SOC 43-5052 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Postal Service Mail Carriers — Southwest Missouri
Southwest Missouri nonmetropolitan area · 8 metro areas compared
At $57,030, median pay for Postal Service Mail Carriers in Southwest Missouri, MO tracks the national median of $60,550 closely.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
At $57,030, median pay for Postal Service Mail Carriers in Southwest Missouri, MO tracks the national median of $60,550 closely. Pay ranges from under $42,390 at the tenth percentile to more than $83,740 at the ninetieth, with the interquartile range running from $42,390 to $77,460.
The area has 230 jobs in this occupation, giving a location quotient of 1.38 — a measure of how concentrated the occupation is here relative to the country as a whole. Within the state, Cape Girardeau records the highest median at $62,330. Of the 259 occupations with published wages in this area, it sits 69th.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $42,390 | −30.0% |
| 25th | $42,390 | −30.0% |
| Median (50th) | $57,030 | −5.8% |
| 75th | $77,460 | +27.9% |
| 90th | $83,740 | +38.3% |
| Mean | $59,650 | −1.5% |
Other metro areas in Missouri
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Cape Girardeau | $62,330 | 130 | |
| 2 | Joplin | $62,090 | 210 | |
| 3 | Columbia | $62,070 | 200 | |
| 4 | Jefferson City | $62,070 | 150 | |
| 5 | St. Louis | $62,070 | 3,450 | |
| 6 | Kansas City | $61,010 | 2,400 | |
| 7 | St. Joseph | $59,880 | 120 | |
| 8 | Springfield | $58,710 | 520 |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in Southwest Missouri run 9.2% below the national average, so the median of $57,030 goes as far as $62,808 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way it compares to the national median at 3.7% above the national median in real terms.
Published median
$57,030as reported by BLSLocal price level
90.8US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$62,808US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $57,030 a year, 5.8% below the national median.
- Published pay spans $42,390 to $83,740 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 230 jobs in this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is Cape Girardeau, at $62,330.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Postal Service Mail Carriers in Southwest Missouri, MO?
The median annual wage is $57,030, or $27.42 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 Southwest Missouri, MO is 5.8% 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 Southwest Missouri, MO earns more than $83,740 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 Cape Girardeau, at $62,330 per year.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 230 jobs in this occupation in Southwest Missouri, MO. 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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