Postal Service Mail Carriers: Career Overview
Sort and deliver mail for the United States Postal Service (USPS). Deliver mail on established route by vehicle or on foot. Includes postal service mail carriers employed by USPS contractors.
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What Tasks Do Postal Service Mail Carriers Take On?
The day-to-day responsibilities of postal service mail carriers cover:
- Scan labels on letters or parcels to confirm receipt.
- Obtain signed receipts for registered, certified, and insured mail, collect associated charges, and complete any necessary paperwork.
- Return to the post office with mail collected from homes, businesses, and public mailboxes.
- Sort mail for delivery, arranging it in delivery sequence.
- Deliver mail to residences and business establishments along specified routes by walking or driving, using a combination of satchels, carts, cars, and small trucks.
- Meet schedules for the collection and return of mail.
- Sign for cash-on-delivery and registered mail before leaving the post office.
- Hold mail for customers who are away from delivery locations.
Skills and Knowledge
Successful postal service mail carriers combine a mix of skills and domain knowledge.
Top Skills
The abilities most important for this role, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:
Core Knowledge
Types of Postal Service Mail Carriers Jobs
People in this occupation may also be known by titles such as:
- Carrier
- Carrier Associate
- Carrier Driver
- City Carrier
- City Carrier Assistant (CCA)
- City Letter Carrier
- City Mail Carrier
- Clerk Carrier
Job Outlook
The U.S. employs around 195,931 postal service mail carriers working in the United States today. Demand is forecast to decline by -2.2% over the projection horizon.
Salary for Postal Service Mail Carriers
| Statistic | Value |
|---|---|
| Annual median | $63,650 |
| Hourly median | $30.60 |
| 10th percentile | $37,105 |
| 25th percentile | $50,378 |
| 75th percentile | $76,923 |
| 90th percentile | $90,195 |
Pay can vary substantially based on experience, location, and industry.
Pay by State
| State | Annual median salary |
|---|---|
| South Dakota | $59,320 |
| Massachusetts | $59,010 |
| Arizona | $58,570 |
| California | $58,390 |
| Nevada | $58,390 |
| Washington | $58,390 |
| Illinois | $58,390 |
| District of Columbia | $58,390 |
| Maryland | $58,390 |
| New York | $58,390 |
| Rhode Island | $58,390 |
| Utah | $58,390 |
| Florida | $58,390 |
| Virginia | $58,390 |
| Texas | $58,390 |
| Minnesota | $58,390 |
| Nebraska | $58,390 |
| Indiana | $57,910 |
| Iowa | $57,820 |
| Ohio | $57,490 |
| New Jersey | $57,490 |
| Oklahoma | $57,490 |
| North Dakota | $57,490 |
| Wisconsin | $57,470 |
| Connecticut | $57,470 |
| New Hampshire | $57,470 |
| North Carolina | $57,200 |
| Tennessee | $57,030 |
| Delaware | $56,660 |
| Arkansas | $56,560 |
| Michigan | $56,450 |
| Missouri | $56,450 |
| Oregon | $56,330 |
| Pennsylvania | $56,330 |
| Maine | $56,330 |
| Vermont | $56,330 |
| Colorado | $56,330 |
| Montana | $56,330 |
| Kentucky | $56,330 |
| Kansas | $56,330 |
| Idaho | $55,930 |
| Louisiana | $55,930 |
| South Carolina | $55,930 |
| West Virginia | $55,540 |
| New Mexico | $55,540 |
| Alabama | $55,200 |
| Alaska | $54,270 |
| Hawaii | $54,270 |
| Puerto Rico | $54,270 |
| Wyoming | $54,270 |
| Georgia | $54,270 |
| Mississippi | $53,600 |
| Virgin Islands | $52,210 |
| Guam | $50,210 |
Top-Paying U.S. Regions
Earnings for postal service mail carriers differ across the country. Top regions by median wage:
| Region | Median annual wage | Share of U.S. jobs | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|
| Southwest | $58,195 | 11.4% | 0.91 |
| Far Western US | $58,074 | 14.2% | 0.85 |
| New England | $58,056 | 5.2% | 1.09 |
| Middle Atlantic | $57,637 | 16.1% | 1.06 |
| Great Lakes | $57,564 | 16.0% | 1.13 |
| Plains States | $57,421 | 7.2% | 1.05 |
| Southeast | $56,684 | 26.4% | 1.08 |
| Rocky Mountains | $56,652 | 3.1% | 0.79 |
Top Metro Areas
| Metro area | State | Median annual wage | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Victoria, TX | TX | $65,490 | 100 |
| Fargo, ND-MN | ND | $64,540 | 240 |
| Lincoln, NE | NE | $64,540 | 300 |
| Napa, CA | CA | $64,540 | 130 |
| Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA | CA | $64,540 | 660 |
| Lawrence, KS | KS | $64,500 | 100 |
| Enid, OK | OK | $64,180 | 60 |
| Bozeman, MT | MT | $63,390 | 70 |
Industry Breakdown
The largest employers of postal service mail carriers are found across these industries:
| Industry | Employment | Median annual wage |
|---|---|---|
| Transportation and Warehousing | 336,040 | $57,490 |
The table below shows some of the most common industries where those employed in this career field work.
Tech Stack
- Office suite software: Microsoft Office software (hot technology)
- Operating system software: Microsoft Windows (hot technology)
- Word processing software: Microsoft Word (hot technology)
What the Workplace Is Like
The work environment for postal service mail carriers reflects the following characteristics:
- Outdoors, Exposed to All Weather Conditions
- In an Enclosed Vehicle or Operate Enclosed Equipment
- Spend Time Making Repetitive Motions
- Importance of Being Exact or Accurate
- Importance of Repeating Same Tasks
Getting Started in This Career
Entry-level postal service mail carriers positions require a high school diploma or equivalent as the typical entry-level education. This occupation sits in Some Preparation Needed (Job Zone 2), signaling the level of preparation typically expected.
Similar Occupations
Similar Occupations
- Transportation, Storage, and Distribution Managers (Supplemental)
- Postmasters and Mail Superintendents (Primary-Long)
- Baggage Porters and Bellhops (Supplemental)
- Counter and Rental Clerks (Supplemental)
- Switchboard Operators, Including Answering Service (Supplemental)
- Customer Service Representatives (Supplemental)
- Order Clerks (Supplemental)
- Reservation and Transportation Ticket Agents and Travel Clerks (Supplemental)
References
Data on this page comes from the following authoritative sources:
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics — Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) for employment and wage data by state and industry.
- BLS Employment Projections for total employment and growth forecasts.
- O*NET (Occupational Information Network) for skills, knowledge, tasks, work activities, work context, technology, and education-zone data.
SOC code: 43-5052.00 (Postal Service Mail Carriers).
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