Postal Service Mail Sorters, Processors, and Processing Machine Operators salary in Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA
Postal Service Mail Sorters, Processors, and Processing Machine Operators in the Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA metro area earn a median of $61,710 a year ($29.67 an hour), based on BLS data for 170 workers.
Pay ranges from $48,880 for the lowest-paid 10% to $75,280 for the top 10%. That is 6% higher than the national median of $58,470. Pay here is 4% higher than the California statewide median of $59,490. There are 0.85 postal service mail sorters, processors, and processing machine operators per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 1.3× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $63,000, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for postal service mail sorters, processors, and processing machine operators in Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $48,880 | $23.50 |
| 25th percentile | $54,540 | $26.22 |
| Median | $61,710 | $29.67 |
| 75th percentile | $75,030 | $36.07 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $75,280 | $36.19 |
| Average (mean) | $63,000 | $30.29 |
Half of postal service mail sorters, processors, and processing machine operators 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 | $5,142.50 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $2,571.25 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $2,373.46 |
| Weekly | $1,186.73 |
| Hourly | $29.67 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $61,710 salary, see how much house you can afford in California at today's mortgage rates, or work out a payment with the mortgage calculator.
Postal Service Mail Sorters, Processors, and Processing Machine Operators salary in other metro areas nearby
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $63,650 | 1,510 |
| Fresno, CA | $60,530 | 170 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $60,200 | 1,140 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | $60,200 | 740 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $60,200 | 420 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $59,490 | 4,700 |
| Redding, CA | $59,490 | 40 |
| Bakersfield-Delano, CA | $58,470 | 220 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | $58,470 | 770 |
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA | $58,470 | 100 |
Highest-paying states for postal service mail sorters, processors, and processing machine operators
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| District of Columbia | $66,750 |
| South Dakota | $61,570 |
| Iowa | $60,530 |
| New Jersey | $60,530 |
| Wyoming | $60,530 |
| North Dakota | $59,840 |
| Minnesota | $59,740 |
| California | $59,490 |
| Hawaii | $59,490 |
| Maine | $59,490 |
See Postal Service Mail Sorters, Processors, and Processing Machine Operators pay in every state or the California statewide figures.
Related jobs in Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Shipping, Receiving, and Inventory Clerks | $48,100 | $23.13 |
| Production, Planning, and Expediting Clerks | $67,480 | $32.44 |
| Postal Service Mail Carrier | $61,130 | $29.39 |
| Dispatchers, Except Police, Fire, and Ambulance | $50,130 | $24.10 |
| Couriers and Messengers | $39,630 | $19.05 |
| Weighers, Measurers, Checkers, and Samplers, Recordkeeping | $46,120 | $22.17 |
| Public Safety Telecommunicator | $84,410 | $40.58 |
| Postal Service Clerk | $65,600 | $31.54 |
| Office Clerks, General | $55,620 | $26.74 |
| Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive | $51,800 | $24.90 |
| Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks | $60,170 | $28.93 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support Workers | $76,370 | $36.72 |
| Customer Service Representative | $49,080 | $23.59 |
| Medical Secretaries and Administrative Assistants | $49,730 | $23.91 |
More: Office and Administrative Support Occupations · all salaries in Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 43-5053. 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 sorters, processors, and processing machine operators make in Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA?
The median salary for postal service mail sorters, processors, and processing machine operators in the Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA metro area is $61,710 a year, or $29.67 an hour. Pay ranges from $48,880 for the lowest-paid 10% to $75,280 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid postal service mail sorters, processors, and processing machine operators make in Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA?
The top 10% of postal service mail sorters, processors, and processing machine operators in the Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA metro area earn at least $75,280 a year. The top 25% earn $75,030 or more.
What is the starting pay for postal service mail sorters, processors, and processing machine operators in Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $48,880 a year, and a quarter of postal service mail sorters, processors, and processing machine operators earn $54,540 or less.
How many postal service mail sorters, processors, and processing machine operators work in Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA?
About 170 postal service mail sorters, processors, and processing machine operators are employed in the Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA metro area, not counting the self-employed.