USPS Mail Handler / Mail Processing Clerk

Overview

Sourced

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.

O*NET definition of Postal Service Mail Sorters, Processors, and Processing Machine Operators (SOC 43-5053) · Job Zone 1-2: Very Little to Some Preparation Needed.

105,200

in government (SOC 43-5053)

—

of this occupation works for government

$58,470

median pay in government

Federal

levels of government

Titles employers use

Automation ClerkDistribution ClerkMail HandlerMail ProcessorComputer Forwarding System Markup Clerk (CFS Markup Clerk)Flat Sorting Machine Clerk (FSM Clerk)Mail Handler Equipment OperatorMail Processing ClerkParcel Post Distribution Machine Operator (PDPMO)Small Package and Bundle Sorter Clerk (SPBS Clerk)

How people usually get in Editorial

assessment (475/477); MHA → career. Requirements vary by employer; each employer page will list its exact rules.

Sources: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 — national estimates by ownership; U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA), O*NET 31.0 Database; GovJobsWiki job taxonomy v1 (research round R240) (editorial). Data captured September 30, 2026.

Requirements

Sourced

Typical entry requirements (BLS, SOC 43-5053)

Education needed to enter: No formal educational credential
Related work experience: None
On-the-job training: Short-term on-the-job training

Education workers say the job requires

Less than a High School Diploma

12%

High School Diploma or the equivalent

81%

Some College Courses

Share of surveyed workers in Postal Service Mail Sorters, Processors, and Processing Machine Operators (SOC 43-5053) naming each level as required to be hired, 28 respondents, O*NET survey July 2016. Each employer sets its own minimum.

Sources: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections 2025–35 — education and training assignments by detailed occupation (Tables 5.3, 5.4); U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA), O*NET 31.0 Database. Data captured September 30, 2026.

How to get hired

Sourced

Although no formal education is typically required to enter these occupations, most postal service workers have at least a high school diploma. All applicants for these jobs must pass a written exam.

From the BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook profile “Postal Service Workers”, published August 27, 2026 · Read the full profile. National guidance; each employer runs its own hiring process.

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2025–35 edition (XML compilation). Data captured September 30, 2026.

Academy and training

Sourced

Training to become competent (BLS)

SOC 43-5053: Short-term on-the-job training

Preparation level (O*NET)

Job zone: Very Little to Some Preparation Needed

Academy length, curriculum and paid-training policies are set by each employer and state; they are part of the employer collection stage.

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections 2025–35 — education and training assignments by detailed occupation (Tables 5.3, 5.4). Data captured September 30, 2026.

Promotion ladder

Editorial

Postal craft schedule: USPS craft schedules (CCA/PSE → career; grade × step). Typical structure for a usps craft employees; titles, steps and timing differ by employer.

Non-career (CCA / PSE / MHA / RCA)
Career conversion
Craft grade × step (e.g. city carrier steps A–P)
204b acting supervisor
Supervisor (EAS)
Postmaster / Manager

Source: GovJobsWiki job taxonomy v1 (research round R240) (editorial).

Pay

Sourced

Federal

$58,470

State

Not published

Local

Not published

All government

$58,470

Private sector

Not published

Median annual wage by employer type, national, May 2025. Federal includes the U.S. Postal Service; state and local include public schools and hospitals.

Employer type	Workers	10th pct.	25th	Median	75th	90th
Federal	105,200	$45,530	$48,880	$58,470	$75,030	$75,280
All government	105,200	$45,530	$48,880	$58,470	$75,030	$75,280

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 — national estimates by ownership. Data captured September 30, 2026.

Schedule

Sourced

Work schedule

Regular

89%

Irregular

11%

Seasonal

Typical work week

Less than 40 hours

40 hours

59%

More than 40 hours

37%

Share of surveyed workers in the occupation (O*NET work context, July 2016). Shift patterns and differentials depend on the employer.

Source: U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA), O*NET 31.0 Database. Data captured September 30, 2026.

Day-to-day work

Sourced

Clear jams in sorting equipment.4.4
Operate various types of equipment, such as computer scanning equipment, addressographs, mimeographs, optical character readers, and bar-code sorters.4.3
Sort odd-sized mail by hand, sort mail that other workers have been unable to sort, and segregate items requiring special handling.4.1

The 3 most important of 3 core tasks for Postal Service Mail Sorters, Processors, and Processing Machine Operators, ranked by importance (1–5) in the O*NET survey of July 2016.

Source: U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA), O*NET 31.0 Database. Data captured September 30, 2026.

