Mail Clerks and Mail Machine Operators, Except Postal Service Salary in Columbia, SC
The median pay for a mail clerks and mail machine operators, except postal service in Columbia, SC is $35,700/year ($17.16/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $30K at the entry level to $46K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 93.66), which stretches that salary to about $38,117 in buying power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,276/month — about 52.4% of take-home, which is tight.
So what does $36K get you in Columbia?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Columbia’s Regional Price Parity (93.66). Rent from HUD Fair Market Rents. Taxes estimated for single filer, standard deduction. * Healthcare is the employee-paid share only (premiums + out-of-pocket). Actual costs vary by coverage type: employer-sponsored, ACA marketplace, or uninsured.
About mail clerks and mail machine operators, except postal services
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Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Columbia, SC
Entry-level mail clerks and mail machine operators, except postal services (10th percentile) start around $30K. Mid-career wages sit at $36K. Top earners bring in $46K or more, a $16K spread from bottom to top.
Mail Clerks and Mail Machine Operators, Except Postal Service pay across states
Median income ranked highest to lowest, compared to the national figure
| State | Median salary | vs. national | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| District of Columbia | $48K | +26% | 380 |
| Massachusetts | $46K | +21% | 1,360 |
| Hawaii | $45K | +17% | 190 |
| Washington | $44K | +16% | 1,440 |
| Vermont | $43K | +14% | N/A |
| California | $43K | +12% | 4,880 |
| Minnesota | $43K | +12% | 1,510 |
| Rhode Island | $42K | +11% | 120 |
| Connecticut | $42K | +11% | 820 |
| New York | $42K | +9% | 5,660 |
| Oregon | $41K | +9% | 490 |
| Utah | $41K | +8% | 790 |
| Idaho | $41K | +7% | 140 |
| New Jersey | $41K | +6% | 3,490 |
| New Hampshire | $40K | +5% | 280 |
| Maine | $40K | +5% | 220 |
| Maryland | $39K | +3% | 1,630 |
| Nebraska | $39K | +3% | 270 |
| Alaska | $39K | +2% | 110 |
| Nevada | $39K | +2% | 530 |
| New Mexico | $39K | +2% | 130 |
| Indiana | $39K | +2% | 1,350 |
| Missouri | $38K | +0% | 1,180 |
| Ohio | $38K | -0% | 2,150 |
| Georgia | $38K | -1% | 3,340 |
| Florida | $38K | -1% | 3,350 |
| Montana | $38K | -2% | 170 |
| North Dakota | $37K | -2% | 150 |
| Texas | $37K | -3% | 4,210 |
| Iowa | $37K | -3% | 770 |
| South Dakota | $37K | -3% | 210 |
| Illinois | $37K | -3% | 3,480 |
| Arkansas | $37K | -3% | 390 |
| Wisconsin | $37K | -4% | 1,560 |
| North Carolina | $36K | -5% | 1,450 |
| Oklahoma | $36K | -5% | 700 |
| Delaware | $36K | -6% | 620 |
| Pennsylvania | $36K | -6% | 3,790 |
| Alabama | $36K | -6% | 420 |
| Kentucky | $36K | -7% | 560 |
| Arizona | $36K | -7% | 910 |
| Michigan | $35K | -7% | 1,850 |
| Kansas | $35K | -8% | 590 |
| Tennessee | $35K | -9% | 990 |
| Virginia | $34K | -10% | 1,550 |
| South Carolina | $33K | -13% | 530 |
| Wyoming | $33K | -14% | 130 |
| West Virginia | $32K | -15% | 430 |
| Mississippi | $31K | -18% | 300 |
| Louisiana | $27K | -28% | 360 |
Showing 1–10 of 50 states
BLS does not publish data for every state when sample sizes are too small
Track mail clerks and mail machine operators, except postal service salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Columbia numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
How much do mail clerks and mail machine operators, except postal services make in Columbia, SC?
The median is $35,700 a year, that works out to about $17 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $30,160, and experienced mail clerks and mail machine operators, except postal services can clear $45,970. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $36K enough to live in Columbia?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $2,506/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,276/month, which eats 50.9% of your paycheck. That's above the 30% rule of thumb, housing will be a stretch at the median salary, though you can manage with roommates or a smaller place.
How far does a mail clerks and mail machine operators, except postal service salary go in Columbia?
Columbia has a Regional Price Parity of 93.66 (100 is the national average). That's below average, your money stretches further here than the raw salary number suggests. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median mail clerks and mail machine operators, except postal service salary is worth about $38,117 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do mail clerks and mail machine operators, except postal services get paid the most?
The table above ranks every state by median pay for this role. Keep in mind that the highest-paying states tend to have the highest costs of living, so the top salary doesn't always mean the most money in your pocket.