Occupation · SOC 43-5051
Postal Service Clerks
Perform any combination of tasks in a United States Postal Service (USPS) post office, such as receive letters and parcels; sell postage and revenue stamps, postal cards, and stamped envelopes; fill out and sell money orders; place mail in pigeon holes of mail rack or in bags; and examine mail for correct postage. Includes postal service clerks employed by USPS contractors.
Median wage
$61,630
$42,600–$74,050
Projected growth
—
—
Annual openings
—
per year
Employed (US)
78,060
Job Zone 2
Typical preparation
Some preparation
Stackable credential programs
0 mapped
Core skills
Active ListeningSpeakingService OrientationReading ComprehensionTime ManagementSocial PerceptivenessMonitoringCritical ThinkingWritingJudgment and Decision MakingMathematicsCoordinationComplex Problem SolvingPersuasionActive LearningNegotiationManagement of Personnel ResourcesLearning StrategiesSystems EvaluationSystems AnalysisQuality Control AnalysisOperations MonitoringInstructingTroubleshootingManagement of Material ResourcesManagement of Financial ResourcesOperation and ControlProgrammingTechnology DesignOperations AnalysisScienceRepairingInstallationEquipment SelectionEquipment Maintenance
Knowledge areas
Customer and Personal ServiceEnglish LanguageMathematicsSales and MarketingAdministrativeTransportationComputers and ElectronicsAdministration and ManagementPublic Safety and SecurityProduction and ProcessingEducation and TrainingPersonnel and Human ResourcesPsychologyEconomics and AccountingMechanicalCommunications and MediaTelecommunicationsLaw and GovernmentSociology and AnthropologyEngineering and TechnologyGeographyDesignTherapy and CounselingPhilosophy and TheologyPhysicsForeign LanguageChemistryMedicine and DentistryBuilding and ConstructionHistory and ArcheologyFood ProductionBiologyFine Arts
Technology & tools
Budgeting softwareDelivery operations information system DOISElectronic Time Clock ETCInventory tracking softwareMicrosoft WindowsNCR Advanced StorePoint of sale POS softwareTime and Attendance Collection System TACS
Representative tasks
Performing for or Working Directly with the PublicGetting InformationIdentifying Objects, Actions, and EventsEvaluating Information to Determine Compliance with StandardsCommunicating with Supervisors, Peers, or SubordinatesHandling and Moving ObjectsWorking with ComputersProcessing InformationUpdating and Using Relevant KnowledgeCommunicating with People Outside the OrganizationEstablishing and Maintaining Interpersonal RelationshipsDocumenting/Recording InformationInterpreting the Meaning of Information for OthersMaking Decisions and Solving ProblemsPerforming General Physical ActivitiesSelling or Influencing OthersOrganizing, Planning, and Prioritizing WorkMonitoring Processes, Materials, or SurroundingsJudging the Qualities of Objects, Services, or PeopleResolving Conflicts and Negotiating with OthersTraining and Teaching OthersAnalyzing Data or InformationEstimating the Quantifiable Characteristics of Products, Events, or InformationPerforming Administrative ActivitiesProviding Consultation and Advice to OthersDeveloping and Building TeamsCoordinating the Work and Activities of OthersInspecting Equipment, Structures, or MaterialsCoaching and Developing OthersThinking CreativelyControlling Machines and ProcessesAssisting and Caring for OthersScheduling Work and ActivitiesMonitoring and Controlling ResourcesGuiding, Directing, and Motivating SubordinatesDeveloping Objectives and StrategiesOperating Vehicles, Mechanized Devices, or EquipmentStaffing Organizational UnitsRepairing and Maintaining Electronic EquipmentRepairing and Maintaining Mechanical Equipment
Competency framework
Skill expectations by proficiency level.
emerging
Letter and parcel weights — measure and record under direct supervisor guidance at a post office counter.Postage rates and mailing cost tables — reference and apply with assistance when processing standard outgoing mail.Incoming and outgoing mail — sort by hand into basic destination categories following established sorting protocols.Package and envelope condition — inspect for obvious damage or insufficient postage under close supervisory review.Recipient signatures — collect and log for registered or special delivery items using provided forms and checklists.Mail carts and containers — transport between designated workstations following prescribed routes on the facility floor.Common mail regulations and postage rate charts — consult and relay basic answers to customer inquiries at the service window.Electronic mail-sorting device operation — perform entry-level scanning tasks under direct instruction in a postal processing area.Point-of-sale software — process straightforward customer transactions with supervisor oversight at the retail counter.Workplace safety and handling procedures — follow established guidelines when moving parcels and containers in a postal facility.
