POSTAL WORKER

Full-time mail carriers earn a median salary of $34,840, according to 1998 statistics. As of March 2001, new carriers start at $15.30 per hour. After twelve and a half years, a top carrier stands to earn $20.34 per hour. In addition, carriers receive a complete benefits package that includes medical coverage, sick days, vacation days, and a retirement plan. Workers are generally members of either the American Postal Workers Union or the National Association of Letter Carriers, both of which are affiliated with the American Federation of Labor–Congress of Industrial Organizations (AFL-CIO).