Mail Clerks and Mail Machine Operators, Except Postal Service salary in Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA
Mail Clerks and Mail Machine Operators, Except Postal Service in the Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA metro area earn a median of $35,720 a year ($17.17 an hour), based on BLS data for 400 workers.
Pay ranges from $30,690 for the lowest-paid 10% to $47,240 for the top 10%. That is 9% lower than the national median of $39,280. Pay here is about the same as the Iowa statewide median of $35,610. There are 0.98 mail clerks and mail machine operators, except postal service per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 2.8× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $38,270, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for mail clerks and mail machine operators, except postal service in Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $30,690 | $14.76 |
| 25th percentile | $31,650 | $15.22 |
| Median | $35,720 | $17.17 |
| 75th percentile | $43,950 | $21.13 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $47,240 | $22.71 |
| Average (mean) | $38,270 | $18.40 |
Half of mail clerks and mail machine operators, except postal service earn more than the median and half earn less. Percentiles show the spread: 10% earn less than the 10th percentile, and 10% earn more than the 90th.
Median paycheck, before taxes
| Pay period | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $2,976.67 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,488.33 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,373.85 |
| Weekly | $686.92 |
| Hourly | $17.17 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $35,720 salary, see how much house you can afford in Iowa at today's mortgage rates, or work out a payment with the mortgage calculator.
Mail Clerks and Mail Machine Operators, Except Postal Service salary in other metro areas nearby
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Iowa City, IA | $43,240 | 40 |
| Omaha, NE-IA | $40,590 | 140 |
| Cedar Rapids, IA | $38,050 | 50 |
| Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL | $32,140 | 80 |
Highest-paying states for mail clerks and mail machine operators, except postal service
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| District of Columbia | $49,240 |
| Massachusetts | $48,860 |
| Washington | $46,380 |
| Vermont | $45,380 |
| Utah | $45,150 |
| Minnesota | $44,840 |
| Maine | $44,780 |
| California | $44,410 |
| Connecticut | $43,970 |
| New Jersey | $43,700 |
See Mail Clerks and Mail Machine Operators, Except Postal Service pay in every state or the Iowa statewide figures.
Related jobs in Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Office Clerks, General | $46,540 | $22.38 |
| Insurance Claims and Policy Processing Clerks | $46,770 | $22.48 |
| Office and Administrative Support Workers, All Other | $66,710 | $32.07 |
| Data Entry Keyer | $42,580 | $20.47 |
| Office Machine Operators, Except Computer | $38,550 | $18.53 |
| Word Processors and Typists | $45,100 | $21.68 |
| Customer Service Representative | $48,880 | $23.50 |
| Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks | $50,610 | $24.33 |
| Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive | $47,500 | $22.84 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support Workers | $71,690 | $34.47 |
| Medical Secretaries and Administrative Assistants | $42,160 | $20.27 |
| Executive Secretaries and Executive Administrative Assistants | $64,990 | $31.25 |
| Shipping, Receiving, and Inventory Clerks | $47,300 | $22.74 |
| Receptionists and Information Clerks | $37,910 | $18.23 |
More: Office and Administrative Support Occupations · all salaries in Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 43-9051. Wages include base pay, tips, commissions and shift pay, but not overtime, bonuses or benefits, and exclude the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a mail clerks and mail machine operators, except postal service make in Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA?
The median salary for mail clerks and mail machine operators, except postal service in the Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA metro area is $35,720 a year, or $17.17 an hour. Pay ranges from $30,690 for the lowest-paid 10% to $47,240 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid mail clerks and mail machine operators, except postal service make in Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA?
The top 10% of mail clerks and mail machine operators, except postal service in the Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA metro area earn at least $47,240 a year. The top 25% earn $43,950 or more.
What is the starting pay for mail clerks and mail machine operators, except postal service in Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $30,690 a year, and a quarter of mail clerks and mail machine operators, except postal service earn $31,650 or less.
How many mail clerks and mail machine operators, except postal service work in Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA?
About 400 mail clerks and mail machine operators, except postal service are employed in the Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA metro area, not counting the self-employed.