Postal Service Mail Sorters, Processors, and Processing Machine Operators salary in Iowa
Postal Service Mail Sorters, Processors, and Processing Machine Operators in Iowa earn a median of $60,530 a year ($29.10 an hour), based on BLS data for 1,040 workers.
Pay ranges from $42,600 for the lowest-paid 10% to $76,360 for the top 10%. That is 4% higher than the national median of $58,470. Iowa ranks 3rd of 51 states for postal service mail sorters, processors, and processing machine operators pay, one of the best-paying states for this job. There are 0.67 postal service mail sorters, processors, and processing machine operators per 1,000 jobs here — close to the national average. The average (mean) salary is $60,640, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for postal service mail sorters, processors, and processing machine operators in Iowa
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $42,600 | $20.48 |
| 25th percentile | $50,770 | $24.41 |
| Median | $60,530 | $29.10 |
| 75th percentile | $75,030 | $36.07 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $76,360 | $36.71 |
| Average (mean) | $60,640 | $29.16 |
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 | $5,044.17 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $2,522.08 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $2,328.08 |
| Weekly | $1,164.04 |
| Hourly | $29.10 |
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 Iowa
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA | $61,570 | 60 |
| Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA | $60,530 | 840 |
| Omaha, NE-IA | $59,490 | 520 |
| Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL | $58,470 | 100 |
| Cedar Rapids, IA | $57,430 | 120 |
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 Iowa
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Shipping, Receiving, and Inventory Clerks | $47,590 | $22.88 |
| Postal Service Mail Carrier | $59,880 | $28.79 |
| Production, Planning, and Expediting Clerks | $60,320 | $29.00 |
| Dispatchers, Except Police, Fire, and Ambulance | $47,000 | $22.60 |
| Postal Service Clerk | $59,970 | $28.83 |
| Public Safety Telecommunicator | $56,770 | $27.30 |
| Cargo and Freight Agents | $48,370 | $23.25 |
| Couriers and Messengers | $38,460 | $18.49 |
| Weighers, Measurers, Checkers, and Samplers, Recordkeeping | $47,180 | $22.68 |
| Meter Readers, Utilities | $60,940 | $29.30 |
| Customer Service Representative | $46,090 | $22.16 |
| Office Clerks, General | $44,310 | $21.30 |
| Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks | $48,180 | $23.17 |
| Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive | $45,150 | $21.71 |
More: Office and Administrative Support Occupations · all salaries in Iowa
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 Iowa?
The median salary for postal service mail sorters, processors, and processing machine operators in Iowa is $60,530 a year, or $29.10 an hour. Pay ranges from $42,600 for the lowest-paid 10% to $76,360 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid postal service mail sorters, processors, and processing machine operators make in Iowa?
The top 10% of postal service mail sorters, processors, and processing machine operators in Iowa earn at least $76,360 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 Iowa?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $42,600 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 Iowa?
About 1,040 postal service mail sorters, processors, and processing machine operators are employed in Iowa, not counting the self-employed.