Material Recording, Scheduling, Dispatching, and Distributing Workers

How to become a Postal Service Clerk

Official title: Postal Service Clerks

Also called: Bulk Mail Technician, Clerk, Distribution Clerk, Part Time Flexible Clerk (PTF Clerk), Postal Clerk, Sales and Distribution Clerk, Sales and Service Associate (SSA), Window Clerk

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.

Main 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.

How to become one

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.

Typical education to start: No formal educational credential

Read the full guide from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

Ways in

Apprenticeship: Post Office Clerk.

Pay · Outlook · AI and this job

Median pay: $62,130 a year The middle half earn $56,740 to $70,890.
About 70,900 people work in this job now, and about 70,700 are projected by 2035. (-0.3%)
People already use generative AI for some of this work. Microsoft Research rates its AI applicability as medium.

Questions people ask

How do I become a Postal Service Clerk?

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.

How much does a Postal Service Clerk earn in the US?

Median full-time pay is $62,130 a year (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics). The middle half earn $56,740 to $70,890.

Is a Postal Service Clerk a growing career in the US?

Employment is projected to stay about the same by 2035: about 70,900 people now and 70,700 later (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics).

Do you need a degree to become a Postal Service Clerk?

Usually not. Only 17% of people in this job hold a bachelor's degree or higher. Ways in include: Post Office Clerk.

Will AI change the work of a Postal Service Clerk?

People already use generative AI for some of this work. Microsoft Research rates its AI applicability as medium.

Sources

Microsoft Research: Working with AI: AI applicability by occupation (2025-12-22 (built on O*NET 29.0)), CC BY 4.0, retrieved 2026-10-03
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Employment Projections (2025-35 (released 2026-08-27)), Public domain (BLS), retrieved 2026-10-03
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Occupational Outlook Handbook (2025-35 edition (published 2026-08-27)), Public domain (BLS); photographs excluded, retrieved 2026-10-03
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (May 2025), Public domain (BLS), retrieved 2026-10-03

Updated 2026-10-03

This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET is a trademark of USDOL/ETA.