Life As a Postal Service Clerk

Example of a Postal Service Clerk Job Perform any combination of tasks in a post office, such as receive letters and parcels; sell postage and revenue stamps, postal cards, and stamped envelopes; fill out and sell money orders; place mail in pigeon holes of mail rack or in bags; and examine mail for correct postage.

What do Postal Service Clerks do On a Daily Basis?

• Transport mail from one work station to another.
• Provide customers with assistance in filing claims for mail theft, or lost or damaged mail.
• Register, certify, and insure letters and parcels.
• Feed mail into postage canceling devices or hand stamp mail to cancel postage.
• Cash money orders.
• Provide assistance to the public in complying with federal regulations of Postal Service and other federal agencies.

What Skills Do You Need to Work as a Postal Service Clerk?

These are the skills Postal Service Clerks say are the most useful in their careers:

Active Listening: Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.

Speaking: Talking to others to convey information effectively.

Reading Comprehension: Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.

Service Orientation: Actively looking for ways to help people.

Time Management: Managing one’s own time and the time of others.

Types of Postal Service Clerk Jobs

• Mail Clerk
• Postal Service Window Clerk
• Postal Support Employee
• Sales and Distribution Clerk
• Postal Clerk

What Kind of Postal Service Clerk Job Opportunities Are There?

In the United States, there were 79,000 jobs for Postal Service Clerks in 2016.

Postal Service Clerk jobs are decreasing by a rate of -12.1%. This means the total job opportunities are shrinking. The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts a loss of -9,500 jobs for Postal Service Clerks by 2026. Due to new job openings and attrition, there will be an average of 4,800 job openings in this field each year.

The states with the most job growth for Postal Service Clerks are Texas, California, and Utah.

Watch out if you plan on working in New York, Pennsylvania, or Florida. These states have the worst job growth for this type of profession.

How Much Does a Postal Service Clerk Make?

Postal Service Clerks Make between $35,770 and $61,330 a year. The median salary is $55,280.

Below is a list of the median annual salaries for jobs of this type in different U.S. states.

Annual Mean Salary by State

State	Annual Mean Salary
Hawaii	$54,250
Arizona	$53,870
District of Columbia	$53,840
New Jersey	$53,750
California	$53,660
Georgia	$52,640
North Carolina	$52,610
Connecticut	$52,510
Massachusetts	$52,450
Rhode Island	$52,350
Michigan	$52,310
Florida	$52,260
Delaware	$52,230
Maryland	$52,090
South Carolina	$51,500
New York	$51,420
Louisiana	$51,150
Colorado	$51,050
Texas	$51,030
Virginia	$50,930
Ohio	$50,610
Nevada	$50,570
New Hampshire	$50,540
Alabama	$50,450
Pennsylvania	$50,390
Oregon	$50,360
Indiana	$50,330
Illinois	$50,300
Tennessee	$50,200
Washington	$50,140
New Mexico	$49,850
Wisconsin	$49,720
Utah	$49,440
Kentucky	$49,320
Idaho	$49,110
Oklahoma	$48,940
Mississippi	$48,710
Minnesota	$48,690
Kansas	$48,450
Missouri	$48,040
Vermont	$47,930
Maine	$47,860
Wyoming	$47,500
Nebraska	$46,830
West Virginia	$46,820
Arkansas	$46,720
Montana	$46,230
Iowa	$45,970
South Dakota	$45,010
North Dakota	$44,170
Alaska	$42,920

What Tools & Technology do Postal Service Clerks Use?

Although they’re not necessarily needed for all jobs, the following technologies are used by many Postal Service Clerks:

• Microsoft Windows
• Delivery operations information system DOIS

How do I Become a Postal Service Clerk?

Education needed to be a Postal Service Clerk:

How Long Does it Take to Become Postal Service Clerk?

Where Postal Service Clerks Are Employed

Similar Careers

Those interested in being a Postal Service Clerk may also be interested in:

• Medical Records and Health Information Technicians

Are you already one of the many Postal Service Clerks in the United States? If you’re thinking about changing careers, these fields are worth exploring:

• Office Machine Operators, Except Computer

References

Bureau of Labor Statistics

College Factual

O*NET Online

Image Credit: Via Wikimedia Commons