
United States Postal Salaries Scales
Postal worker salaries topped $58,000 per year in 2016, if you include the cost of benefits that is equivalent to $72,000 annually.

United States Postal Salaries Scales
Postal worker salaries topped $58,000 per year in 2016, if you include the cost of benefits that is equivalent to $72,000 annually.
Above Average Salaries with Career Advancement.
The United States Postal Service offers multiple unique hiring paths. Job Support Services assists applicants navigate through the postal hiring process. Take advantage of the assistance we provide and speak with a specialist who will help choose from a number of entry level positions available in your area.
Postal employee salaries on average can reach up to $72,000 when you include the cost of benefits.
Career employees receive Retirement Benefits, Employee Health Benefits and Paid Vacations.
How much has the average Full-Time Postal Service Worker really earned? | Average Annual Salaries | Average Hourly Pay |
Postal Carriers require applicants to take the Postal Exam 473 | $58,916 | $21.44 – $27.79 |
Mail Sorters and Processors require applicants to take the Postal Exam 473 | $57,257 | $17.75 – $27.00 |
Window Clerks require applicants to take the Postal Exam 473 | $56,155 | $15.31 – $26.48 |
Postmasters and Mail Superintendents | $92,530 | $31.22 – $43.64 |
Tracker Trailer Operators | $77,065 | $23.22 – $36.35 |
Building Custodians | $32,255 | $12.00 – $13.56 |
Automotive Technicians | $41,799 | $17.75 – $19.71 |
Automotive Mechanics | $59,245 | $21.55 – $27.94 |
Engineers, and Maintenance Professionals | $73,807 | $24.77 – $34.81 |
Average salary and wages are estimates and do not include overtime, tenure or benefits of career employees. Starting Pay could less depend on experience, location, full-time, part-time and career status of each position. You must reach career status to receive full benefits and paid holidays.
Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2016-17 Edition, Postal Service Workers, on the Internet at http://www.bls.gov/ooh/office-and-administrative-support/postal-service-workers.htm
Mail Carriers
Mail carriers are paid hourly with the potential for overtime. Their routes are adjusted and can be subjected to pivoting schedules which allows carriers to work multiple routes if needed to maintain full time schedules. City letter carriers typically work urban routes that are high density and low mileage. Mail carrier routes are classified into 2 types “driver” routes, which require a vehicle and “walking” routes for those that are done on foot.
City letter carriers who are assigned driver routes drive traditional white postal service vans and deliver to curbside and building mailboxes. Walking carriers walk generally, but also drive postal vehicles to their routes, park at a specified location, and carry mail through concentrated urban areas. City letter carriers must be physically able to handle packages and walk distances if needed.
The average annual wage for city carriers was $57,200 in May 2015. They earn on average 5% more than clerks, processors and mail sorters. The average city mail carrier earns between $21 up to $26 per hour and must have a clean driving record.
Average annual wages of mail carrier’s workers in May 2015 were as follows as noted by the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Mail Clerks
Sales, Service and Distribution associates are also known as Window Clerks. On average, Window Clerk’s starting pay rate averages $19.32 per hour or more. Window Clerks are full time positions and are eligible for full federal benefits.
Often perceived to be the “face” of the Post Office, Window Clerks serve as retail clerks at the counter of the Post Office. Mail Clerks offer basic services such as selling envelopes, stamps, and other shipping supplies to the public. Additional duties include calculating postage, processing express shipments and issuing money orders.
They are the front face of the US Postal Service and are responsible for answering questions performing a variety of services to provide direct sales and service support in a retail environment, assist in the distribution of mail, and work hands-on with the public.
Mail Processors
Mail Processors have an average pay rate of $18.71 or more per hour. These are full time positions and are eligible for full federal benefits.
These valued postal employees are like Mail Handlers, but manage inbound and outbound in larger Post Office locations, as well as the plants and distribution centers. Mail Processors are often required to assist customers on a fill in basis. They will also be required to perform record keeping tasks as well as calculate and prepare items that require special postage.
Despite the fact that automation has been integrated into the US Postal Service system. There are still instances when hand-sorting is necessary, and the Mail Processing Clerk needs to be able to perform this duty in a speedy and efficient manner. Manual sorting also relates to the movement of postal items from the processing center to the appropriate location for additional processing, either by carriers or through the post office boxes and front counter.
Mail Processors must be physically able to handle heavy items weighing up to 70 pounds, as well as operate manual and automated processing equipment to distribute and sort mail.
Mail Handlers
Mail Handlers have a starting pay rate of $19.29 per hour or more. These are full-time positions and are eligible for full federal benefits.
These postal workers typically are behind the scenes in the Post Office and responsible for shipping larger items up to 70 pounds through the postal system. Postal workers in this position usually sort, move, organize, load, and ship mail before it ends up with the actual mail person who delivers it.
Mail Handlers operate sorting machinery and other machinery to sort mail and load packages into vans and trucks. They also separate all mail received from trucks and conveyors for dispatch to other conveying units. They also assist mail clerks at the front desk of the Post Office. These duties include selling postage stamps to customers, helping them with weighing packages, applying appropriate postage to packages, and routing mail and packages.
Why Use Job Support Services?
Over 80% of all applicants fail to complete the hiring process due to being unprepared. Every applicant handles the stress of a timed exam differently, knowing what to expect is half the battle. The failure rates alone prove the case that preparation will increase your chances of getting hired. Click Start on the Video and listen to what our applicants say about our program.
Are you ready to apply for a Job and do not want assistance?
Applicants who have already registered with the USPS, do not want use Job Support Services or who have already taken the postal exam can continue directly to the USPS website by clicking the links below. If you change your mind you are welcome to come back and secure your materials and the level of support you require to get started.