developing
Letter and parcel mailing costs — compute accurately for standard and common specialty mail types with minimal supervisory input at a busy service counter.Postage sufficiency and package compliance — check outgoing items against current USPS regulations routinely without prompting during daily processing shifts.Electronic mail-sorting and scanning devices — operate consistently to process moderate volumes of mixed mail across multiple destination categories.Signature acquisition records — maintain accurately for registered and special delivery items across a full shift, resolving minor discrepancies independently.Customer mail regulation questions — answer with confidence and accuracy, drawing on working knowledge of postage rates and post office box procedures.Mail flow between workstations — coordinate transport efficiently to keep processing queues moving during moderate-traffic periods.Inventory management software — track mailing supplies and flag replenishment needs as part of routine counter and back-office duties.Time management across concurrent tasks — balance customer service, sorting, and administrative duties during standard postal operating hours.Non-standard or oversized parcel requirements — identify appropriate mailing class and surcharges using rate reference materials with limited guidance.Workplace incidents and mail irregularities — document and report following established postal procedures during daily operations.
proficient
Complex mailing cost scenarios — calculate independently for international, bulk, and specialty mail classes in a high-volume postal retail environment.Mail condition and regulatory compliance — audit outgoing batches thoroughly, catching and resolving postage and packaging issues before dispatch.High-volume electronic sorting operations — manage and troubleshoot device settings to maintain throughput accuracy during peak processing periods.Special delivery and registered mail workflows — oversee end-to-end signature collection, tracking, and recordkeeping without supervisory intervention.Escalated customer inquiries — resolve complex questions about mail regulations, rates, and procedures authoritatively at the public service counter.Cross-station mail transport logistics — optimize routing and sequencing to minimize delays across the full postal facility floor.Point-of-sale and accounting software — reconcile daily transaction records, identify discrepancies, and produce accurate end-of-day reports.New colleague onboarding — demonstrate sorting device operation, postage calculation, and compliance checks to newly assigned clerks on the work floor.Mail irregularities and customer complaints — investigate root causes and implement corrective actions within established postal service guidelines.Service quality monitoring — track own and peer performance against accuracy and throughput benchmarks, adjusting methods to meet postal facility standards.
advanced
Facility-wide mail processing standards — establish and communicate best-practice protocols for weighing, sorting, and postage verification across all clerk positions.Compliance and regulatory updates — interpret new USPS regulations and translate them into updated procedures, training materials, and counter guidance for the entire team.Workload and scheduling strategy — design shift assignments and task rotations to optimize throughput and customer service levels across peak and off-peak postal periods.Technology adoption — evaluate and lead implementation of updated electronic sorting, POS, and inventory management systems across the postal facility.Performance metrics and quality assurance — define accuracy, throughput, and customer satisfaction targets and hold the team accountable through structured review processes.Staff development programs — design and deliver competency-based training curricula covering sorting operations, postage compliance, and customer service for new and experienced clerks.Cross-functional coordination — liaise with delivery, transportation, and administrative units to align mail processing workflows with facility-wide operational goals.Customer escalation resolution — adjudicate complex or sensitive customer disputes regarding mail loss, damage, or regulatory compliance at the organizational level.Continuous process improvement — identify bottlenecks in sorting, postage, and transport workflows and lead structured initiatives to reduce errors and processing times.Organizational culture and work standards — model and reinforce dependability, integrity, and attention to detail as behavioral norms across the full postal service clerk team.
Also known as
39 alternate job titles map to this occupation.
Annuitant HCA (Annuitant Holiday Clerk Assistant)Bulk ClerkBulk Mail ClerkBulk Mail TechnicianBusiness Mail Entry ClerkCity CarrierCity Carrier Assistant (CCA)ClerkCounter ClerkDelivery AssociateDelivery ClerkDistribution ClerkDock ClerkMail AgentMail CallerMail ClerkMail HandlerMail Order ClerkMailing ClerkMailroom AssociateMailroom ClerkMoney Order ClerkPackage HandlerPackage SorterPackage SwitcherParcel Post ClerkPart Time Flexible Clerk (PTF Clerk)Post Office ClerkPostal ClerkPostal Service ClerkPostal Service Window ClerkPostal Support EmployeeRural CarrierRural Carrier AssociateSales and Distribution ClerkSales and Service Associate (SSA)Special Delivery ClerkStamp ClerkWindow Clerk