Postal Service Mail Carrier salary in South Dakota
Postal Service Mail Carriers in South Dakota earn a median of $60,760 a year ($29.21 an hour), based on BLS data for 850 workers.
Pay ranges from $42,390 for the lowest-paid 10% to $81,040 for the top 10%. That is about the same as the national median of $60,550. South Dakota ranks 15th of 51 states for postal service mail carriers pay. There are 1.9 postal service mail carriers per 1,000 jobs here — close to the national average. The average (mean) salary is $61,420, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for postal service mail carriers in South Dakota
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $42,390 | $20.38 |
| 25th percentile | $44,160 | $21.23 |
| Median | $60,760 | $29.21 |
| 75th percentile | $75,190 | $36.15 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $81,040 | $38.96 |
| Average (mean) | $61,420 | $29.53 |
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 | $5,063.33 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $2,531.67 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $2,336.92 |
| Weekly | $1,168.46 |
| Hourly | $29.21 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $60,760 salary, see how much house you can afford in South Dakota at today's mortgage rates, or work out a payment with the mortgage calculator.
Postal Service Mail Carrier salary in cities in South Dakota
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Sioux Falls, SD-MN | $64,190 | 280 |
| Rapid City, SD | $62,340 | 100 |
| Sioux City, IA-NE-SD | $61,130 | 170 |
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 |
Related jobs in South Dakota
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Shipping, Receiving, and Inventory Clerks | $43,680 | $21.00 |
| Dispatchers, Except Police, Fire, and Ambulance | $43,920 | $21.12 |
| Production, Planning, and Expediting Clerks | $50,530 | $24.29 |
| Public Safety Telecommunicator | $47,900 | $23.03 |
| Postal Service Clerk | $58,470 | $28.11 |
| Weighers, Measurers, Checkers, and Samplers, Recordkeeping | $44,430 | $21.36 |
| Postal Service Mail Sorters, Processors, and Processing Machine Operators | $61,570 | $29.60 |
| Cargo and Freight Agents | $64,340 | $30.94 |
| Couriers and Messengers | $31,650 | $15.22 |
| Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks | $46,340 | $22.28 |
| Customer Service Representative | $40,650 | $19.54 |
| Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive | $41,700 | $20.05 |
| Receptionists and Information Clerks | $38,280 | $18.40 |
| Hotel, Motel, and Resort Desk Clerks | $30,550 | $14.69 |
More: Office and Administrative Support Occupations · all salaries in South Dakota
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 South Dakota?
The median salary for postal service mail carriers in South Dakota is $60,760 a year, or $29.21 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 South Dakota?
The top 10% of postal service mail carriers in South Dakota earn at least $81,040 a year. The top 25% earn $75,190 or more.
What is the starting pay for postal service mail carriers in South Dakota?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $42,390 a year, and a quarter of postal service mail carriers earn $44,160 or less.
How many postal service mail carriers work in South Dakota?
About 850 postal service mail carriers are employed in South Dakota, not counting the self-employed.