What Do Postal Service Mail Sorter, Processor, and Processing Machine Operator Do?
Postal Service Mail Processing Machine Operator Definition Prepare incoming and outgoing mail for distribution. Examine, sort, and route mail. Load, operate, and occasionally adjust and repair mail processing, sorting, and canceling machinery. Keep records of shipments, pouches, and sacks; and other duties related to mail handling within the postal service.
List of Postal Service Mail Processing Machine Operator Job Duties
- Load and unload mail trucks, sometimes lifting containers of mail onto equipment that transports items to sorting stations.
- Dump sacks of mail onto conveyors for culling and sorting.
- Sort odd-sized mail by hand, sort mail that other workers have been unable to sort, and segregate items requiring special handling.
- Weigh articles to determine required postage.
- Operate various types of equipment, such as computer scanning equipment, addressographs, mimeographs, optical character readers, and bar-code sorters.
- Direct items according to established routing schemes, using computer-controlled keyboards or voice-recognition equipment.
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What Skills Do You Need to Work as a Postal Service Mail Processing Machine Operator?
Postal Service Mail Sorters, Processors, and Processing Machine Operators state the following job skills are important in their day-to-day work.
Monitoring: Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
Reading Comprehension: Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.
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.
Coordination: Adjusting actions in relation to others’ actions.
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.
Related Job Titles
- Mailing Section Clerk
- Flat Sorting Machine Clerk (FSM Clerk)
- Mail Distribution Clerk
- Equipment Operator
- Sorter
What Kind of Postal Service Mail Processing Machine Operator Job Opportunities Are There?
In the United States, there were 106,700 jobs for Postal Service Mail Sorter, Processor, and Processing Machine Operator in 2016. There is little to no growth in job opportunities for Postal Service Mail Sorter, Processor, and Processing Machine Operator. There will be an estimated 5,200 positions for Postal Service Mail Processing Machine Operator per year.

The states with the most job growth for Postal Service Mail Processing Machine Operator are Utah, Texas, and Connecticut. Watch out if you plan on working in Pennsylvania, Ohio, or Oklahoma. These states have the worst job growth for this type of profession.
How Much Does a Postal Service Mail Processing Machine Operator Make?
The average yearly salary of a Postal Service Mail Processing Machine Operator ranges between $35,230 and $60,110.

Postal Service Mail Sorters, Processors, and Processing Machine Operators who work in Idaho, Delaware, or Hawaii, make the highest salaries.
How much do Postal Service Mail Sorters, Processors, and Processing Machine Operators make in each U.S. state?
State | Annual Mean Salary |
---|---|
Alabama | $51,250 |
Alaska | $48,540 |
Arizona | $49,170 |
Arkansas | $51,220 |
California | $51,520 |
Colorado | $50,680 |
Connecticut | $52,580 |
Delaware | $53,890 |
District of Columbia | $52,930 |
Florida | $51,870 |
Georgia | $52,330 |
Hawaii | $51,760 |
Idaho | $52,820 |
Illinois | $50,880 |
Indiana | $48,870 |
Iowa | $51,130 |
Kansas | $49,850 |
Kentucky | $49,600 |
Louisiana | $51,350 |
Maine | $50,930 |
Maryland | $51,520 |
Massachusetts | $51,750 |
Michigan | $51,510 |
Minnesota | $50,070 |
Mississippi | $49,260 |
Missouri | $51,140 |
Montana | $48,100 |
Nebraska | $49,670 |
Nevada | $50,820 |
New Hampshire | $50,120 |
New Jersey | $52,420 |
New Mexico | $50,310 |
New York | $51,390 |
North Carolina | $50,900 |
North Dakota | $45,980 |
Ohio | $50,030 |
Oklahoma | $50,110 |
Oregon | $49,580 |
Pennsylvania | $51,710 |
Rhode Island | $51,460 |
South Carolina | $49,560 |
South Dakota | $48,020 |
Tennessee | $51,100 |
Texas | $52,430 |
Utah | $49,140 |
Vermont | $53,070 |
Virginia | $51,260 |
Washington | $52,420 |
West Virginia | $46,550 |
Wisconsin | $52,390 |
Wyoming | $50,400 |
What Tools & Technology do Postal Service Mail Sorters, Processors, and Processing Machine Operators Use?
Although they’re not necessarily needed for all jobs, the following technologies are used by many Postal Service Mail Sorters, Processors, and Processing Machine Operators:
- Time and Attendance Collection System TACS
- Electronic Time Clock ETC
- Address Management System AMS
- NCR Advanced Store
- Delivery Routing System DRS
Becoming a Postal Service Mail Processing Machine Operator
What education is needed to be a Postal Service Mail Sorter, Processor, and Processing Machine Operator?

How many years of work experience do I need?

Where Postal Service Mail Sorters, Processors, and Processing Machine Operators Work

Postal Service Mail Sorters, Processors, and Processing Machine Operators work in the following industries:

Other Jobs You May be Interested In
Are you already one of the many Postal Service Mail Sorter, Processor, and Processing Machine Operator in the United States? If you’re thinking about changing careers, these fields are worth exploring:
References:
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