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 ComprehensionMonitoringSocial PerceptivenessTime ManagementCritical Thinking
Knowledge areas
Customer and Personal ServiceEnglish LanguageMathematicsSales and MarketingAdministrative
Technology & tools
Accounting softwareEnterprise resource planning ERP softwareTime accounting softwareInventory management softwareOperating system software
Representative tasks
Weigh letters and parcels, compute mailing costs based on type, weight, and destination, and affix correct postage.Check mail to ensure correct postage and that packages and letters are in proper condition for mailing.Sort incoming and outgoing mail, according to type and destination, by hand or by operating electronic mail-sorting and scanning devices.Obtain signatures from recipients of registered or special delivery mail.Answer questions regarding mail regulations and procedures, postage rates, and post office boxes.Transport mail from one work station to another.Sell and collect payment for products such as stamps, prepaid mail envelopes, and money orders.Keep money drawers in order, and record and balance daily transactions.Register, certify, and insure letters and parcels.Complete forms regarding changes of address, or theft or loss of mail, or for special services such as registered or priority mail.Put undelivered parcels away, retrieve them when customers come to claim them, and complete any related documentation.Receive letters and parcels, and place mail into bags.Respond to complaints regarding mail theft, delivery problems, and lost or damaged mail, filling out forms and making appropriate referrals for investigation.Provide assistance to the public in complying with federal regulations of Postal Service and other federal agencies.Rent post office boxes to customers.Provide customers with assistance in filing claims for mail theft, or lost or damaged mail.Feed mail into postage canceling devices or hand stamp mail to cancel postage.Cash money orders.Order retail items and other supplies for office use.
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
47 alternate job titles map to this occupation.
Rural CarrierCity Carrier Assistant (CCA)Bulk Mail TechnicianWindow ClerkSales and Service Associate (SSA)Annuitant HCA (Annuitant Holiday Clerk Assistant)Distribution ClerkClerkCounter ClerkPostal Service ClerkRural Carrier AssociatePostal Service Window ClerkMail HandlerPostal Support EmployeeMail ClerkPost Office ClerkStamp ClerkLogistics Specialist (Navy LS)Postal Clerk (Navy 001637)Mailing ClerkMail CallerCity CarrierDelivery AssociateMail AgentMailroom AssociatePostal Officer (Marine Corps 0160)Parcel Post ClerkSales and Distribution ClerkYeoman (Submarine) (Navy YNS)Postal Clerk (Navy 002806)Business Mail Entry ClerkPostal ClerkPart Time Flexible Clerk (PTF Clerk)Money Order ClerkDock ClerkPackage SwitcherBulk ClerkDelivery ClerkBulk Mail ClerkMail Order Clerk