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Postal Services
USPS, Canada Post, Royal Mail
Postal Service Clerks
Postal service clerks work at the counter and behind the scenes to sell postage, explain mailing rules, and keep letters and parcels moving. The job combines customer service with careful rule-checking: you need to be quick and helpful, but you also have to catch postage mistakes, packaging problems, and restricted items before they become delays.
Also known as Postal ClerkMail ClerkWindow ClerkPostal Retail ClerkMail Processing Clerk
Median Salary
$61,630
Mean $61,070
U.S. Workforce
~78K
6.1K openings per year
10-Year Growth
+-3.5%
74.2K to 71.6K
Entry Education
No formal educational credential
+ None experience
What This Role Looks Like in Practice
Postal Service Clerks sits in the Government category. In practical terms, this role combines day-to-day execution, cross-team coordination, and consistent decision-making under real business constraints.
U.S. employment is currently about ~78K workers, with a median annual pay of $61,630 and roughly 6.1K openings each year. Based on BLS projections, total employment is expected to decline from 74.2 K in 2024 to 71.6K in 2034.
Most hiring paths start with High School Diploma or GED, and employers typically expect none of related experience. Many careers in this track begin around Mail Processing Clerk and can progress toward Post Office Supervisor. High-value skills usually include Postal Rate Tables, Scales & Postage Calculation, USPS Retail Systems & Point-of-Sale Software, and Mail Sorting Equipment, Barcode Scanners & Handheld Scanners, paired with soft skills such as Active Listening, Speaking, and Reading Comprehension.
Core Responsibilities
- Help customers understand postage prices, mailing rules, post office boxes, and which items can or cannot be mailed.
- Weigh letters and packages, calculate the correct postage, and apply stamps or labels.
- Check outgoing mail for the right postage and make sure packages and letters are packaged properly.
- Sort incoming and outgoing mail by destination and type, using sorting machines or hand sorting when needed.
Keep exploring: more Government careers or browse all job titles.
A Day in the Life
01 Help customers understand postage prices, mailing rules, post office boxes, and which items can or cannot be mailed.
02 Weigh letters and packages, calculate the correct postage, and apply stamps or labels.
03 Check outgoing mail for the right postage and make sure packages and letters are packaged properly.
04 Sort incoming and outgoing mail by destination and type, using sorting machines or hand sorting when needed.
05 Handle special mail services by getting signatures, scanning items, and tracking pieces that need extra security.
06 Move mail and supplies between work areas and keep the mail flow organized throughout the day.
Industries That Hire
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Logistics & Parcel Delivery
UPS, FedEx, DHL
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Office Supply & Shipping Retail
The UPS Store, FedEx Office, Staples
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Higher Education
Harvard University, University of Texas, Arizona State University
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Healthcare Organizations
Mayo Clinic, Kaiser Permanente, Cleveland Clinic
Pros and Cons
Advantages
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You do not need a college degree to get started, and BLS says the role typically requires no prior work experience plus short-term training.
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The work is concrete and learnable: postage, sorting, scanning, and compliance rules are easier to master than many office jobs.
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Median pay is about $61,630 a year, which can be solid for a job with such a low entry barrier.
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There are still about 6.1 thousand annual openings, so turnover creates regular hiring opportunities.
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The job suits people who like helping the public and solving simple, immediate problems face to face.
Challenges
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Employment is projected to fall 3.5% by 2034, from 78.06 thousand workers to 71.6 thousand, so long-term growth is weak.
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A lot of the work is standardized and can be pushed by machines, scanners, and online mailing systems, which limits how much the role can expand.
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The job has a fairly flat career ceiling unless you move into supervision or another postal function.
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The work can be physically repetitive because you spend time sorting, lifting, moving, and handling packages all day.
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Counter work can be frustrating when customers are upset about postage errors, package conditions, or mailing restrictions.
Career Progression
Mail Processing Clerk
0-2 years
$34K-$43K
This entry role focuses on sorting mail, learning postal rules, and handling basic processing tasks with close supervision.
Postal Service Clerk
1-5 years
$56K-$66K
Clerks at this level work the counter, answer customer questions, weigh items, and make sure mail is accepted correctly.
Lead Postal Clerk THIS ROLE
5-9 years
$67K-$79K
Experienced clerks help train newer staff, handle difficult customer issues, and keep daily operations running smoothly.
Post Office Supervisor
8-15 years
$80K-$95K
Supervisors manage staffing, service quality, and workflow across a branch or station.
Education Paths
High School Diploma or GED
The most common education path in the O*NET data, held by 67.56% of workers in this role.
No Formal Educational Credential
BLS lists this as the typical entry point, and employers usually provide short on-the-job training after hiring.
Some College Coursework
A smaller path into the work, used by 17.88% of workers in this role.
Post-Secondary Certificate in Office, Customer Service, or Mail Operations
A less common route, used by 6.8% of workers, and useful if you want faster preparation for counter work and mail handling.
Key Skills
Technical
Postal Rate Tables, Scales & Postage Calculation 82%
USPS Retail Systems & Point-of-Sale Software 84%
Mail Sorting Equipment, Barcode Scanners & Handheld Scanners 79%
Postal Regulations & Mail Compliance Checks 77%
Mail Tracking, Logging & Basic Computer Systems 74%
Soft Skills
Active ListeningSpeakingReading ComprehensionService OrientationAttention to DetailTime Management Job Outlook and Trends
+-3.5%
Projected growth (2024-2034)
6.1K
Annual job openings
Employment is projected to rise from 74.2K to 71.6 K over the next decade, representing -3.5% growth. Around 6.1 K openings per year include both newly created roles and replacement hiring from turnover.
Remote availability is currently Rare. Demand remains strongest where employers need practical domain knowledge plus modern workflow and data skills.