What is the best state to be a mail clerks and mail machine operators, except postal service?

By the Gera US Real Pay Index, Vermont is the best state for a mail clerks and mail machine operators, except postal service: a BLS median of $45,380 is worth $45,202 after the 2025 state income tax ($1,101) and the 2024 BEA cost-of-living adjustment (RPP 98.0), an index of 113.8 where the average state is 100.

Does the highest-paying state also leave you best off?

Not necessarily. District of Columbia has the highest headline BLS median for a mail clerks and mail machine operators, except postal service at $49,240, but after state tax and cost of living it ranks #8 of 50 on real pay (index 108.6). That gap is exactly what the Gera US Real Pay Index reveals.

GeraJobs / US Real Pay Index / Mail Clerks and Mail Machine Operators, Except Postal Service

Best States to Be a Mail Clerks and Mail Machine Operators, Except Postal Service

After 2025 state income tax and 2024 cost of living, a mail clerks and mail machine operators, except postal service salary goes furthest in Vermont — a $45,380 BLS median worth $45,202 in real terms (Gera US Real Pay Index 113.8).

Which US states are best for a mail clerks and mail machine operators, except postal service after cost of living and tax?

For a mail clerks and mail machine operators, except postal service, the Gera US Real Pay Index ranks Vermont #1: a $45,380 BLS median becomes $45,202 in cost-of-living-and-tax-adjusted terms (index 113.8). Hawaii ranks last ($33,485, index 84.3). Real BLS OEWS May 2025 across 50 states; re-dated annually.

Source:U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics — Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)·As of May 2025 state estimates · updated annually · last refreshed 19 June 2026

Gera US Real Pay Index

Vermont ranks #1 of 50 states for a mail clerks and mail machine operators, except postal service. Index 100 = the average state; 113.8 means pay goes 13.8% further after tax and cost of living.

How this is calculated

113.8

Mail Clerks and Mail Machine Operators, Except Postal Service — real pay by state (best first)

#	State	BLS median	State tax	Cost (RPP)	Real pay	Index
1	Vermont	$45,380	$1,101	98.0	$45,202	113.8
2	Maine	$44,780	$1,429	97.0	$44,669	112.5
3	Massachusetts	$48,860	$2,223	105.8	$44,098	111.1
4	Minnesota	$44,840	$1,599	98.6	$43,846	110.4
5	Utah	$45,150	$2,054	98.9	$43,591	109.8
6	Nebraska	$40,080	$1,002	90.1	$43,370	109.2
7	Washington	$46,380	—	107.0	$43,341	109.2
8	District of Columbia	$49,240	$1,854	109.9	$43,117	108.6
9	North Dakota	$38,120	—	89.0	$42,851	107.9
10	New Mexico	$40,080	$803	92.2	$42,594	107.3
11	South Dakota	$37,580	—	88.6	$42,422	106.8
12	Arkansas	$37,940	$1,271	86.9	$42,179	106.2
13	Connecticut	$43,970	$1,054	103.6	$41,421	104.3
14	Ohio	$38,470	$276	92.8	$41,169	103.7
15	Missouri	$38,110	$910	90.8	$40,961	103.2
16	Colorado	$43,430	$1,251	103.1	$40,930	103.1
17	Idaho	$39,890	$1,151	95.5	$40,567	102.2
18	Nevada	$40,520	—	100.0	$40,529	102.1
19	Kentucky	$37,890	$1,385	90.2	$40,490	102.0
20	Oklahoma	$36,680	$1,205	87.8	$40,385	101.7
21	Indiana	$38,490	$1,125	93.3	$40,036	100.8
22	Montana	$38,880	$1,156	94.6	$39,859	100.4
23	Texas	$38,470	—	97.1	$39,637	99.8
24	New Hampshire	$41,060	—	104.2	$39,418	99.3
25	California	$44,410	$788	110.7	$39,398	99.2
26	New Jersey	$43,700	$867	108.8	$39,367	99.1
27	Wisconsin	$37,730	$901	94.1	$39,141	98.6
28	Oregon	$43,450	$2,998	103.4	$39,137	98.6
29	Iowa	$35,610	$1,313	87.8	$39,079	98.4
30	Alabama	$36,190	$1,545	88.8	$39,005	98.2
31	North Carolina	$37,830	$1,066	94.3	$38,976	98.2
32	Tennessee	$35,610	—	91.9	$38,761	97.6
33	Louisiana	$34,860	$671	88.2	$38,760	97.6
34	Mississippi	$34,350	$706	87.0	$38,692	97.4
35	Kansas	$36,020	$1,210	90.1	$38,648	97.3
36	South Carolina	$36,780	$673	93.7	$38,515	97.0
37	West Virginia	$35,140	$937	89.5	$38,217	96.2
38	Florida	$39,300	—	103.4	$38,003	95.7
39	Pennsylvania	$37,980	$1,166	97.6	$37,730	95.0
40	Arizona	$38,260	$482	100.7	$37,524	94.5
41	New York	$42,020	$1,706	107.9	$37,355	94.1
42	Michigan	$36,900	$1,322	96.2	$36,977	93.1
43	Maryland	$40,280	$1,581	105.0	$36,871	92.9
44	Rhode Island	$38,330	$837	102.3	$36,657	92.3
45	Illinois	$38,190	$1,749	100.0	$36,456	91.8
46	Georgia	$36,110	$1,300	96.3	$36,151	91.0
47	Wyoming	$32,940	—	92.7	$35,537	89.5
48	Delaware	$36,450	$1,346	99.8	$35,171	88.6
49	Virginia	$36,780	$1,315	101.1	$35,078	88.3
50	Hawaii	$38,270	$1,453	110.0	$33,485	84.3

