USPS Clerk Pay Scale 2026 (APWU)
The APWU pay scale applies to clerk, maintenance, motor vehicle service and support craft employees covered by the 2024-2027 APWU-USPS National Agreement. The tables below are APWU's Postal Service (PS) schedule effective September 19, 2026, by pay grade (PS-4 to PS-11) and step, with the part-time flexible and PSE hourly rates.
Table shown: 2024-2027 APWU-USPS National Agreement, effective September 19, 2026. The contract runs to September 20, 2027. General wage increase of 1.5% effective November 14, 2026 (Article 9.1); the fifth COLA follows the January 2027 CPI-W release.
FedRateCalc is not affiliated with the U.S. Postal Service or any union. Figures are copied from the unions' published pay schedules and agreements; your PS Form 50, your local union and your HR office are authoritative.
Maintained by Archie Chang · Pay tables checked October 24, 2026 · Methodology & sources
APWU pay calculator
New 2011 schedule (RSC C7, K7, P7). Hourly rate is the annual salary / 2,080.
Paid after 8 hours on duty in a service day or 40 hours in a service week (Article 8.4.A and B).
Paid instead of 1.5x for those hours, not on top of it. Article 8.4.C to E: part-time flexible employees and PSEs beyond 10 hours a day or 56 a week, and full-time regulars when the Article 8.5.F limits are broken. Not paid for hours worked in December.
Where two or more overtime or premium rates could apply to the same hour, only the higher one is paid (Article 8.4.F). Each hour is paid at one rate: enter every overtime hour in one box only.
From your PS Form 50 or pay stub. Used to date the end of the waiting period.
Base pay, Step II
- Table hourly rate
- $24.06
- Weekly
- $962.33
- Biweekly
- $1,924.65
- Annual
- $50,041.00
- Published annual salary
- $50,041
Gross pay before taxes and deductions. Annual = one week's pay x 52. Other premiums (night differential, Sunday, holiday) are not included.
Next step
- Waiting period for this step
- 36 weeks (about 8 months)
- Weeks left
- 36 weeks (about 8 months)
- Next: Step HH
- $24.63 an hour
- Raise at next step
- $1,196 a year
- Weeks to the top step
- 648 weeks (about 150 months)
Waiting periods are the weeks printed with each table. The effective date of your actual step increase is on your PS Form 50.
APWU pay tables: clerk, maintenance, motor vehicle and support crafts
Copied from American Postal Workers Union (APWU) published schedules under the 2024-2027 APWU-USPS National Agreement. Annual rates are basic pay for a full-time employee before taxes and deductions.
† Rate exists only on the 2011 schedule (hired on or after May 23, 2011). ‡ Rate exists only on the older schedule (hired before that date). Unmarked rates are on both. A blank cell means the grade has no such step.
Full-time regular basic annual rates, effective September 19, 2026
| Step | PS-4 | PS-5 | PS-6 | PS-7 | PS-8 | PS-9 | PS-10 | PS-11 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Step II | $50,041† | |||||||
| Step HH | $51,237† | |||||||
| Step GG | $52,433† | |||||||
| Step FF | $53,629† | $56,195† | $58,688† | $61,222† | ||||
| Step EE | $54,825† | $57,320† | $59,750† | $62,226† | ||||
