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Postal Service Mail Carriers in California

Want to work as a Postal Service Mail Carriers in California? Here’s what the data says. 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.

What do Postal Service Mail Carriers Make in California?

For postal service mail carriers working in California, the typical annual salary is $58,390 per year (or about $28.07/hour).Annual wages span from $41,250 at the 10th percentile to $75,300 at the 90th percentile.

Wage Statistic	Annual	Hourly
10th percentile	$41,250	$19.83
25th percentile	$48,070	$23.11
Median (50th)	$58,390	$28.07
75th percentile	$75,300	$36.20
90th percentile	$75,300	$36.20

The job concentration index in California nationwide is 0.84, indicating fewer postal service mail carriers per worker than the national average.

National Wage Comparison

Nationally, postal service mail carriers earn a median of $63,650 per year ($30.60/hour), below the California median.

Employment Outlook

National employment for 195,931 postal service mail carriers nationwide. In California alone, around 33,150 people work in this role. That’s higher than the typical state, which employs around 4,670 postal service mail carriers.

Top California Metros for Postal Service Mail Carriers

The largest metro-area employers of postal service mail carriers in California.

Metro Area	Number Employed	Annual Median Salary
Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA	11,490	$59,610
San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA	4,750	$61,710
Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA	3,250	$57,490
San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA	2,950	$58,390
Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA	2,050	$60,760
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA	1,460	$60,440
Fresno, CA	860	$57,490
Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA	660	$64,540
Bakersfield-Delano, CA	630	$51,670
Stockton-Lodi, CA	580	$62,300
Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA	530	$56,130
Vallejo, CA	420	$55,390
Modesto, CA	390	$60,440
Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA	340	$58,390
Visalia, CA	330	$52,370
Salinas, CA	280	$61,480
San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA	260	$56,330
Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA	230	$57,030
Chico, CA	190	$55,020
Merced, CA	190	$59,160
Redding, CA	150	$53,600
Napa, CA	130	$64,540
Yuba City, CA	130	$59,510
El Centro, CA	120	$56,330
Hanford-Corcoran, CA	90	$54,350

Top States for Postal Service Mail Carriers Employment

These states have the highest employment of postal service mail carriers work.

State	Number Employed
California	33,150
Texas	27,180
Florida	21,290
New York	21,000
Illinois	15,240
Pennsylvania	14,490
Ohio	13,070
Michigan	12,010
North Carolina	11,300
Georgia	11,090
New Jersey	10,130
Virginia	8,110
Massachusetts	7,640
Missouri	7,500
Tennessee	7,370
Indiana	7,020
Washington	6,660
Maryland	6,630
Wisconsin	6,610
Alabama	5,940

Highest-Paying States for Postal Service Mail Carriers

These states pay the most for postal service mail carriers.

State	Annual Median Salary
South Dakota	$59,320
Massachusetts	$59,010
Arizona	$58,570
California	$58,390
Nevada	$58,390
Washington	$58,390
Illinois	$58,390
District of Columbia	$58,390
Maryland	$58,390
New York	$58,390

Skills

The most important postal service mail carriers skills, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:

Knowledge Areas

Important knowledge areas for this occupation, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:

Abilities

The abilities that matter most for postal service mail carriers, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:

Daily Tasks

Common tasks include:

• 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.
• Turn in money and receipts collected along mail routes.
• Leave notices telling patrons where to collect mail that could not be delivered.
• Maintain accurate records of deliveries.
• Bundle mail in preparation for delivery or transportation to relay boxes.

Work Activities

• Operating Vehicles, Mechanized Devices, or Equipment
• Performing General Physical Activities
• Handling and Moving Objects
• Getting Information
• Performing for or Working Directly with the Public
• Communicating with People Outside the Organization
• Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships
• Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates
• Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events
• Monitoring Processes, Materials, or Surroundings
• Documenting/Recording Information
• Making Decisions and Solving Problems

Tools & Technology

Technologies frequently used: Hot technologies: Microsoft Office software

Related Careers

Other careers like postal service mail carriers include:

• Transportation, Storage, and Distribution Managers
• Postmasters and Mail Superintendents
• Baggage Porters and Bellhops
• Counter and Rental Clerks
• Switchboard Operators, Including Answering Service
• Customer Service Representatives

Also Known As

Carrier, Carrier Associate, Carrier Driver, City Carrier, City Carrier Assistant (CCA), City Letter Carrier, City Mail Carrier, Clerk Carrier, Collector, Delivery Route Carrier, Delivery and Mail Sorter, Letter Carrier, Mail Carrier, Mail Carrier Technician, Mail Clerk.

References

• U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics — https://www.bls.gov/oes/
• O*NET Online — https://www.onetonline.org/
• BLS Employment Projections — https://www.bls.gov/emp/
• O*NET-SOC code: 43-5052.00