Postal Service Mail Sorters, Processors, and Processing Machine Operators vs. Office Clerks, General: Who Earns More?
Postal Service Mail Sorters, Processors, and Processing Machine Operators out-earn Office Clerks, General by $13K a year at the national median, per BLS OEWS May 2025. Postal Service Mail Sorters, Processors, and Processing Machine Operators land at $58,470 and Office Clerks, General at $45,010. The education gap is real: postal service mail sorters, processors, and processing machine operator programs typically require high school diploma or equivalent, while office clerks, general programs require high school diploma or equivalent. Top-paying state for Postal Service Mail Sorters, Processors, and Processing Machine Operators is District of Columbia ($66,750); for Office Clerks, General it's District of Columbia ($55,040).
Pay by state
States where both occupations have BLS data, sorted by Postal Service Mail Sorters, Processors, and Processing Machine Operators median pay.
Source: BLS OEWS May 2025. Highlighted value is higher in each row.
Common questions
Who earns more, Postal Service Mail Sorters, Processors, and Processing Machine Operators or Office Clerks, General?
Postal Service Mail Sorters, Processors, and Processing Machine Operators earn more nationally. The median is $58,470 for Postal Service Mail Sorters, Processors, and Processing Machine Operators versus $45,010 for Office Clerks, General, a difference of $13K. Per BLS OEWS May 2025.
Which has better job growth, Postal Service Mail Sorters, Processors, and Processing Machine Operators or Office Clerks, General?
Office Clerks, General has the better 10-year outlook at -6.7% projected growth, compared to -8.4% for the other field. Both are from BLS Employment Projections.
Which requires more education, Postal Service Mail Sorters, Processors, and Processing Machine Operators or Office Clerks, General?
Postal Service Mail Sorters, Processors, and Processing Machine Operators typically requires high school diploma or equivalent. Office Clerks, General requires high school diploma or equivalent. Education requirements vary by employer and state licensing board.
Where do Postal Service Mail Sorters, Processors, and Processing Machine Operators get paid the most?
District of Columbia is the top-paying state for Postal Service Mail Sorters, Processors, and Processing Machine Operators at $66,750/year, per BLS OEWS May 2025. Major metro areas within that state typically pay even more than the state average.
How does Postal Service Mail Sorters, Processors, and Processing Machine Operators vs. Office Clerks, General pay differ by state?
The gap varies significantly by state. In District of Columbia, Postal Service Mail Sorters, Processors, and Processing Machine Operators earn $66,750 vs. $55,040 for Office Clerks, General. See the state comparison table on this page for the full picture.