| Step DD | $56,021† | $58,445† | $60,812† | $63,230† | ||||
| Step CC | $57,217† | $59,570† | $61,874† | $64,234† | ||||
| Step BB | $58,413 | $60,695† | $62,936† | $65,238† | ||||
| Step AA | $59,609 | $61,820† | $63,998† | $66,242† | ||||
| Step A | $60,805 | $62,945 | $65,060 | $67,246 | $68,250 | |||
| Step B | $62,001 | $64,070 | $66,122 | $68,250 | $69,285 | |||
| Step C | $63,197 | $65,195 | $67,184 | $69,254 | $70,320 | |||
| Step D | $64,393 | $66,320 | $68,246 | $70,258 | $71,355 | $75,836 | $79,651 | $82,508 |
| Step E | $65,589 | $67,445 | $69,308 | $71,262 | $72,390 | $76,610 | $80,571 | $83,542 |
| Step F | $66,785 | $68,570 | $70,370 | $72,266 | $73,425 | $77,384 | $81,491 | $84,576 |
| Step G | $67,981 | $69,695 | $71,432 | $73,270 | $74,460 | $78,158 | $82,411 | $85,610 |
| Step H | $69,177 | $70,820 | $72,494 | $74,274 | $75,495 | $78,932 | $83,331 | $86,644 |
| Step I | $70,373 | $71,945 | $73,556 | $75,278 | $76,530 | $79,706 | $84,251 | $87,678 |
| Step J | $71,569 | $73,070 | $74,618 | $76,282 | $77,565 | $80,480 | $85,171 | $88,712 |
| Step K | $72,765‡ | $74,195 | $75,680 | $77,286 | $78,600 | $81,254 | $86,091 | $89,746 |
| Step L | $73,961‡ | $75,320 | $76,742 | $78,290 | $79,635 | $82,028 | $87,011 | $90,780 |
| Step M | $75,157‡ | $76,445‡ | $77,804 | $79,294 | $80,670 | $82,802 | $87,931 | $91,814 |
| Step N | $76,353‡ | $77,570‡ | $78,866‡ | $80,298‡ | $81,705 | $83,576 | $88,851 | $92,848 |
| Step O | $77,549‡ | $78,695‡ | $79,928‡ | $81,302‡ | $82,740 | $84,350 | $89,771 | $93,882 |
| Step P | $83,775 | $85,124 | $90,691 | $94,916 |
Full-time regular basic hourly rates (annual rate / 2,080)
| Step | PS-4 | PS-5 | PS-6 | PS-7 | PS-8 | PS-9 | PS-10 | PS-11 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Step II | $24.0582† | |||||||
| Step HH | $24.6332† | |||||||
| Step GG | $25.2082† | |||||||
| Step FF | $25.7832† | $27.0168† | $28.2154† | $29.4337† | ||||
| Step EE | $26.3582† | $27.5577† | $28.7260† | $29.9163† | ||||
| Step DD | $26.9332† | $28.0986† | $29.2365† | $30.3990† | ||||
| Step CC | $27.5082† | $28.6394† | $29.7471† | $30.8817† | ||||
| Step BB | $28.0832 | $29.1803† | $30.2577† | $31.3644† | ||||
| Step AA | $28.6582 | $29.7212† | $30.7683† | $31.8471† | ||||
| Step A | $29.2332 | $30.2620 | $31.2788 | $32.3298 | $32.8125 | |||
| Step B | $29.8082 | $30.8029 | $31.7894 | $32.8125 | $33.3101 | |||
| Step C | $30.3832 | $31.3438 | $32.3000 | $33.2952 | $33.8077 | |||
| Step D | $30.9582 | $31.8846 | $32.8106 | $33.7779 | $34.3053 | $36.4596 | $38.2938 | $39.6673 |
| Step E | $31.5332 | $32.4255 | $33.3212 | $34.2606 | $34.8029 | $36.8317 | $38.7361 | $40.1644 |
| Step F | $32.1082 | $32.9663 | $33.8317 | $34.7433 | $35.3005 | $37.2038 | $39.1784 | $40.6615 |
| Step G | $32.6832 | $33.5072 | $34.3423 | $35.2260 | $35.7981 | $37.5760 | $39.6207 | $41.1587 |
| Step H | $33.2582 | $34.0481 | $34.8529 | $35.7087 | $36.2957 | $37.9481 | $40.0630 | $41.6558 |
| Step I | $33.8332 | $34.5889 | $35.3635 | $36.1913 | $36.7933 | $38.3202 | $40.5053 | $42.1529 |
| Step J | $34.4082 | $35.1298 | $35.8740 | $36.6740 | $37.2909 | $38.6923 | $40.9476 | $42.6500 |
| Step K | $34.9832‡ | $35.6707 | $36.3846 | $37.1567 | $37.7885 | $39.0644 | $41.3899 | $43.1471 |
