Postal Service Mail Sorters, Processors, and Processing Machine Operators salary in Tennessee
Postal Service Mail Sorters, Processors, and Processing Machine Operators in Tennessee earn a median of $56,390 a year ($27.11 an hour), based on BLS data for 2,850 workers.
Pay ranges from $42,600 for the lowest-paid 10% to $75,280 for the top 10%. That is 4% lower than the national median of $58,470. Tennessee ranks 44th of 51 states for postal service mail sorters, processors, and processing machine operators pay. There are 0.87 postal service mail sorters, processors, and processing machine operators per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 1.3× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $56,980, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for postal service mail sorters, processors, and processing machine operators in Tennessee
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $42,600 | $20.48 |
| 25th percentile | $47,440 | $22.81 |
| Median | $56,390 | $27.11 |
| 75th percentile | $63,960 | $30.75 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $75,280 | $36.19 |
| Average (mean) | $56,980 | $27.40 |
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 | $4,699.17 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $2,349.58 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $2,168.85 |
| Weekly | $1,084.42 |
| Hourly | $27.11 |
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 Tennessee
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Knoxville, TN | $58,470 | 480 |
| Chattanooga, TN-GA | $58,390 | 200 |
| Johnson City, TN | $56,390 | 70 |
| Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN | $55,660 | 800 |
| Memphis, TN-MS-AR | $54,330 | 1,260 |
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 Tennessee
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Shipping, Receiving, and Inventory Clerks | $44,920 | $21.60 |
| Production, Planning, and Expediting Clerks | $53,020 | $25.49 |
| Postal Service Mail Carrier | $58,570 | $28.16 |
| Dispatchers, Except Police, Fire, and Ambulance | $49,660 | $23.87 |
| Cargo and Freight Agents | $51,800 | $24.91 |
| Public Safety Telecommunicator | $46,390 | $22.30 |
| Postal Service Clerk | $63,210 | $30.39 |
| Weighers, Measurers, Checkers, and Samplers, Recordkeeping | $47,330 | $22.76 |
| Meter Readers, Utilities | $45,210 | $21.74 |
| Couriers and Messengers | $40,270 | $19.36 |
| Customer Service Representative | $42,830 | $20.59 |
| Office Clerks, General | $38,860 | $18.68 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support Workers | $66,390 | $31.92 |
| Medical Secretaries and Administrative Assistants | $39,940 | $19.20 |
More: Office and Administrative Support Occupations · all salaries in Tennessee
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 Tennessee?
The median salary for postal service mail sorters, processors, and processing machine operators in Tennessee is $56,390 a year, or $27.11 an hour. Pay ranges from $42,600 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 Tennessee?
The top 10% of postal service mail sorters, processors, and processing machine operators in Tennessee earn at least $75,280 a year. The top 25% earn $63,960 or more.
What is the starting pay for postal service mail sorters, processors, and processing machine operators in Tennessee?
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 $47,440 or less.
How many postal service mail sorters, processors, and processing machine operators work in Tennessee?
About 2,850 postal service mail sorters, processors, and processing machine operators are employed in Tennessee, not counting the self-employed.