What You Need to Know About Postal Service Mail Carrier
Position Description Sort mail for delivery. Deliver mail on established route by vehicle or on foot.
Life As a Postal Service Mail Carrier: What Do They Do?
- Hold mail for customers who are away from delivery locations.
- Return to the post office with mail collected from homes, businesses, and public mailboxes.
- Meet schedules for the collection and return of mail.
- Answer customers’ questions about postal services and regulations.
- Bundle mail in preparation for delivery or transportation to relay boxes.
- Sell stamps and money orders.
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Qualities of a Postal Service Mail Carrier
Below is a list of the skills most Postal Service Mail Carriers say are important on the job.
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
- Rural Route Carrier
- Mail Deliverer
- Delivery Route Carrier
- Rural Carrier Associate (RCA)
- USPS Letter Carrier (United States Postal Service Letter Carrier)
What Kind of Postal Service Mail Carrier Job Opportunities Are There?
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. The BLS estimates 16,100 yearly job openings in this field.

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.
How much do Postal Service Mail Carriers make 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 |
What Tools & Technology do Postal Service Mail Carriers Use?
Below is a list of the types of tools and technologies that Postal Service Mail Carriers may use on a daily basis:
- 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?
Individuals working as a Postal Service Mail Carrier have obtained the following education levels:

How many years of work experience do I need?

Postal Service Mail Carriers Sector

The table below shows the approximate number of Postal Service Mail Carriers employed by various industries.

You May Also Be Interested In…
Those who work as a Postal Service Mail Carrier sometimes switch careers to one of these choices:
References:
More about our data sources and methodologies.
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