listening3.0
  • Critical Thinking3.0
  • Social Perceptiveness3.0
  • Speaking3.0
  • Time Management2.9
  • Coordination2.8
  • Judgment and Decision Making2.6
  • Monitoring2.6
  • Reading Comprehension2.6
  • Service Orientation2.6
Top knowledge areas
  • Customer and Personal Service4.3
  • English Language3.3
  • Public Safety and Security3.2
  • Sales and Marketing3.1
  • Transportation3.0
  • Administration and Management2.9
  • Production and Processing2.7
  • Education and Training2.6
Software and technology used
Microsoft Office softwareMicrosoft WindowsMicrosoft WordAddress Management System AMSAutomated Data Collection System ADCSDelivery operations information system DOISDelivery Routing System DRSElectronic Time Clock ETCEnd of Run Report EORTime and Attendance Collection System TACS

Highlighted = in demand: frequently listed in employer job postings for this occupation (O*NET).

Source: 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.

About the job

What postal service mail carriers do

  • Scan labels on letters or parcels to confirm receipt.
  • Obtain signed receipts for registered, certified, and insured mail, collect associated charges, and complete any necessary paperwork.
  • Return to the post office with mail collected from homes, businesses, and public mailboxes.
  • 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.
  • Meet schedules for the collection and return of mail.
  • Sign for cash-on-delivery and registered mail before leaving the post office.
  • Hold mail for customers who are away from delivery locations.
Also called
City Letter CarrierLetter CarrierMail CarrierRural Carrier Associate (RCA)City CarrierCity Carrier Assistant (CCA)City Mail CarrierRural CarrierRural Mail CarrierRural Route Carrier
More job titles for this occupation (27)
CarrierCarrier AssociateCarrier DriverClerk CarrierCollectorDelivery and Mail SorterDelivery Route CarrierMail Carrier TechnicianMail ClerkMail DelivererMail Delivery DriverMail MessengerMail RiderMailmanParcel Post CarrierPostal CarrierPostal Mail CarrierPostmanRegistered Route AssociateRoute CarrierRural Carrier Associate Professional (RCA Professional)Rural Letter CarrierRural Route Mail CarrierSpecial Delivery Mail CarrierSpecial Delivery MessengerUSPS Letter Carrier (United States Postal Service Letter Carrier)USPS Mail Carrier (United States Postal Service Mail Carrier)

Source: O*NET 31.0 (USDOL/ETA, CC BY 4.0). These are general job titles, not H-1B filings; for titles employers actually filed, see “Job titles” above.