43
Postal Service Mail Carriers is a notable career in the 43 category. This page provides verified data from BLS OEWS 2024 + O*NET 29.0 (2024), helping you compare Postal Service Mail Carriers against similar careers and make data-driven decisions.
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| soc | 43-5052 |
| title | Postal Service Mail Carriers |
| onet code | 43-5052.00 |
| description | 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. |
| job zone | 2 |
| major group | 43 |
| tot emp | 336,040 |
| a mean | 59,880 |
| a median | 57,490 |
| a pct10 | 42,390 |
| a pct25 | 46,030 |
| a pct75 | 75,300 |
| a pct90 | 76,880 |
| h mean | 28 |
| h median | 27 |
The day-to-day work of a postal service mail carriers typically centers on scan labels on letters or parcels to confirm receipt. Every task listed below is classified as Core in O*NET — they collectively define the role. Task descriptions below are quoted from the U.S. Department of Labor's O*NET 29.0 occupation profile.
Workers in this occupation rely most on Active Listening, Speaking, and Critical Thinking. Across the top 4 skills, the average O*NET importance score is 3.00 out of 5 — moderately weighted for this role. Importance reflects how essential each skill is for adequate job performance.
Among working postal service mail carriers, the most common entry qualification is a High School Diploma (78.2%). Bachelor's-degree-or-higher credentials are reported by 0% of incumbents. Most workers enter without a four-year degree, making this a relatively accessible career path.
Median annual pay is highest in South Dakota at $59,320 and lowest in Mississippi at $53,600 — a 1.1× spread. The top five states (South Dakota, Massachusetts, Arizona, California, District of Columbia) average $58,736. Figures reflect BLS OEWS May 2024 state-level wage estimates; percentiles shown are for full-time wage-earners in each state.
| State | Median | Mean | 10th % | 90th % | Employed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| South Dakota | $59,320 | $60,070 | $42,390 | $78,270 | 860 |
| Massachusetts | $59,010 | $61,140 | $42,390 | $75,300 | 7,640 |
| Arizona | $58,570 | $60,690 | $41,250 | $78,980 | 5,470 |
| California | $58,390 | $60,700 | $41,250 | $75,300 | 33,150 |
| District of Columbia | $58,390 | $59,310 | $40,210 | $75,300 | 1,020 |
| Florida | $58,390 | $59,810 | $41,250 | $76,960 | 21,290 |
| Illinois | $58,390 | $59,980 | $41,250 | $75,300 | 15,240 |
| Maryland | $58,390 | $60,390 | $41,250 | $76,880 | 6,630 |
| Minnesota | $58,390 | $60,990 | $42,390 | $78,460 | 5,860 |
| Nebraska | $58,390 | $60,020 | $42,390 | $77,940 | 2,120 |
| Nevada | $58,390 | $59,450 | $40,210 | $75,300 | 2,640 |
| New York | $58,390 | $60,250 | $41,250 | $75,300 | 21,000 |
| Rhode Island | $58,390 | $59,770 | $41,250 | $75,300 | 1,260 |
| Texas | $58,390 | $59,740 | $41,250 | $78,270 | 27,180 |
| Utah | $58,390 | $60,330 | $42,390 | $76,880 | 2,430 |
| Virginia | $58,390 | $60,910 | $42,390 | $82,160 | 8,110 |
| Washington | $58,390 | $60,050 | $42,390 | $75,520 | 6,660 |
| Indiana | $57,910 | $59,870 | $42,390 | $78,270 | 7,020 |
| Iowa | $57,820 | $59,740 | $42,390 | $77,940 | 3,710 |
| New Jersey | $57,490 | $60,000 | $41,250 | $75,300 | 10,130 |
| North Dakota | $57,490 | $58,990 | $42,390 | $75,520 | 830 |
| Ohio | $57,490 | $59,930 | $42,390 | $75,960 | 13,070 |
| Oklahoma | $57,490 | $59,570 | $42,390 | $78,980 | 4,160 |
| Connecticut | $57,470 | $59,620 | $41,250 | $75,300 | 4,670 |
| New Hampshire | $57,470 | $60,320 | $42,390 | $81,000 | 1,540 |
| Wisconsin | $57,470 | $60,140 | $42,390 | $80,080 | 6,610 |
| North Carolina | $57,200 | $60,120 | $42,390 | $83,740 | 11,300 |
| Tennessee | $57,030 | $60,050 | $42,390 | $84,200 | 7,370 |
| Delaware | $56,660 | $60,200 | $42,390 | $81,000 | 1,140 |
| Arkansas | $56,560 | $60,020 | $42,390 | $81,830 | 3,110 |
| Michigan | $56,450 | $59,010 | $41,250 | $75,440 | 12,010 |
| Missouri | $56,450 | $59,570 | $42,390 | $78,270 | 7,500 |
| Colorado | $56,330 | $59,750 | $42,390 | $75,300 | 5,180 |
| Kansas | $56,330 | $59,240 | $42,390 | $76,880 | 3,310 |
| Kentucky | $56,330 | $59,650 | $42,390 | $81,000 | 4,710 |
| Maine | $56,330 | $59,790 | $42,390 | $81,000 | 1,620 |
| Montana | $56,330 | $59,170 | $42,390 | $76,790 | 830 |
| Oregon | $56,330 | $58,780 | $42,390 | $75,300 | 3,810 |
| Pennsylvania | $56,330 | $59,190 | $41,250 | $75,300 | 14,490 |
| Vermont | $56,330 | $59,330 | $42,390 | $81,000 | 730 |
| Idaho | $55,930 | $59,170 | $42,390 | $82,370 | 1,680 |
| Louisiana | $55,930 | $58,950 | $41,250 | $78,980 | 5,260 |
| South Carolina | $55,930 | $59,240 | $42,390 | $83,740 | 5,540 |
| New Mexico | $55,540 | $58,880 | $41,250 | $76,880 | 1,660 |
| West Virginia | $55,540 | $58,660 | $42,390 | $79,560 | 1,830 |
| Alabama | $55,200 | $59,310 | $42,390 | $84,200 | 5,940 |
| Alaska | $54,270 | $57,320 | $41,250 | $75,300 | 480 |
| Georgia | $54,270 | $58,730 | $42,390 | $81,620 | 11,090 |
| Hawaii | $54,270 | $58,680 | $41,250 | $75,300 | 1,290 |
| Wyoming | $54,270 | $57,570 | $41,250 | $75,300 | 450 |
| Mississippi | $53,600 | $58,510 | $42,390 | $83,750 | 3,440 |
Recruiters and job boards use several alternate titles for postal service mail carriers. Knowing these variants widens your job search — listings for Carrier or Carrier Associate frequently describe the same role. The list below is a sample of the most common industry variants.
This data helps you understand how Postal Service Mail Carriers compares to others in the 43 category. Use it to make informed decisions based on verified data from BLS OEWS 2024 + O*NET 29.0.
careers with the closest data values to Postal Service Mail Carriers
The CertifyWize editorial team aggregates and verifies careers data from BLS OEWS 2024 + O*NET 29.0. Every statistic on this site is cross-referenced against the official source before publication, with quarterly re-verification cycles.
Read our full methodology or contact us with corrections.
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