SOC 43-5053 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Postal Service Mail Sorters, Processors, and Processing Machine Operators — Altoona
Altoona, PA · 8 metro areas compared
The median wage for Postal Service Mail Sorters, Processors, and Processing Machine Operators in Altoona, PA is $57,430 per year, close to the national median of $58,470 for the same occupation.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
The median wage for Postal Service Mail Sorters, Processors, and Processing Machine Operators in Altoona, PA is $57,430 per year, close to the national median of $58,470 for the same occupation. Half of workers earn between $52,310 and $62,610. Beyond that band, the tenth percentile sits at $48,880 and the ninetieth at $75,030.
Employment stands at 50, or 0.9 jobs per thousand held locally. Within the state, Erie records the highest median at $69,680. Of the 241 occupations with published wages in this area, it sits 101st.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $48,880 | −16.4% |
| 25th | $52,310 | −10.5% |
| Median (50th) | $57,430 | −1.8% |
| 75th | $62,610 | +7.1% |
| 90th | $75,030 | +28.3% |
| Mean | $58,450 | −0.0% |
Other metro areas in Pennsylvania
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Erie | $69,680 | 30 | |
| 2 | Johnstown | $59,490 | 80 | |
| 3 | Scranton | $59,490 | 150 | |
| 4 | Allentown | $58,470 | 370 | |
| 5 | Lancaster | $58,470 | 320 | |
| 6 | Pittsburgh | $58,470 | 1,690 | |
| 7 | Philadelphia | $57,430 | 2,870 | |
| 8 | Harrisburg | $56,430 | 890 |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in Altoona run 2.4% below the national average, so the median of $57,430 goes as far as $58,842 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way it compares to the national median at 0.6% above the national median in real terms.
Published median
$57,430as reported by BLSLocal price level
97.6US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$58,842US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $57,430 a year, 1.8% below the national median.
- Published pay spans $48,880 to $75,030 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 50 jobs in this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is Erie, at $69,680.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Postal Service Mail Sorters, Processors, and Processing Machine Operators in Altoona, PA?
The median annual wage is $57,430, or $27.61 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 $58,470, so pay in Altoona, PA is 1.8% 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 Altoona, PA earns more than $75,030 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $48,880 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 Erie, at $69,680 per year.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 50 jobs in this occupation in Altoona, PA. 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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