Salary comparison
Postal Service Mail Carriers: Oxnard vs Des Moines
Oxnard, CA pays about 3.4% more for postal service mail carriers on paper — $66,440 vs $64,250. But once you factor in what it costs to live there, Oxnard comes out ahead by $2,190 a year in real buying power.
Oxnard, CA
$66,440
$51,130
$81,040
$31.94
100
$66,440/yr
Median adjusted for local cost of living.
Des Moines, IA
$64,250
$52,190
$77,380
$30.89
100
$64,250/yr
Median adjusted for local cost of living.
What the numbers mean in practice
The headline gap is $2,190 a year (3.4%) in favor of Oxnard. That is the raw salary difference before any living costs.
Oxnard runs a cost index of 100 against the national baseline of 100; Des Moines sits at 100. After adjusting the median for those costs, Oxnard is the better deal by $2,190 a year — that is what each paycheck actually buys locally.
If you are weighing a move from Des Moines to Oxnard for this role, the raise needs to beat 3.4% to come out ahead after living costs. Anything below that and you are earning more on paper but keeping less.
Common questions
Where do postal service mail carriers earn more, Oxnard or Des Moines?
Oxnard pays $66,440 on median — about 3.4% more than Des Moines ($64,250). Based on BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics.
Which city is the better deal after living costs?
Oxnard. Once you divide each median by the local cost index, Oxnard gives you roughly$66,440 of real buying power versus $64,250 in the other city.