CFChooseField
Office and Administration

Mail Clerks and Mail Machine Operators, Except Postal Service

Prepare incoming and outgoing mail for distribution. Time-stamp, open, read, sort, and route incoming mail; and address, seal, stamp, fold, stuff, and affix postage to outgoing mail or packages. Duties may also include keeping necessary records and completed forms.

Visual summary of pay, outlook, skills, interests, and preparation for Mail Clerks and Mail Machine Operators, Except Postal Service
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Median pay

$38,150
Median annual pay for Mail Clerks and Mail Machine Operators, Except Postal Service.
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · 2024
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10-year growth

-6.6%
Projected employment growth from 2024 to 2034.
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · 2024–2034 projections
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Annual openings

6,900
Projected annual openings, including growth and replacement demand.
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · 2024–2034 projections
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Employment

67,400
Estimated U.S. employment for Mail Clerks and Mail Machine Operators, Except Postal Service in 2024.
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · 2024
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Jobs added or lost

-4,400
Projected numeric employment change from 2024 to 2034.
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · 2024–2034 projections
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Entry preparation

High school diploma or equivalent
Typical additional preparation: Short-term on-the-job training.
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · 2024 profile
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O*NET occupation profile

What the work involves

Strongest O*NET signals first.

Essential skills

  1. 1Critical Thinking
  2. 2Monitoring
  3. 3Reading Comprehension
  4. 4Speaking
  5. 5Active Listening
  6. 6Writing

Knowledge areas

  1. 1Customer and Personal Service
  2. 2English Language
  3. 3Mathematics
  4. 4Law and Government
  5. 5Education and Training
  6. 6Administrative

Abilities

  1. 1Near Vision
  2. 2Oral Comprehension
  3. 3Category Flexibility
  4. 4Finger Dexterity
  5. 5Information Ordering
  6. 6Manual Dexterity

Career interests

  1. 1Conventional
  2. 2Realistic
  3. 3Enterprising
  4. 4Social
  5. 5Artistic
  6. 6Investigative

Work styles

  1. 1Dependability
  2. 2Attention to Detail
  3. 3Integrity
  4. 4Cautiousness
  5. 5Cooperation
  6. 6Stress Tolerance

Work activities

  1. 1Performing General Physical Activities
  2. 2Handling and Moving Objects
  3. 3Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates
  4. 4Getting Information
  5. 5Controlling Machines and Processes
  6. 6Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events

Work context

  1. 1Indoors, Environmentally Controlled
  2. 2Telephone Conversations
  3. 3E-Mail
  4. 4Frequency of Decision Making
  5. 5Contact With Others
  6. 6Face-to-Face Discussions with Individuals and Within Teams

Representative tasks

  • Wrap packages or bundles by hand, or by using tying machines.
  • Verify that items are addressed correctly, marked with the proper postage, and in suitable condition for processing.
  • Remove containers of sorted mail or parcels and transfer them to designated areas according to established procedures.
  • Sort and route incoming mail, and collect outgoing mail, using carts as necessary.
  • Affix postage to packages or letters by hand, or stamp materials, using postage meters.
  • Determine manner in which mail is to be sent, and prepare it for delivery to mailing facilities.
  • Accept and check containers of mail or parcels from large volume mailers, couriers, and contractors.
  • Seal or open envelopes, by hand or by using machines.

Software and tools

Microsoft Excel · in demandMicrosoft Office software · in demandMicrosoft Outlook · in demandAdobe Acrobat · hot technologyMicrosoft Access · hot technologyMicrosoft PowerPoint · hot technologyMicrosoft Windows · hot technologyMicrosoft Word · hot technologyEmail softwareFinancial accounting softwarePostal ExplorerRecordkeeping software

Sources

BLS provides national pay, employment, and projections. O*NET provides skills, interests, preparation, tasks, work context, and tools.

ChooseField compares fields using public labor-market and professional sources.