What Does it Take to Be a Postal Service Mail Carrier?
Postal Service Mail Carrier Definition Sort mail for delivery. Deliver mail on established route by vehicle or on foot.
List of Postal Service Mail Carrier Job Duties
- Report any unusual circumstances concerning mail delivery, including the condition of street letter boxes.
- Return incorrectly addressed mail to senders.
- Sell stamps and money orders.
- Return to the post office with mail collected from homes, businesses, and public mailboxes.
- Travel to post offices to pick up the mail for routes or pick up mail from postal relay boxes.
- Deliver mail to residences and business establishments along specified routes by walking or driving, using a combination of satchels, carts, cars, and small trucks.
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Postal Service Mail Carrier Skills
These are the skills Postal Service Mail Carriers 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.
Critical Thinking: Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
Social Perceptiveness: Being aware of others' reactions and understanding why they react as they do.
Time Management: Managing one’s own time and the time of others.
Coordination: Adjusting actions in relation to others' actions.
Related Job Titles
- Mail Sorter and Delivery
- Mail Carrier
- Rural Carrier Associate (RCA)
- Rural Route Carrier
- Mailman
Are There Job Opportunities for Postal Service Mail Carriers?
There were about 316,700 jobs for Postal Service Mail Carrier in 2016 (in the United States). There is little to no growth in job opportunities for Postal Service Mail Carrier. There will be an estimated 16,100 positions for Postal Service Mail Carrier per year.

The states with the most job growth for Postal Service Mail Carrier are Utah, Texas, and Connecticut. Watch out if you plan on working in Pennsylvania, Oklahoma, or Ohio. These states have the worst job growth for this type of profession.
How Much Does a Postal Service Mail Carrier Make?
Postal Service Mail Carriers make between $36,990 and $63,970 a year.

Postal Service Mail Carriers who work in California, Hawaii, or District of Columbia, make the highest salaries.
Below is a list of the median annual salaries for Postal Service Mail Carriers in different U.S. states.
State | Annual Mean Salary |
---|---|
Alabama | $51,320 |
Alaska | $51,840 |
Arizona | $52,130 |
Arkansas | $51,050 |
California | $53,680 |
Colorado | $51,070 |
Connecticut | $52,150 |
Delaware | $51,890 |
District of Columbia | $53,250 |
Florida | $52,090 |
Georgia | $51,180 |
Hawaii | $54,190 |
Idaho | $50,610 |
Illinois | $52,090 |
Indiana | $51,300 |
Iowa | $51,350 |
Kansas | $50,580 |
Kentucky | $51,290 |
Louisiana | $50,840 |
Maine | $50,710 |
Maryland | $51,540 |
Massachusetts | $52,730 |
Michigan | $51,340 |
Minnesota | $51,610 |
Mississippi | $51,260 |
Missouri | $51,010 |
Montana | $50,260 |
Nebraska | $51,210 |
Nevada | $51,840 |
New Hampshire | $51,380 |
New Jersey | $52,890 |
New Mexico | $51,350 |
New York | $52,150 |
North Carolina | $51,300 |
North Dakota | $50,340 |
Ohio | $51,290 |
Oklahoma | $50,820 |
Oregon | $50,210 |
Pennsylvania | $51,540 |
Rhode Island | $51,210 |
South Carolina | $51,230 |
South Dakota | $51,040 |
Tennessee | $51,560 |
Texas | $51,620 |
Utah | $51,140 |
Vermont | $50,560 |
Virginia | $50,760 |
Washington | $51,530 |
West Virginia | $50,660 |
Wisconsin | $51,360 |
Wyoming | $49,860 |
Tools & Technologies Used by Postal Service Mail Carriers
Although they’re not necessarily needed for all jobs, the following technologies are used by many Postal Service Mail Carriers:
- Microsoft Windows
- Time and Attendance Collection System TACS
- Delivery operations information system DOIS
- Electronic Time Clock ETC
- Address Management System AMS
- Delivery Routing System DRS
How do I Become a Postal Service Mail Carrier?
What education is needed to be a Postal Service Mail Carrier?

How many years of work experience do I need?

Postal Service Mail Carriers Sector

Postal Service Mail Carriers work in the following industries:

Similar Careers
Are you already one of the many Postal Service Mail Carrier in the United States? If you’re thinking about changing careers, these fields are worth exploring:
References:
More about our data sources and methodologies.
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