Postal Service Mail Sorters, Processors, and Processing Machine Operators Salary
The median pay for a postal service mail sorters, processors, and processing machine operators in Iowa is $60,530/year ($29.1/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $43K at the entry level to $76K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 88.86), which stretches that salary to about $68,118 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,064/month, or 26.8% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Iowa. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $61K get you in Iowa?
About postal service mail sorters, processors, and processing machine operators
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What this looks like in Iowa
Postal service mail sorters, processors, and processing machine operators pay in Iowa tracks closely to the national median, $61K locally vs. $58K nationwide, a 4% difference. Rent runs $1,064/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 26.8% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Regional Price Parity sits at 88.86 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 11% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Pay and costs are both near average, leaving limited margin for savings at the median wage.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Iowa
Entry-level postal service mail sorters, processors, and processing machine operators (10th percentile) start around $43K. Mid-career wages sit at $61K. Top earners bring in $76K or more, a $34K spread from bottom to top.
Postal Service Mail Sorters, Processors, and Processing Machine Operators salary by metro in Iowa
4 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Waterloo-Cedar Falls | $62K | +2% | 60 |
| Des Moines-West Des Moines | $61K | +0% | 840 |
| Davenport-Moline-Rock Island | $58K | -3% | 100 |
| Cedar Rapids | $57K | -5% | 120 |
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Frequently asked questions
Can a postal service mail sorters, processors, and processing machine operator afford a 2BR apartment alone in Iowa?
Yes — at the median salary of $61K, rent takes 26.8% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,064/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for postal service mail sorters, processors, and processing machine operators in Iowa?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new postal service mail sorters, processors, and processing machine operators typically earn — is $43K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,556/month. At HUD’s $1,064/month FMR, rent would take 42% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is postal service mail sorters, processors, and processing machine operator a high-paying job in Iowa?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $61K locally vs. $58K nationally, a 4% difference.
How does Iowa compare to the national average for postal service mail sorters, processors, and processing machine operators?
Iowa pays $61K median vs. the U.S. average of $58K — that’s +4%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 88.86), the purchasing-power equivalent is $68K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do postal service mail sorters, processors, and processing machine operators make in Iowa?
The median is $60,530 a year, that works out to about $29 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $42,600, and experienced postal service mail sorters, processors, and processing machine operators can clear $76,360. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $61K enough to live in Iowa?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $3,971/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,064/month, which eats 26.8% of your paycheck. That's under the 30% guideline most financial planners use, so the numbers work.
How far does a postal service mail sorters, processors, and processing machine operators salary go in Iowa?
Iowa has a Regional Price Parity of 88.86 (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 postal service mail sorters, processors, and processing machine operators salary is worth about $68,118 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do postal service mail sorters, processors, and processing machine operators 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.