USPS Postal Clerk (window/distribution)

Overview

Sourced

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.

O*NET definition of Postal Service Clerks (SOC 43-5051) · Job Zone 1-2: Very Little to Some Preparation Needed.

73,720

in government (SOC 43-5051)

—

of this occupation works for government

$62,130

median pay in government

Federal

levels of government

Titles employers use

ClerkPostal ClerkSales and Service Associate (SSA)Window ClerkBulk Mail TechnicianDistribution ClerkPart Time Flexible Clerk (PTF Clerk)Sales and Distribution Clerk

How people usually get in Editorial

assessment (476); PSE → 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 43-5051)

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

High School Diploma or the equivalent

68%

Post-Secondary Certificate

Some College Courses

18%

Share of surveyed workers in Postal Service Clerks (SOC 43-5051) naming each level as required to be hired, 31 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 43-5051: 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

$62,130

State

Not published

Local

Not published

All government

$62,130

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	73,720	$42,600	$56,740	$62,130	$70,890	$75,030
All government	73,720	$42,600	$56,740	$62,130	$70,890	$75,030

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

78%

Irregular

22%

Seasonal

Typical work week

Less than 40 hours

40 hours

66%

More than 40 hours

31%

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

Weigh letters and parcels, compute mailing costs based on type, weight, and destination, and affix correct postage.4.6
Check mail to ensure correct postage and that packages and letters are in proper condition for mailing.4.5
Sort incoming and outgoing mail, according to type and destination, by hand or by operating electronic mail-sorting and scanning devices.4.4
Obtain signatures from recipients of registered or special delivery mail.4.3
Answer questions regarding mail regulations and procedures, postage rates, and post office boxes.4.3
Transport mail from one work station to another.4.2

The 6 most important of 6 core tasks for Postal Service Clerks, 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 Customer Service (Exam 477) Online assessment taken on a computer, laptop, tablet or smartphone; about 30-45 minutes; must be completed within 72 hours of the invitation; covers Sales and Services Associate and PSE Sales and Services/Distribution Associate jobs.	United States Postal Service (USPS)	United States Postal Service	written	Official page
Virtual Entry Assessment for Mail Processing (Exam 476) 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 Processing Clerk and PSE Mail Processing Clerk 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 Clerks (SOC 43-5051) 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	110	$56,390	$67,790	$76,360
North Carolina	2,070	$55,350	$64,290	$75,030
New Jersey	2,230	$54,330	$64,290	$76,360
California	6,410	$54,330	$63,650	$76,360
Hawaii	430	$54,330	$63,650	$76,360
Michigan	2,340	$42,600	$63,650	$75,030
Louisiana	1,100	$42,600	$63,210	$76,360
Maryland	1,240	$54,330	$63,210	$75,030
Tennessee	1,330	$42,600	$63,210	$75,030
New York	5,030	$53,290	$62,690	$75,030
Ohio	2,430	$42,600	$62,690	$75,030
Florida	3,540	$42,600	$62,610	$75,030
Georgia	2,070	$42,600	$62,610	$75,030
Kentucky	1,220	$42,600	$62,610	$75,030
Massachusetts	1,950	$55,350	$62,610	$75,030
New Hampshire	500	$54,330	$62,610	$75,030
Nevada	460	$42,600	$62,610	$75,030
South Carolina	960	$42,600	$62,610	$75,030
Texas	4,900	$42,600	$62,610	$75,030
Virginia	1,980	$42,600	$62,610	$75,030
Connecticut	860	$54,330	$62,130	$75,030
Maine	670	$42,600	$62,130	$75,030
Arizona	1,190	$42,600	$61,710	$75,030
Delaware	230	$42,600	$61,710	$75,030
Illinois	2,720	$42,600	$61,710	$75,030
Indiana	1,520	$42,600	$61,710	$75,030
Alabama	1,240	$42,600	$61,640	$75,030
Rhode Island	250	$42,600	$61,570	$75,030
Washington	1,460	$42,600	$61,570	$75,030
Minnesota	1,380	$42,600	$61,050	$75,030
Mississippi	790	$42,600	$61,050	$75,030
Pennsylvania	3,650	$42,600	$61,050	$75,030
Vermont	400	$42,600	$61,050	$75,030
Wisconsin	1,400	$42,600	$61,050	$75,030
West Virginia	890	$42,600	$61,050	$75,030
Colorado	1,230	$42,600	$60,530	$75,030
Idaho	480	$42,600	$60,530	$75,030
Kansas	1,290	$42,600	$60,530	$75,030
Oregon	960	$42,600	$60,530	$75,030
Utah	620	$42,600	$60,530	$75,030
Iowa	1,190	$42,600	$59,970	$75,030
Missouri	1,780	$42,600	$59,970	$75,030
New Mexico	660	$42,600	$59,970	$75,030
Wyoming	250	$36,360	$59,970	$75,030
Arkansas	970	$42,600	$59,490	$75,030
Nebraska	690	$42,600	$59,490	$75,030
Oklahoma	1,040	$42,600	$59,490	$75,030
Montana	510	$36,360	$58,470	$72,950
South Dakota	390	$36,360	$58,470	$75,030
Alaska	410	$36,320	$57,820	$71,930
North Dakota	330	$36,360	$57,820	$74,030

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 Postal Clerk (window/distribution)

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