Postal Service Mail Carrier salary in Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA
Postal Service Mail Carriers in the Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA metro area earn a median of $64,250 a year ($30.89 an hour), based on BLS data for 690 workers.
Pay ranges from $42,390 for the lowest-paid 10% to $81,040 for the top 10%. That is 6% higher than the national median of $60,550. Pay here is 7% higher than the Iowa statewide median of $59,880. There are 1.7 postal service mail carriers per 1,000 jobs here — close to the national average. The average (mean) salary is $64,110, close to the median.
Pay range for postal service mail carriers in Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $42,390 | $20.38 |
| 25th percentile | $52,190 | $25.09 |
| Median | $64,250 | $30.89 |
| 75th percentile | $77,380 | $37.20 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $81,040 | $38.96 |
| Average (mean) | $64,110 | $30.82 |
Half of postal service mail carriers 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 | $5,354.17 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $2,677.08 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $2,471.15 |
| Weekly | $1,235.58 |
| Hourly | $30.89 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $64,250 salary, see how much house you can afford in Iowa at today's mortgage rates, or work out a payment with the mortgage calculator.
Postal Service Mail Carrier salary in other metro areas nearby
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Iowa City, IA | $64,890 | 150 |
| Dubuque, IA | $62,070 | 110 |
| Omaha, NE-IA | $62,070 | 1,000 |
| Sioux City, IA-NE-SD | $61,130 | 170 |
| Ames, IA | $60,840 | 130 |
| Cedar Rapids, IA | $60,270 | 320 |
| Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA | $59,880 | 200 |
| Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL | $57,700 | 460 |
Highest-paying states for postal service mail carriers
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| District of Columbia | $64,250 |
| Rhode Island | $63,610 |
| Arizona | $62,390 |
| California | $62,090 |
| Illinois | $62,070 |
| Maryland | $62,070 |
| Massachusetts | $62,070 |
| Nevada | $62,070 |
| New York | $62,070 |
| Virginia | $62,070 |
See Postal Service Mail Carrier pay in every state or the Iowa statewide figures.
Related jobs in Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Shipping, Receiving, and Inventory Clerks | $47,300 | $22.74 |
| Postal Service Mail Sorters, Processors, and Processing Machine Operators | $60,530 | $29.10 |
| Production, Planning, and Expediting Clerks | $60,320 | $29.00 |
| Dispatchers, Except Police, Fire, and Ambulance | $44,730 | $21.50 |
| Cargo and Freight Agents | $44,240 | $21.27 |
| Couriers and Messengers | $39,270 | $18.88 |
| Public Safety Telecommunicator | $64,380 | $30.95 |
| Postal Service Clerk | $61,710 | $29.67 |
| Weighers, Measurers, Checkers, and Samplers, Recordkeeping | $50,490 | $24.27 |
| Customer Service Representative | $48,880 | $23.50 |
| Office Clerks, General | $46,540 | $22.38 |
| 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 |
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 43-5052. 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 postal service mail carrier make in Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA?
The median salary for postal service mail carriers in the Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA metro area is $64,250 a year, or $30.89 an hour. Pay ranges from $42,390 for the lowest-paid 10% to $81,040 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid postal service mail carriers make in Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA?
The top 10% of postal service mail carriers in the Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA metro area earn at least $81,040 a year. The top 25% earn $77,380 or more.
What is the starting pay for postal service mail carriers in Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $42,390 a year, and a quarter of postal service mail carriers earn $52,190 or less.
How many postal service mail carriers work in Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA?
About 690 postal service mail carriers are employed in the Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA metro area, not counting the self-employed.