| Step L | $35.5582‡ | $36.2115 | $36.8952 | $37.6394 | $38.2861 | $39.4365 | $41.8322 | $43.6442 |
| Step M | $36.1332‡ | $36.7524‡ | $37.4058 | $38.1221 | $38.7837 | $39.8087 | $42.2745 | $44.1413 |
| Step N | $36.7082‡ | $37.2933‡ | $37.9163‡ | $38.6048‡ | $39.2813 | $40.1808 | $42.7168 | $44.6385 |
| Step O | $37.2832‡ | $37.8341‡ | $38.4269‡ | $39.0875‡ | $39.7788 | $40.5529 | $43.1591 | $45.1356 |
| Step P | $40.2764 | $40.9250 | $43.6014 | $45.6327 |
Part-time flexible basic hourly rates, effective September 19, 2026
| Step | PS-4 | PS-5 | PS-6 | PS-7 | PS-8 | PS-9 | PS-10 | PS-11 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Step II | $25.12† | |||||||
| Step HH | $25.72† | |||||||
| Step GG | $26.32† | |||||||
| Step FF | $26.92† | $28.21† | $29.46† | $30.73† | ||||
| Step EE | $27.52† | $28.78† | $29.99† | $31.24† | ||||
| Step DD | $28.12† | $29.34† | $30.53† | $31.74† | ||||
| Step CC | $28.72† | $29.90† | $31.06† | $32.25† | ||||
| Step BB | $29.32 | $30.47† | $31.59† | $32.75† | ||||
| Step AA | $29.92 | $31.03† | $32.13† | $33.25† | ||||
| Step A | $30.52 | $31.60 | $32.66 | $33.76 | $34.26 | |||
| Step B | $31.13 | $32.16 | $33.19 | $34.26 | $34.78 | |||
| Step C | $31.73 | $32.73 | $33.73 | $34.77 | $35.30 | |||
| Step D | $32.33 | $33.29 | $34.26 | $35.27 | $35.82 | $38.07 | $39.99 | $41.42 |
| Step E | $32.93 | $33.86 | $34.79 | $35.77 | $36.34 | $38.46 | $40.45 | $41.94 |
| Step F | $33.53 | $34.42 | $35.33 | $36.28 | $36.86 | $38.85 | $40.91 | $42.46 |
| Step G | $34.13 | $34.99 | $35.86 | $36.78 | $37.38 | $39.24 | $41.37 | $42.98 |
| Step H | $34.73 | $35.55 | $36.39 | $37.29 | $37.90 | $39.62 | $41.83 | $43.50 |
| Step I | $35.33 | $36.12 | $36.93 | $37.79 | $38.42 | $40.01 | $42.29 | $44.02 |
| Step J | $35.93 | $36.68 | $37.46 | $38.29 | $38.94 | $40.40 | $42.76 | $44.53 |
| Step K | $36.53‡ | $37.25 | $37.99 | $38.80 | $39.46 | $40.79 | $43.22 | $45.05 |
| Step L | $37.13‡ | $37.81 | $38.53 | $39.30 | $39.98 | $41.18 | $43.68 | $45.57 |
| Step M | $37.73‡ | $38.38‡ | $39.06 | $39.81 | $40.50 | $41.57 | $44.14 | $46.09 |
| Step N | $38.33‡ | $38.94‡ | $39.59‡ | $40.31‡ | $41.02 | $41.96 | $44.60 | $46.61 |
| Step O | $38.93‡ | $39.51‡ | $40.12‡ | $40.81‡ | $41.54 | $42.34 | $45.07 | $47.13 |
| Step P | $42.06 | $42.73 | $45.53 | $47.65 |
Postal Support Employee (PSE) hourly rates, effective November 15, 2025
| Step | PS-5 | PS-6 | PS-7 | PS-8 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Step A | $20.26 | $21.44 | $22.70 | $23.13 |
| Step B | $20.76 | $21.94 | $23.20 | $23.63 |
| Step H (RMPO only) | $21.76 | $22.94 | $24.20 | $24.63 |
USPS Clerk pay in numbers
- PS-5 on the 2011 schedule runs from $56,195 (step FF) to $75,320 (step L).
- PS-6 runs from $58,688 to $77,804; PS-8 from $68,250 to $83,775; PS-11 from $82,508 to $94,916.
- Step increases come every 36 weeks in PS-4 to PS-7 and every 30 weeks in PS-8 to PS-11 (Article 9.2).
- The fourth COLA of this contract took effect September 5, 2026: $1,414 a year for a full-time employee. The four COLAs so far total $2,870.
- A PSE starts at $20.26 an hour in PS-5 and $23.13 in PS-8 (November 15, 2025 rates).