13Derived

Exams by name

Sourced

Exam	Administered by	Used in	Type	Official page
Virtual Entry Assessment for Mail Handlers (Exam 475) Online assessment taken on a computer, laptop, tablet or smartphone; about 30-45 minutes; must be completed within 72 hours of the invitation; covers Mail Handler and Mail Handler Assistant jobs.	United States Postal Service (USPS)	United States Postal Service	written	Official page

Each exam is checked against its administrator's official page. Employers choose which exam they use; confirm with the hiring agency.

Source: Exam administrators and hiring authorities (per record), Official exam administrator pages. Data captured September 30, 2026.

By state

Sourced

Median annual wage for Postal Service Mail Sorters, Processors, and Processing Machine Operators (SOC 43-5053) in each state, all employers (BLS state estimates do not separate government from private). Highest first.

State	Workers	10th pct.	Median	90th pct.
District of Columbia	400	$43,660	$66,750	$76,460
South Dakota	210	$48,880	$61,570	$75,280
Iowa	1,040	$42,600	$60,530	$76,360
New Jersey	3,660	$47,440	$60,530	$76,360
Wyoming	120	$45,530	$60,530	$75,280
North Dakota	240	$42,600	$59,840	$75,280
Minnesota	1,840	$48,880	$59,740	$75,280
California	10,090	$47,440	$59,490	$75,280
Hawaii	370	$42,600	$59,490	$75,280
Maine	440	$47,440	$59,490	$75,280
Michigan	3,370	$47,440	$59,490	$75,280
Nebraska	640	$45,530	$59,490	$75,280
Rhode Island	600	$45,530	$59,490	$75,280
Vermont	110	$48,880	$59,490	$75,280
Washington	1,770	$45,530	$59,490	$75,280
Arkansas	570	$45,530	$58,470	$75,280
Colorado	1,910	$45,530	$58,470	$76,360
Connecticut	1,020	$47,440	$58,470	$75,280
Delaware	410	$47,440	$58,470	$75,280
Louisiana	1,200	$42,600	$58,470	$75,250
Massachusetts	2,910	$45,530	$58,470	$75,280
Maryland	2,430	$45,530	$58,470	$75,280
New Mexico	350	$42,600	$58,470	$75,280
Nevada	920	$42,600	$58,470	$75,280
New York	8,290	$45,530	$58,470	$75,280
Ohio	3,700	$45,530	$58,470	$75,280
Oklahoma	790	$42,600	$58,470	$75,280
Wisconsin	1,420	$47,440	$58,470	$75,280
West Virginia	410	$45,530	$58,470	$75,280
South Carolina	1,280	$42,600	$58,390	$75,280
Illinois	5,370	$42,600	$58,300	$75,280
New Hampshire	690	$47,440	$58,300	$76,360
Virginia	2,420	$45,530	$58,300	$75,280
Oregon	1,090	$47,440	$57,890	$75,280
Mississippi	350	$45,530	$57,800	$75,030
Alabama	1,150	$45,530	$57,430	$75,280
Florida	7,240	$42,600	$57,430	$75,280
Idaho	250	$42,600	$57,430	$75,030
Kentucky	950	$42,600	$57,430	$75,030
Missouri	2,730	$42,600	$57,430	$75,280
Montana	270	$45,530	$57,430	$75,030
Pennsylvania	5,630	$45,530	$57,430	$75,280
Utah	860	$45,530	$57,430	$75,030
Tennessee	2,850	$42,600	$56,390	$75,280
Texas	7,900	$40,600	$56,390	$75,280
Alaska	230	$42,600	$55,350	$75,030
Arizona	2,180	$42,600	$55,350	$75,280
North Carolina	4,040	$40,600	$55,350	$75,280
Kansas	870	$39,560	$54,540	$75,280
Georgia	3,050	$40,600	$53,290	$75,280
Indiana	2,600	$39,560	$48,880	$75,030

51 states with published estimates.

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 — state estimates. Data captured September 30, 2026.

Not yet collected

These dimensions are part of every job page. We publish them only once they are sourced from official documents such as job postings, pay plans, union contracts and state standards.

05 Probation
Probation length and what ends it
Not yet collected
09 Benefits and pension
Pension plan/tier and formula, retirement age/years, DROP, retiree health, Social Security coverage, 457(b), PSLF eligibility
Not yet collected
10 Union contracts
Bargaining unit, union, current CBA (source link, effective dates)
Not yet collected
11 Transfers and lateral entry
Lateral policy, certification reciprocity, lateral bonus, inter-agency moves
Not yet collected
15 Employer directory
L4 directory: every employer that hires this job, each with its own facet values
Not yet collected

USPS Mail Handler / Mail Processing Clerk

Overview

Titles employers use

Requirements

Education workers say the job requires

How to get hired

Academy and training

Promotion ladder

Pay

Schedule

Day-to-day work

Related jobs

Exams by name

By state

Not yet collected