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Postal Service Mail Sorters, Processors, and Processing Machine Operators

Job Zone 2 - Some preparation needed

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Prepare incoming and outgoing mail for distribution for the United States Postal Service (USPS). 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 perform other duties related to mail handling within the postal service. Includes postal service mail sorters and processors employed by USPS contractors.

Pay & job outlook

Median pay: $58,470/yr (U.S. national, May 2025)

$45,530$75,280

Typical range nationwide (10th–90th percentile). This is a population snapshot, not a personal prediction - actual pay varies by location, employer, and experience.

Job outlook: -8.4% projected growth, 2024–2034 — declining.

About 7,800 openings per year, on average, over the decade.

Typical entry-level education: No formal educational credential.

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS and Employment Projections.

Top skills
MonitoringCritical ThinkingSpeakingReading ComprehensionCoordinationActive ListeningTime ManagementOperations MonitoringJudgment and Decision MakingSocial Perceptiveness
Top knowledge areas
English LanguageProduction and ProcessingCustomer and Personal ServiceAdministrativeAdministration and ManagementTransportationPublic Safety and SecurityComputers and Electronics
Core tasks

• Clear jams in sorting equipment.

• Operate various types of equipment, such as computer scanning equipment, addressographs, mimeographs, optical character readers, and bar-code sorters.

• Sort odd-sized mail by hand, sort mail that other workers have been unable to sort, and segregate items requiring special handling.

Frequently asked questions

What's the median pay for Postal Service Mail Sorters, Processors, and Processing Machine Operators?

The median pay for Postal Service Mail Sorters, Processors, and Processing Machine Operators is $58,470 per year, per the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

What's the job outlook for Postal Service Mail Sorters, Processors, and Processing Machine Operators?

Employment for Postal Service Mail Sorters, Processors, and Processing Machine Operators is projected to change -8.4% from 2024 to 2034 - declining.

What education is typically required for Postal Service Mail Sorters, Processors, and Processing Machine Operators?

Typical entry-level education: No formal educational credential.

How many job openings are there each year for Postal Service Mail Sorters, Processors, and Processing Machine Operators?

About 7,800 openings per year, on average, over the decade.