What Do Postal Service Mail Carriers Do?

Occupation Description Sort mail for delivery. Deliver mail on established route by vehicle or on foot.

List of Postal Service Mail Carrier Job Duties

• Return incorrectly addressed mail to senders.
• Sign for cash-on-delivery and registered mail before leaving the post office.
• Provide customers with change of address cards and other forms.
• Complete forms that notify publishers of address changes.
• Sell stamps and money orders.
• Meet schedules for the collection and return of mail.

Qualities of a Postal Service Mail Carrier

Postal Service Mail Carriers state the following job skills are important in their day-to-day work.

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.

Related Job Titles for this Occupation:

• Mail Rider
• USPS Letter Carrier (United States Postal Service Letter Carrier)
• Rural Mail Carrier
• Rural Carrier Associate (RCA)
• Carrier Driver

Is There Job Demand for Postal Service Mail Carriers?

In the United States, there were 316,700 jobs for Postal Service Mail Carriers in 2016.

Postal Service Mail Carrier 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 -38,200 jobs for Postal Service Mail Carriers by 2026. The BLS estimates 16,100 yearly job openings in this field per year.

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

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

Postal Service Mail Carrier Average Salary

The average yearly salary of a Postal Service Mail Carrier ranges between $36,990 and $63,970. The median salary is $55,210.

How much do Postal Service Mail Carriers make in different U.S. states?

Annual Mean Salary by State

State	Annual Mean Salary
Hawaii	$54,190
California	$53,680
District of Columbia	$53,250
New Jersey	$52,890
Massachusetts	$52,730
New York	$52,150
Connecticut	$52,150
Arizona	$52,130
Florida	$52,090
Illinois	$52,090
Delaware	$51,890
Alaska	$51,840
Nevada	$51,840
Texas	$51,620
Minnesota	$51,610
Tennessee	$51,560
Maryland	$51,540
Pennsylvania	$51,540
Washington	$51,530
New Hampshire	$51,380
Wisconsin	$51,360
Iowa	$51,350
New Mexico	$51,350
Michigan	$51,340
Alabama	$51,320
Indiana	$51,300
North Carolina	$51,300
Ohio	$51,290
Kentucky	$51,290
Mississippi	$51,260
South Carolina	$51,230
Nebraska	$51,210
Rhode Island	$51,210
Georgia	$51,180
Utah	$51,140
Colorado	$51,070
Arkansas	$51,050
South Dakota	$51,040
Missouri	$51,010
Louisiana	$50,840
Oklahoma	$50,820
Virginia	$50,760
Maine	$50,710
West Virginia	$50,660
Idaho	$50,610
Kansas	$50,580
Vermont	$50,560
North Dakota	$50,340
Montana	$50,260
Oregon	$50,210
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:

• Delivery operations information system DOIS
• Microsoft Windows

How to Become a Postal Service Mail Carrier

Education needed to be a Postal Service Mail Carrier:

What work experience do I need to become a Postal Service Mail Carrier?

Where Postal Service Mail Carriers Work

Other Jobs You May be Interested In

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

• Bus Drivers, School or Special Client

References

Bureau of Labor Statistics

College Factual

O*NET Online

Image Credit: Via Wikimedia Commons