Mail Clerks and Mail Machine Operators, Except Postal Service Salary
The median pay for a mail clerks and mail machine operators, except postal service in Traverse City, MI is $34,670/year ($16.67/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $26K at the entry level to $39K for experienced workers.
So what does $35K get you in Traverse City?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Traverse City’s Regional Price Parity (93.4). 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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What this looks like in Traverse City
Pay for mail clerks and mail machine operators, except postal service in Traverse City runs about 12% below the U.S. median of $39K. The catch: housing math doesn't keep up. A 2-bedroom at the HUD median rents for $1,224/month, which is 51.7% of the median worker's take-home, past the 30% guideline most planners use. Regional Price Parity sits at 93.4 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 7% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. That combination, below-market pay with high housing costs, makes this a financially demanding market for mail clerks and mail machine operators, except postal services.
Compared to nearby metros
Median pay for mail clerks and mail machine operators, except postal services in metros near Traverse City, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| Detroit-Warren-Dearborn | $37K | , |
| Grand Rapids-Wyoming-Kentwood | $39K | , |
| Lansing-East Lansing | $39K | , |
| Ann Arbor | $38K | , |
COL-adjusted = median salary ÷ (BEA Regional Price Parity ÷ 100). Expresses purchasing power in national-average dollars.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Traverse City, MI
Entry-level mail clerks and mail machine operators, except postal services (10th percentile) start around $26K. Mid-career wages sit at $35K. Top earners bring in $39K or more, a $14K 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
View Mail Clerks and Mail Machine Operators, Except Postal Service salary in all states
| State | Median salary | vs. national | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| District of Columbia | $49K | +25% | 310 |
| Massachusetts | $49K | +24% | 1,050 |
| Washington | $46K | +18% | 1,360 |
| Vermont | $45K | +16% | 120 |
| Utah | $45K | +15% | 460 |
| Minnesota | $45K | +14% | 1,170 |
| Maine | $45K | +14% | 160 |
| California | $44K | +13% | 4,710 |
| Connecticut | $44K | +12% | 680 |
| New Jersey | $44K | +11% | 2,210 |
| Oregon | $43K | +11% | 370 |
| Colorado | $43K | +11% | 880 |
| New York | $42K | +7% | 5,990 |
| New Hampshire | $41K | +5% | 280 |
| Nevada | $41K | +3% | 420 |
| Maryland | $40K | +3% | 1,580 |
| New Mexico | $40K | +2% | 100 |
| Nebraska | $40K | +2% | 240 |
| Idaho | $40K | +2% | 110 |
| Florida | $39K | +0% | 2,470 |
| Montana | $39K | -1% | 180 |
| Indiana | $38K | -2% | 1,310 |
| Ohio | $38K | -2% | 2,210 |
| Texas | $38K | -2% | 3,250 |
| Rhode Island | $38K | -2% | 310 |
| Hawaii | $38K | -3% | 200 |
| Arizona | $38K | -3% | 810 |
| Illinois | $38K | -3% | 3,150 |
| North Dakota | $38K | -3% | 110 |
| Missouri | $38K | -3% | 1,140 |
| Pennsylvania | $38K | -3% | 2,810 |
| Arkansas | $38K | -3% | 330 |
| Kentucky | $38K | -4% | 530 |
| North Carolina | $38K | -4% | 1,280 |
| Wisconsin | $38K | -4% | 1,310 |
| South Dakota | $38K | -4% | 320 |
| Michigan | $37K | -6% | 1,660 |
| Virginia | $37K | -6% | 1,610 |
| South Carolina | $37K | -6% | 580 |
| Oklahoma | $37K | -7% | 810 |
| Delaware | $36K | -7% | 630 |
| Alabama | $36K | -8% | 470 |
| Georgia | $36K | -8% | 1,850 |
| Kansas | $36K | -8% | 750 |
| Iowa | $36K | -9% | 830 |
| Tennessee | $36K | -9% | 760 |
| West Virginia | $35K | -11% | 270 |
| Louisiana | $35K | -11% | 590 |
| Mississippi | $34K | -13% | 270 |
| Wyoming | $33K | -16% | 90 |
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 Traverse City numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a mail clerks and mail machine operators, except postal service afford a 2BR apartment alone in Traverse City?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $35K, rent takes 51.7% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,224/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $700/month in rent — so roommates or a 1-bedroom would ease the math significantly.
What’s the entry-level salary for mail clerks and mail machine operators, except postal services in Traverse City?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new mail clerks and mail machine operators, except postal services typically earn — is $26K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $1,558/month. At HUD’s $1,224/month FMR, rent would take 79% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is mail clerks and mail machine operators, except postal service a high-paying job in Traverse City?
Local pay runs 12% below the national median — $35K here vs. $39K nationally. Cost of living is 7% below the national average, which narrows that gap in real purchasing power.
How does Traverse City compare to the national average for mail clerks and mail machine operators, except postal services?
Traverse City pays $35K median vs. the U.S. average of $39K — that’s -12%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 93.4), the purchasing-power equivalent is $37K — below the national median.
How much do mail clerks and mail machine operators, except postal services make in Traverse City, MI?
The median is $34,670 a year, that works out to about $17 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $25,960, and experienced mail clerks and mail machine operators, except postal services can clear $39,480. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $35K enough to live in Traverse City?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $2,369/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,224/month, which eats 51.7% 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 Traverse City?
Traverse City has a Regional Price Parity of 100 (100 is the national average). That's right at the national average. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median mail clerks and mail machine operators, except postal service salary is worth about $37,120 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.