Postal Service Mail Sorters, Processors, and Processing Machine Operators salary in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV
Postal Service Mail Sorters, Processors, and Processing Machine Operators in the Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metro area earn a median of $59,490 a year ($28.60 an hour), based on BLS data for 2,260 workers.
Pay ranges from $45,530 for the lowest-paid 10% to $76,360 for the top 10%. That is 2% higher than the national median of $58,470. Pay here is 11% lower than the District of Columbia statewide median of $66,750. There are 0.72 postal service mail sorters, processors, and processing machine operators per 1,000 jobs here — close to the national average. The average (mean) salary is $61,510, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for postal service mail sorters, processors, and processing machine operators in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $45,530 | $21.89 |
| 25th percentile | $50,770 | $24.41 |
| Median | $59,490 | $28.60 |
| 75th percentile | $75,030 | $36.07 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $76,360 | $36.71 |
| Average (mean) | $61,510 | $29.57 |
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 | $4,957.50 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $2,478.75 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $2,288.08 |
| Weekly | $1,144.04 |
| Hourly | $28.60 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $59,490 salary, see how much house you can afford in District of Columbia 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Charleston, WV | $59,490 | 360 |
| Roanoke, VA | $59,490 | 230 |
| Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC | $59,490 | 330 |
| Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD | $58,470 | 1,220 |
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | $57,430 | 2,870 |
| Richmond, VA | $55,350 | 1,090 |
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 District of Columbia statewide figures.
Related jobs in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Shipping, Receiving, and Inventory Clerks | $47,620 | $22.90 |
| Postal Service Mail Carrier | $64,250 | $30.89 |
| Production, Planning, and Expediting Clerks | $60,990 | $29.32 |
| Dispatchers, Except Police, Fire, and Ambulance | $57,160 | $27.48 |
| Public Safety Telecommunicator | $61,260 | $29.45 |
| Postal Service Clerk | $64,630 | $31.07 |
| Couriers and Messengers | $44,840 | $21.56 |
| Weighers, Measurers, Checkers, and Samplers, Recordkeeping | $48,760 | $23.44 |
| Cargo and Freight Agents | $56,300 | $27.07 |
| Meter Readers, Utilities | $50,810 | $24.43 |
| Office Clerks, General | $51,880 | $24.94 |
| Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive | $53,660 | $25.80 |
| Customer Service Representative | $46,220 | $22.22 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support Workers | $76,400 | $36.73 |
More: Office and Administrative Support Occupations · all salaries in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV
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 Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV?
The median salary for postal service mail sorters, processors, and processing machine operators in the Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metro area is $59,490 a year, or $28.60 an hour. Pay ranges from $45,530 for the lowest-paid 10% to $76,360 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid postal service mail sorters, processors, and processing machine operators make in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV?
The top 10% of postal service mail sorters, processors, and processing machine operators in the Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metro area earn at least $76,360 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 Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $45,530 a year, and a quarter of postal service mail sorters, processors, and processing machine operators earn $50,770 or less.
How many postal service mail sorters, processors, and processing machine operators work in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV?
About 2,260 postal service mail sorters, processors, and processing machine operators are employed in the Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metro area, not counting the self-employed.