Raises and COLAs under this agreement
- November 16, 2024: General wage increase 1.3%
- March 8, 2025: COLA $395 a year
- September 6, 2025: COLA $811 a year
- November 1, 2025: Pay schedule reconstruction: Grade 3 upgraded to Grade 4, step JJ removed from Grade 4, special entry step GG removed from grades 5-7
- November 15, 2025: General wage increase 1.4%
- March 7, 2026: COLA $250 a year
- September 5, 2026: COLA $1,414 a year (table shown includes it)
- September 19, 2026: New top step added to grades 4-7 on the 2011 schedule (table shown)
- November 14, 2026: Scheduled: general wage increase 1.5%
COLA tracking: if the fifth COLA were set on the September 2026 CPI-W it would be 26 cents an hour, $541 a year. It is set on the January 2027 index, so this is a tracking figure, not a pay rate, and no projected table is shown.
USPS Clerk Pay Scale questions
What is the USPS clerk pay scale in 2026?
Clerks are paid on APWU's Postal Service schedule by pay grade and step. In the table effective September 19, 2026, PS-5 pays $56,195 at its entry step and $75,320 at the top step of the 2011 schedule; PS-6 pays $58,688 to $77,804. Your pay grade is on your PS Form 50 or the job posting, and your hire date decides which schedule applies.
Do maintenance and motor vehicle employees use a different table?
No. The Postal Service (PS) schedule above, which APWU labels RSC C, K and P, is the salary schedule for the clerk, maintenance, motor vehicle service and support craft employees the agreement covers. What differs is the pay grade of the position, so a maintenance mechanic and a clerk in the same grade are paid the same step rate. APWU also publishes separate scales for IT/AS, NPPN and HRSSC employees, which are not covered here.
How long between APWU step increases?
Article 9.2 sets the waiting period at 36 weeks per step for PS-4 to PS-7 and 30 weeks per step for PS-8 to PS-11. It applies to every step in those grades. The calculator above counts the weeks you have left and, if you enter the date you reached your step, the date the waiting period ends.
What is the difference between the 2011 schedule and the older schedule?
Career employees hired on or after May 23, 2011 are on the new 2011 schedule (RSC C7, K7, P7): it starts at step II in PS-4, step FF in PS-5 to PS-7, step A in PS-8 and step D in PS-9 to PS-11, and ends at step J (PS-4), L (PS-5), M (PS-6 and PS-7) or P. Employees hired before that date are on the older schedule, which uses the same dollar rates but continues to step O in PS-4 to PS-7. The calculator has a separate choice for each.
What changed on September 19, 2026?
Under Article 9.2, a new top step was added to Grades 4 to 7 on the 2011 schedule (step J in PS-4, L in PS-5, M in PS-6 and PS-7) effective September 19, 2026 (PP 21-2026). The upgrade of Grade 3 to Grade 4, the removal of step JJ from Grade 4 and the removal of the 24-month conversion special entry step GG from Grades 5 to 7 came earlier, on November 1, 2025, in APWU's reconstructed pay schedule. The table above also includes the $1,414 COLA of September 5, 2026.
When is the next APWU raise?
A 1.5% general wage increase is scheduled for November 14, 2026 (Article 9.1). The fifth COLA is set from the January 2027 CPI-W. If it were set on the September 2026 index it would be 26 cents an hour, $541 a year; APWU prints the same figure. This is a tracking figure, not a pay rate, and no projected table is shown.
Do PSEs get the COLA?
Article 9.7 sets PSE increases as the general wage increases plus an extra 1% each year (2.3%, 2.4% and 2.5% in all) and does not mention COLA for PSEs. The PSE table APWU has posted is the one effective November 15, 2025; no PSE table dated after the 2026 COLAs is posted. PSE hourly rates are in the table above.
How is the APWU COLA calculated?
Article 9.3: the schedules rise one cent per hour for each full 0.4 of a point the CPI-W (1967=100) is above its July 2024 value, checked in January and July. At 2,080 hours a cent is $20.80 a year. This site reproduced all four COLAs paid so far ($395, $811, $250, $1,414) from BLS data before showing the tracking figure.
Estimates for planning. Your PS Form 50, your local union and your HR office are authoritative for your own pay. See how the USPS pay scales compare.
Authoritative sources: APWU full-time regular annual rates, Sept. 19, 2026 (PDF) · APWU full-time hourly rates (PDF) · APWU part-time flexible rates (PDF) · APWU PSE rates (PDF) · 2024-2027 APWU-USPS agreement (PDF) · APWU reconstructed pay schedule, Nov. 1, 2025 (PDF) · APWU COLA page · BLS CPI-W data