Postal Service Mail Carriers
Postal service workers sell postal products and collect, sort, and deliver mail.
Is postal service mail carriers a good career?
It scores 15/100 and ranks #522 of 825 occupations on pay, growth, employment and openings. Here's what the federal data says, with no editorializing.
Advantages
- High volume of openings — about 20,600 a year
- No college degree typically required to enter
Possible tradeoffs
- Employment is projected to decline (-3.5% through 2034)
What postal service mail carriers earn
Wages: BLS OEWS May 2025Pay is a range, not a number. Half of U.S. postal service mail carriers earn between $48,940 and $81,000 a year.
Best-paying states
Best-paying metros
Strongest employment concentration
Live postal service mail carriers jobs
No live postal service mail carriers openings yet
When the jobs.best ATS feed launches, verified postal service mail carriers openings will appear here — each shown against the $60,550 national median. Nothing here is placeholder.
No placeholder listings · nothing inventedHow to become a postal service mail carrier
- Typical education
- No formal educational credential
- Work experience
- None
- On-the-job training
- Short-term on-the-job training
- Outlook
- Employment is projected to grow decline through 2034.
Education
Although no formal educational credential is typically required to enter these occupations, most postal service workers have at least a high school diploma or the equivalent.
Training
Newly hired postal service workers receive on-the-job training that usually lasts a few weeks. Beginning carriers may work alongside an experienced carrier.
Licenses, certifications & registrations
Postal service workers who operate a motor vehicle need a driver's license. In addition, mail carriers must have a safe driving record and pass a road test before driving on the job.
Important qualities
Customer-service skills. Postal service workers, particularly clerks, regularly interact with customers. As a result, they must be courteous and tactful and provide good client service.
Detail oriented. Postal service workers must pay attention to detail to ensure accuracy in sorting and delivering mail.
Physical stamina. Postal service workers may need to stand or walk for long periods.
Physical strength. Postal service workers must be able to lift and carry heavy mail bags and parcels.
Time-management skills. Postal service workers often need to prioritize and handle several tasks at once.
Visual ability. To have a driver’s license, postal service workers must be able to pass a state vision test.
Related occupations
How much do postal service mail carriers make?
The national median wage is $60,550 a year, with the middle half earning between $48,940 and $81,000 (BLS OEWS May 2025).
Is postal service mail carriers a good career?
On the Jobs.best index it scores 15 of 100 and ranks #522 of 825 occupations, weighing pay, growth, employment and openings. Employment is projected to change -3.5% through 2034.
What education do you need to become a postal service mail carrier?
The typical entry-level education is no formal educational credential.
Where do postal service mail carriers earn the most?
Among states, District of Columbia pays the highest median ($64,250). Local pay for every state and metro is below.