SOC 43-5052 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Postal Service Mail Carriers — Northwest Iowa
Northwest Iowa nonmetropolitan area · 8 metro areas compared
The median wage for Postal Service Mail Carriers in Northwest Iowa, IA is $55,810 per year, close to the national median of $60,550 for the same occupation.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
The median wage for Postal Service Mail Carriers in Northwest Iowa, IA is $55,810 per year, close to the national median of $60,550 for the same occupation. Pay ranges from under $42,390 at the tenth percentile to more than $81,040 at the ninetieth, with the interquartile range running from $43,120 to $72,340.
Employment stands at 440, or 3.0 jobs per thousand held locally. Iowa City leads the state's metro areas for this occupation, at $64,890. Set against every other occupation measured in the same area, it ranks 169th of 368 by median pay.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $42,390 | −30.0% |
| 25th | $43,120 | −28.8% |
| Median (50th) | $55,810 | −7.8% |
| 75th | $72,340 | +19.5% |
| 90th | $81,040 | +33.8% |
| Mean | $59,240 | −2.2% |
Other metro areas in Iowa
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Iowa City | $64,890 | 150 | |
| 2 | Des Moines | $64,250 | 690 | |
| 3 | Dubuque | $62,070 | 110 | |
| 4 | Sioux City | $61,130 | 170 | |
| 5 | Ames | $60,840 | 130 | |
| 6 | Cedar Rapids | $60,270 | 320 | |
| 7 | Waterloo | $59,880 | 200 | |
| 8 | Davenport | $57,700 | 460 |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in Northwest Iowa run 12.2% below the national average, so the median of $55,810 goes as far as $63,565 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way it compares to the national median at 5.0% above the national median in real terms.
Published median
$55,810as reported by BLSLocal price level
87.8US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$63,565US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $55,810 a year, 7.8% below the national median.
- Published pay spans $42,390 to $81,040 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 440 jobs in this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is Iowa City, at $64,890.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Postal Service Mail Carriers in Northwest Iowa, IA?
The median annual wage is $55,810, or $26.83 per hour, as of May 2025. Half of the workers in this occupation earn more than that and half earn less.
Is that higher than the national average?
The national median for this occupation is $60,550, so pay in Northwest Iowa, IA is 7.8% lower. These figures are medians, not averages: half of workers fall on each side.
What do the top earners make?
The top tenth of this occupation in Northwest Iowa, IA earns more than $81,040 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $42,390 per year. The survey measures wages actually paid rather than experience level, so this reflects the lowest-paid tenth rather than entry-level pay specifically.
Which area nearby pays the most?
The highest median for this occupation among the metro areas covered is in Iowa City, at $64,890 per year.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 440 jobs in this occupation in Northwest Iowa, IA. Self-employed workers are not included.
Source and methodology
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 Wages are for wage-and-salary workers; self-employed workers are not included. Salary Explorer is an independent project. It is not affiliated with, or endorsed by, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics or any government agency. Full methodology.
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