SOC 43-5053 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Postal Service Mail Sorters, Processors, and Processing Machine Operators — Birmingham
Birmingham, AL · 3 metro areas compared
At $57,430, median pay for Postal Service Mail Sorters, Processors, and Processing Machine Operators in Birmingham, AL tracks the national median of $58,470 closely.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
At $57,430, median pay for Postal Service Mail Sorters, Processors, and Processing Machine Operators in Birmingham, AL tracks the national median of $58,470 closely. Pay ranges from under $45,530 at the tenth percentile to more than $75,030 at the ninetieth, with the interquartile range running from $48,880 to $67,560.
Employment stands at 630, or 1.2 jobs per thousand held locally. Within the state, Montgomery records the highest median at $58,470. Of the 489 occupations with published wages in this area, it sits 233rd.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $45,530 | −22.1% |
| 25th | $48,880 | −16.4% |
| Median (50th) | $57,430 | −1.8% |
| 75th | $67,560 | +15.5% |
| 90th | $75,030 | +28.3% |
| Mean | $58,630 | +0.3% |
Other metro areas in Alabama
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Montgomery | $58,470 | 230 | |
| 2 | Mobile | $56,390 | 220 | |
| 3 | Huntsville | $54,330 | 50 |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in Birmingham run 11.2% below the national average, so the median of $57,430 goes as far as $64,673 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way it compares to the national median at 10.6% above the national median in real terms.
Published median
$57,430as reported by BLSLocal price level
88.8US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$64,673US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $57,430 a year, 1.8% below the national median.
- Published pay spans $45,530 to $75,030 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 630 jobs in this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is Montgomery, at $58,470.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Postal Service Mail Sorters, Processors, and Processing Machine Operators in Birmingham, AL?
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 Birmingham, AL 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 Birmingham, AL 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 $45,530 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 Montgomery, at $58,470 per year.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 630 jobs in this occupation in Birmingham, AL. 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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