"Real pay" = BLS median − 2025 state income tax, divided by the state's 2024 BEA cost of living (US = 100). Only the 50 states for which BLS publishes a median for this occupation are ranked; suppressed cells are excluded, never set to zero.

Where does your salary go furthest?

Enter a salary and a state. We adjust for 2025 state income tax and the 2024 BEA cost of living to show your real, purchasing-power-equivalent pay — then rank every state.

Gross annual salary (USD)Compare against state

In Vermont, a $45,380 salary is worth about $42,272 in cost-of-living-and-tax-adjusted terms.

State income tax $3,971 (≈ top marginal 8.75% (upper bound)) · take-home $41,409 · BEA cost of living 98.0 (US = 100).

The same salary goes furthest in South Dakota — worth $51,227, a $8,955 gain over Vermont.

#	State	Real value	Cost (RPP)
1	South Dakota	$51,227	88.6
2	Arkansas	$50,163	86.9
3	Louisiana	$49,904	88.2
4	Mississippi	$49,893	87.0
5	Iowa	$49,743	87.8
6	North Dakota	$49,737	89.0
7	Tennessee	$49,396	91.9
8	Oklahoma	$49,206	87.8
9	Wyoming	$48,958	92.7
10	Alabama	$48,536	88.8
11	Kentucky	$48,320	90.2
12	West Virginia	$48,262	89.5

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Estimate only. State income tax is approximated from each state's 2025 flat rate (or top marginal rate as an upper bound for graduated states) and ignores federal tax, deductions and credits. The pre-published occupation and state pages use exact 2025 bracket math. Cost of living is the 2024 BEA Regional Price Parity (All Items).

Mail Clerks and Mail Machine Operators, Except Postal Service — real pay FAQ

What is the best state to be a mail clerks and mail machine operators, except postal service?: By the Gera US Real Pay Index, Vermont is the best state for a mail clerks and mail machine operators, except postal service: a BLS median of $45,380 is worth $45,202 after the 2025 state income tax ($1,101) and the 2024 BEA cost-of-living adjustment (RPP 98.0), an index of 113.8 where the average state is 100.
Does the highest-paying state also leave you best off?: Not necessarily. District of Columbia has the highest headline BLS median for a mail clerks and mail machine operators, except postal service at $49,240, but after state tax and cost of living it ranks #8 of 50 on real pay (index 108.6). That gap is exactly what the Gera US Real Pay Index reveals.
Where does a mail clerks and mail machine operators, except postal service salary go least far?: Hawaii ranks last of 50 states for a mail clerks and mail machine operators, except postal service: a $38,270 BLS median is worth only $33,485 after tax and cost of living (index 84.3). Higher local prices and/or income tax less far than the national average erode the headline pay.

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Related on GeraJobs

Gera US Real Pay Index — all states ranked — and how the index is calculated.
Methodology — the exact BLS + BEA + tax computation.
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Sources: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics — Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) (May 2025 state estimates, US federal public domain); U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis — Regional Price Parities (All Items), by state (2024 (US = 100)); Tax Foundation — 2025 State Individual Income Tax Rates and Brackets. The Gera US Real Pay Index for a mail clerks and mail machine operators, except postal service is computed by GeraJobs from these figures; no figure is modelled or interpolated.