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Payroll and Timekeeping Clerks vs Postal Service Mail Sorters, Processors, and Processing Machine Operators: Salary Comparison

Last updated: 2025 BLS data · Page refreshed:

Side-by-side salary data across all 50 states. Data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (2025).

National Salary Overview

Payroll and Timekeeping Clerks

Median Salary
$56,529
Average (Mean)
$58,330
Employed Nationwide
153,140
VS

Postal Service Mail Sorters, Processors, and Processing Machine Operators

Median Salary
$58,195
Average (Mean)
$59,635
Employed Nationwide
105,230
Postal Service Mail Sorters, Processors, and Processing Machine Operators earns $1,665 more (2.9%)
Payroll and Timekeeping Clerks vs Postal Service Mail Sorters, Processors, and Processing Machine Operators national median (BLS 2025)Ranked horizontal bars comparing 2 entries.Payroll and Timekeeping ClerksPayroll and Timekeeping ClerksPayroll and Timekeeping Clerks: $56,530$56,530Postal Service Mail Sorters, Processors, and Processing Machine OperatorsPostal Service Mail Sorters,…Postal Service Mail Sorters, Processors, and Processing Machine Operators: $58,195$58,195

Key Metrics Compared

Median Salary $56,529 $58,195
Average (Mean) Salary $58,330 $59,635
Total Employment 153,140 105,230
States with Higher Pay 20 31

Salary by State: Payroll and Timekeeping Clerks vs Postal Service Mail Sorters, Processors, and Processing Machine Operators

Showing 51 states where both occupations have BLS data. Payroll and Timekeeping Clerks pays more in 20 states; Postal Service Mail Sorters, Processors, and Processing Machine Operators pays more in 31.

State Payroll and Timekeeping Clerks Postal Service Mail Sorters, Processors, and Processing Machine Operators Difference
Alabama $46,170
$57,430
$-11,260
Alaska $62,210
$55,350
+$6,860
Arizona $50,210
$55,350
$-5,140
Arkansas $46,110
$58,470
$-12,360
California $65,340
$59,490
+$5,850
Colorado $64,140
$58,470
+$5,670
Connecticut $62,200
$58,470
+$3,730
Delaware $56,430
$58,470
$-2,040
District of Columbia $74,670
$66,750
+$7,920
Florida $51,910
$57,430
$-5,520
Georgia $59,990
$53,290
+$6,700
Hawaii $62,070
$59,490
+$2,580
Idaho $51,790
$57,430
$-5,640
Illinois $61,390
$58,300
+$3,090
Indiana $53,770
$48,880
+$4,890
Iowa $54,080
$60,530
$-6,450
Kansas $56,590
$54,540
+$2,050
Kentucky $52,890
$57,430
$-4,540
Louisiana $50,800
$58,470
$-7,670
Maine $57,360
$59,490
$-2,130
Maryland $59,760
$58,470
+$1,290
Massachusetts $63,670
$58,470
+$5,200
Michigan $56,160
$59,490
$-3,330
Minnesota $61,320
$59,740
+$1,580
Mississippi $45,170
$57,800
$-12,630
Missouri $54,080
$57,430
$-3,350
Montana $55,040
$57,430
$-2,390
Nebraska $54,900
$59,490
$-4,590
Nevada $58,220
$58,470
$-250
New Hampshire $63,090
$58,300
+$4,790
New Jersey $60,750
$60,530
+$220
New Mexico $53,230
$58,470
$-5,240
New York $61,040
$58,470
+$2,570
North Carolina $53,550
$55,350
$-1,800
North Dakota $60,600
$59,840
+$760
Ohio $57,270
$58,470
$-1,200
Oklahoma $49,920
$58,470
$-8,550
Oregon $60,980
$57,890
+$3,090
Pennsylvania $55,690
$57,430
$-1,740
Rhode Island $59,370
$59,490
$-120
South Carolina $52,240
$58,390
$-6,150
South Dakota $47,680
$61,570
$-13,890
Tennessee $51,780
$56,390
$-4,610
Texas $54,090
$56,390
$-2,300
Utah $56,430
$57,430
$-1,000
Vermont $55,340
$59,490
$-4,150
Virginia $58,250
$58,300
$-50
Washington $64,560
$59,490
+$5,070
West Virginia $47,460
$58,470
$-11,010
Wisconsin $59,310
$58,470
+$840
Wyoming $51,940
$60,530
$-8,590

Explore This Comparison by State

Dive deeper — see how Payroll and Timekeeping Clerks vs Postal Service Mail Sorters, Processors, and Processing Machine Operators salaries differ in each state, with local data and national benchmarks.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who makes more: Payroll and Timekeeping Clerks or Postal Service Mail Sorters, Processors, and Processing Machine Operators?
On average across all states, a Postal Service Mail Sorters, Processors, and Processing Machine Operators earns more than a Payroll and Timekeeping Clerks. The national median salary difference is $1,665 (2.9%) based on 2025 BLS data.
In how many states does a Payroll and Timekeeping Clerks earn more than a Postal Service Mail Sorters, Processors, and Processing Machine Operators?
A Payroll and Timekeeping Clerks earns a higher median salary than a Postal Service Mail Sorters, Processors, and Processing Machine Operators in 20 out of 51 states where both occupations have BLS data. A Postal Service Mail Sorters, Processors, and Processing Machine Operators pays more in 31 states.
What is the median salary for a Payroll and Timekeeping Clerks vs Postal Service Mail Sorters, Processors, and Processing Machine Operators?
The national median salary for a Payroll and Timekeeping Clerks is $56,529 per year, compared to $58,195 for a Postal Service Mail Sorters, Processors, and Processing Machine Operators, according to 2025 BLS OEWS data.
Which has more jobs: Payroll and Timekeeping Clerks or Postal Service Mail Sorters, Processors, and Processing Machine Operators?
There are more people employed as Payroll and Timekeeping Clerks. BLS reports approximately 153,140 Payroll and Timekeeping Clerks positions and 105,230 Postal Service Mail Sorters, Processors, and Processing Machine Operators positions nationwide (2025).
Should I become a Payroll and Timekeeping Clerks or Postal Service Mail Sorters, Processors, and Processing Machine Operators?
Both Payroll and Timekeeping Clerks and Postal Service Mail Sorters, Processors, and Processing Machine Operators are viable career paths. Beyond salary, consider factors like job availability in your state, work-life balance, education requirements, growth potential, and personal interests. Visit each occupation's salary page for state-specific data and career insights.

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