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 South Dakota is $61,570/year ($29.6/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $49K at the entry level to $75K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 89.89), which stretches that salary to about $68,495 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,017/month, or 23.8% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across South Dakota. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $62K get you in South Dakota?
About postal service mail sorters, processors, and processing machine operators
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What this looks like in South Dakota
Postal service mail sorters, processors, and processing machine operators pay in South Dakota tracks closely to the national median, $62K locally vs. $58K nationwide, a 5% difference. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,017/month, 23.7% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Regional Price Parity sits at 89.89 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 10% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, South Dakota
Entry-level postal service mail sorters, processors, and processing machine operators (10th percentile) start around $49K. Mid-career wages sit at $62K. Top earners bring in $75K or more, a $26K spread from bottom to top.
Postal Service Mail Sorters, Processors, and Processing Machine Operators salary by metro in South Dakota
1 metro area with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sioux Falls | $61K | -2% | 140 |
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Frequently asked questions
Can a postal service mail sorters, processors, and processing machine operator afford a 2BR apartment alone in South Dakota?
Yes — at the median salary of $62K, rent takes 23.7% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,017/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 South Dakota?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new postal service mail sorters, processors, and processing machine operators typically earn — is $49K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,933/month. At HUD’s $1,017/month FMR, rent would take 35% 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 South Dakota?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $62K locally vs. $58K nationally, a 5% difference.
How does South Dakota compare to the national average for postal service mail sorters, processors, and processing machine operators?
South Dakota pays $62K median vs. the U.S. average of $58K — that’s +5%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 89.89), 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 South Dakota?
The median is $61,570 a year, that works out to about $30 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $48,880, and experienced postal service mail sorters, processors, and processing machine operators can clear $75,280. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $62K enough to live in South Dakota?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $4,293/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,017/month, which eats 23.7% 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 South Dakota?
South Dakota has a Regional Price Parity of 89.89 (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 $68,495 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.