NPMHU Pay Scale 2026: Complete Grade 4 and Grade 5 Chart

Originally published April 8, 2026 · Verified August 20, 2026 · 10 min read

This page reproduces the current official NPMHU wage schedule used for mail handler pay in 2026. The schedule itself became effective September 6, 2025 (Pay Period 20-2025) and remains the latest official wage chart published by the union while the next National Agreement is in interest arbitration.

Official source: Every rate below was transcribed from the NPMHU’s one-page Mail Handler Wage Chart effective September 6, 2025. Use your PS Form 50 to confirm your grade, step, rate schedule, and appointment date.
Contract status: On August 12, 2026, NPMHU announced that it had initiated interest arbitration under Section 1207(c) of the Postal Reorganization Act. Until an official replacement wage chart is published, the rates below remain the current published schedule. Read NPMHU Contract Update #16.

Which table applies?

Table 1 (RSC M) applies to career appointments made before February 15, 2013. Table 2 (RSC M7) applies to career appointments made on or after February 15, 2013. Use the date of your career appointment—not an earlier noncareer start date.

The official chart publishes separate Grade 4 and Grade 5 rates. Do not infer your grade from a general job description; verify the grade and step printed on your PS Form 50.

Table 1 — Grade 4

Career appointments before February 15, 2013.

StepWeeksAnnualBiweeklyHourlyOvertimePTF Hourly
AA88$52,854$2,033$25.41$38.12$26.53
A88$57,921$2,228$27.85$41.78$29.08
B88$64,300$2,473$30.91$46.37$32.28
C44$67,316$2,589$32.36$48.54$33.79
D44$71,752$2,760$34.50$51.75$36.02
E44$72,109$2,773$34.67$52.01$36.20
F44$72,472$2,787$34.84$52.26$36.38
G44$72,827$2,801$35.01$52.52$36.56
H44$73,189$2,815$35.19$52.79$36.74
I44$73,549$2,829$35.36$53.04$36.92
J34$73,915$2,843$35.54$53.31$37.11
K34$74,269$2,857$35.71$53.57$37.28
L26$74,631$2,870$35.88$53.82$37.47
M26$74,991$2,884$36.05$54.08$37.65
N24$75,351$2,898$36.23$54.35$37.83
O24$75,709$2,912$36.40$54.60$38.01
P (top)$76,070$2,926$36.57$54.86$38.19

Table 1 — Grade 5

Career appointments before February 15, 2013.

StepWeeksAnnualBiweeklyHourlyOvertimePTF Hourly
AA88$54,642$2,102$26.27$39.41$27.43
A88$59,719$2,297$28.71$43.07$29.98
B88$66,532$2,559$31.99$47.99$33.40
C44$69,629$2,678$33.48$50.22$34.95
D44$72,623$2,793$34.91$52.37$36.46
E44$73,011$2,808$35.10$52.65$36.65
F44$73,404$2,823$35.29$52.94$36.85
G44$73,782$2,838$35.47$53.21$37.04
H44$74,171$2,853$35.66$53.49$37.23
I44$74,563$2,868$35.85$53.78$37.43
J34$74,948$2,883$36.03$54.05$37.62
K34$75,334$2,897$36.22$54.33$37.82
L26$75,718$2,912$36.40$54.60$38.01
M26$76,110$2,927$36.59$54.89$38.21
N24$76,501$2,942$36.78$55.17$38.40
O24$76,878$2,957$36.96$55.44$38.59
P (top)$77,267$2,972$37.15$55.73$38.79

Table 2 — Grade 4

Career appointments on or after February 15, 2013. Each advancement through Step O has a 48-week waiting period.

StepWeeksAnnualBiweeklyHourlyOvertimePTF Hourly
AA48$46,023$1,770$22.13$33.20$23.10
A48$47,939$1,844$23.05$34.58$24.07
B48$49,411$1,900$23.76$35.64$24.80
C48$51,313$1,974$24.67$37.01$25.76
D48$53,221$2,047$25.59$38.39$26.72
E48$55,125$2,120$26.50$39.75$27.67
F48$57,033$2,194$27.42$41.13$28.63
G48$58,933$2,267$28.33$42.50$29.58
H48$60,836$2,340$29.25$43.88$30.54
I48$62,741$2,413$30.16$45.24$31.50
J48$64,643$2,486$31.08$46.62$32.45
K48$66,549$2,560$31.99$47.99$33.41
L48$68,455$2,633$32.91$49.37$34.36
M48$70,358$2,706$33.83$50.75$35.32
N48$72,261$2,779$34.74$52.11$36.28
O48$74,171$2,853$35.66$53.49$37.23
P (top)$76,070$2,926$36.57$54.86$38.19

Table 2 — Grade 5

Career appointments on or after February 15, 2013. Each advancement through Step O has a 48-week waiting period.

StepWeeksAnnualBiweeklyHourlyOvertimePTF Hourly
AA48$47,663$1,833$22.91$34.37$23.93
A48$49,556$1,906$23.83$35.75$24.88
B48$50,985$1,961$24.51$36.77$25.59
C48$52,859$2,033$25.41$38.12$26.54
D48$54,740$2,105$26.32$39.48$27.48
E48$56,617$2,178$27.22$40.83$28.42
F48$58,496$2,250$28.12$42.18$29.37
G48$60,369$2,322$29.02$43.53$30.31
H48$62,248$2,394$29.93$44.90$31.25
I48$64,124$2,466$30.83$46.25$32.19
J48$66,003$2,539$31.73$47.60$33.13
K48$67,881$2,611$32.64$48.96$34.08
L48$69,758$2,683$33.54$50.31$35.02
M48$71,637$2,755$34.44$51.66$35.96
N48$73,515$2,828$35.34$53.01$36.91
O48$75,392$2,900$36.25$54.38$37.85
P (top)$77,267$2,972$37.15$55.73$38.79

Full-Time Flexible and MHA rates

Full-Time Flexible (FTF)

GradeWeeksAnnualBiweeklyHourlyOvertimeEffective
Grade 4 FTF48$44,132$1,697$21.22$31.83Sept. 6, 2025
Grade 5 FTF48$45,800$1,762$22.02$33.03Sept. 6, 2025

The official chart states that an FTF moves to Table 2, Step AA after 48 weeks unless converted to full-time regular first.

Mail Handler Assistant (MHA)

GradeStep AStep BAdvance to Step BEffective
MHA Grade 4$19.02/hr$19.52/hrAfter 26 weeksNov. 16, 2024
MHA Grade 5$20.01/hr$20.51/hrAfter 26 weeksNov. 16, 2024
Why the MHA date differs: The official September 2025 chart carries forward the MHA schedule effective November 16, 2024. The career and FTF schedules on that document are effective September 6, 2025.

How to use the chart safely

Start with your PS Form 50 and confirm the rate schedule code, grade, step, and career appointment date. The annual and biweekly figures are basic pay before deductions and premiums. The hourly and overtime columns shown here are copied directly from the official union schedule rather than recalculated or projected.

Do not budget for an assumed general wage increase, retroactive amount, or effective date from the next agreement. Interest arbitration will set the contract terms, and MyPostalPay will update this page only after NPMHU or USPS publishes an official replacement schedule.

Use your verified grade and step to estimate deductions, TSP contributions, and take-home pay.

Open the Take-Home Pay Calculator →
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NPMHU arbitration coverage · USPS step increases explained
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