Postal Service Mail Sorters, Processors, and Processing Machine Operators
Postal service workers sell postal products and collect, sort, and deliver mail.
Is postal service mail sorters, processors, and processing machine operators a good career?
It scores 12/100 and ranks #645 of 825 occupations on pay, growth, employment and openings. Here's what the federal data says, with no editorializing.
Advantages
- No college degree typically required to enter
Possible tradeoffs
- Employment is projected to decline (-8.4% through 2034)
What postal service mail sorters, processors, and processing machine operators earn
Wages: BLS OEWS May 2025Pay is a range, not a number. Half of U.S. postal service mail sorters, processors, and processing machine operators earn between $48,880 and $75,030 a year.
Best-paying states
Best-paying metros
Strongest employment concentration
Live postal service mail sorters, processors, and processing machine operators jobs
No live postal service mail sorters, processors, and processing machine operators openings yet
When the jobs.best ATS feed launches, verified postal service mail sorters, processors, and processing machine operators openings will appear here — each shown against the $58,470 national median. Nothing here is placeholder.
No placeholder listings · nothing inventedHow to become a postal service mail sorters, processors, and processing machine operator
- 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 sorters, processors, and processing machine operators make?
The national median wage is $58,470 a year, with the middle half earning between $48,880 and $75,030 (BLS OEWS May 2025).
Is postal service mail sorters, processors, and processing machine operators a good career?
On the Jobs.best index it scores 12 of 100 and ranks #645 of 825 occupations, weighing pay, growth, employment and openings. Employment is projected to change -8.4% through 2034.
What education do you need to become a postal service mail sorters, processors, and processing machine operator?
The typical entry-level education is no formal educational credential.
Where do postal service mail sorters, processors, and processing machine operators earn the most?
Among states, District of Columbia pays the highest median ($66,750). Local pay for every state and metro is below.