How to become a letter carrier
Official title: Letter carriers
Also called: Mail carrier, Letter carrier, Postal carrier, Rural mail carrier, Priority post carrier, Special delivery mail carrier, Postal worker, Mail collector, Mail deliverer, Postal service deliverer
Letter carriers sort and deliver mail, record delivery of registered mail and collect money for cash-on-delivery parcels. They are employed by Canada Post Corporation.
Main tasks
- Organize mail by address and load into mailbag
- Deliver letters, small parcels and other printed matter along established routes
- Deliver telegrams, special delivery and express mail
- Collect payment for cash-on-delivery service
- Record delivery of registered mail
- Leave notices indicating that items could not be delivered and the location where they can be picked up
- Return undeliverable mail to postal station
How to become one
Some secondary school education is required. Two weeks to one month of training is provided by Canada Post Corporation. Physical fitness is required for some occupations in this unit group.
Pay · Outlook
- Median pay: $56,258 a year The middle half earn $50,661 to $59,202.
- About 33,000 people worked in this job in 2023, and about 36,900 are projected by 2033. (+11.8%)
- Projected labour market to 2033: balance.
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Questions people ask
How do I become a letter carrier?
Some secondary school education is required. Two weeks to one month of training is provided by Canada Post Corporation. Physical fitness is required for some occupations in this unit group.
How much does a letter carrier earn in Canada?
Median full-time pay is $56,258 a year (Employment and Social Development Canada (Job Bank)). The middle half earn $50,661 to $59,202.
Is a letter carrier a growing career in Canada?
Yes. Employment is projected to grow 12% by 2033, from about 33,000 to about 36,900 people (Employment and Social Development Canada).
Do you need a degree to become a letter carrier?
Usually not. Only 16% of people in this job hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Sources
- Statistics Canada: Census 2021: employment by occupation, gender and education (98-10-0449) (2021 Census), Statistics Canada Open Licence, retrieved 2026-10-03
- Statistics Canada: National Occupational Classification (NOC) 2021 (Version 1.0), Open Government Licence - Canada, retrieved 2026-10-03
- Employment and Social Development Canada: Canadian Occupational Projection System (COPS) (2024 to 2033), Open Government Licence - Canada, retrieved 2026-10-03
- Employment and Social Development Canada (Job Bank): Wages by occupation (2025 (revised 2025-11-19)), Open Government Licence - Canada, retrieved 2026-10-03
Updated 2026-10-03