Postal Service Mail Sorters, Processors, and Processing Machine Operators salary in California
Postal Service Mail Sorters, Processors, and Processing Machine Operators in California earn a median of $59,490 a year ($28.60 an hour), based on BLS data for 10,090 workers.
Pay ranges from $47,440 for the lowest-paid 10% to $75,280 for the top 10%. That is 2% higher than the national median of $58,470. California ranks 8th of 51 states for postal service mail sorters, processors, and processing machine operators pay. There are 0.55 postal service mail sorters, processors, and processing machine operators per 1,000 jobs here — close to the national average. The average (mean) salary is $61,530, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for postal service mail sorters, processors, and processing machine operators in California
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $47,440 | $22.81 |
| 25th percentile | $50,770 | $24.41 |
| Median | $59,490 | $28.60 |
| 75th percentile | $75,030 | $36.07 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $75,280 | $36.19 |
| Average (mean) | $61,530 | $29.58 |
Half of postal service mail sorters, processors, and processing machine operators earn more than the median and half earn less. Percentiles show the spread: 10% earn less than the 10th percentile, and 10% earn more than the 90th.
Median paycheck, before taxes
| Pay period | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $4,957.50 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $2,478.75 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $2,288.08 |
| Weekly | $1,144.04 |
| Hourly | $28.60 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Postal Service Mail Sorters, Processors, and Processing Machine Operators salary in cities in California
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $63,650 | 1,510 |
| Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA | $61,710 | 170 |
| Fresno, CA | $60,530 | 170 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $60,200 | 1,140 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | $60,200 | 740 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $60,200 | 420 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $59,490 | 4,700 |
| Redding, CA | $59,490 | 40 |
| Bakersfield-Delano, CA | $58,470 | 220 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | $58,470 | 770 |
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA | $58,470 | 100 |
Highest-paying states for postal service mail sorters, processors, and processing machine operators
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| District of Columbia | $66,750 |
| South Dakota | $61,570 |
| Iowa | $60,530 |
| New Jersey | $60,530 |
| Wyoming | $60,530 |
| North Dakota | $59,840 |
| Minnesota | $59,740 |
| California | $59,490 |
| Hawaii | $59,490 |
| Maine | $59,490 |
See Postal Service Mail Sorters, Processors, and Processing Machine Operators pay in every state.
Related jobs in California
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Shipping, Receiving, and Inventory Clerks | $46,520 | $22.36 |
| Production, Planning, and Expediting Clerks | $63,000 | $30.29 |
| Postal Service Mail Carrier | $62,090 | $29.85 |
| Dispatchers, Except Police, Fire, and Ambulance | $52,350 | $25.17 |
| Cargo and Freight Agents | $57,690 | $27.73 |
| Public Safety Telecommunicator | $80,120 | $38.52 |
| Weighers, Measurers, Checkers, and Samplers, Recordkeeping | $45,730 | $21.99 |
| Couriers and Messengers | $44,970 | $21.62 |
| Postal Service Clerk | $63,650 | $30.60 |
| Meter Readers, Utilities | $79,040 | $38.00 |
| Office Clerks, General | $48,460 | $23.30 |
| Customer Service Representative | $49,560 | $23.83 |
| Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive | $55,400 | $26.64 |
| Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks | $59,230 | $28.48 |
More: Office and Administrative Support Occupations · all salaries in California
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 43-5053. Wages include base pay, tips, commissions and shift pay, but not overtime, bonuses or benefits, and exclude the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a postal service mail sorters, processors, and processing machine operators make in California?
The median salary for postal service mail sorters, processors, and processing machine operators in California is $59,490 a year, or $28.60 an hour. Pay ranges from $47,440 for the lowest-paid 10% to $75,280 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid postal service mail sorters, processors, and processing machine operators make in California?
The top 10% of postal service mail sorters, processors, and processing machine operators in California earn at least $75,280 a year. The top 25% earn $75,030 or more.
What is the starting pay for postal service mail sorters, processors, and processing machine operators in California?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $47,440 a year, and a quarter of postal service mail sorters, processors, and processing machine operators earn $50,770 or less.
How many postal service mail sorters, processors, and processing machine operators work in California?
About 10,090 postal service mail sorters, processors, and processing machine operators are employed in California, not counting the self-employed.