Home / Career Explorer / Office and Administrative

Mail Clerks and Mail Machine Operators, Except Postal Service

	Median Wage (USD, 2024)	Projected Job Openings (2024-2034)	Projected Growth (2024-2034)
National Statistics	$38150	6900	-6.6%
State Statistics	-	-	-
City Statistics	-	-	-

Statistics

National

State

City

State

City

$38150

Median Wage (USD, 2024)

6900

Projected Job Openings (2024-2034)

-6.6%

Projected Growth (2024-2034)

Prepare incoming and outgoing mail for distribution. Time-stamp, open, read, sort, and route incoming mail; and address, seal, stamp, fold, stuff, and affix postage to outgoing mail or packages. Duties may also include keeping necessary records and completed forms.

Experience Requirements Overview

Job Zone 1-2: Very Little to Some Preparation Needed
Some occupations may need little or no previous experience; others require several months to a year of experience. For example, landscaping and groundskeeping workers might require very little training or previous experience, while agricultural equipment operators can benefit from on-the job training.
Usually requires a high school diploma or GED, though some occupations may not.
Ranges from a few days to one year of on-the-job training.

Education, Training and Experience

Required Level of Education: High School Diploma - or the equivalent (for example, GED)

Related Work Experience: N.A.

On-Site or In-Plant Training: Up to and including 1 month

On-the-Job Training: Over 1 month, up to and including 3 months

Detailed Work Activities

Prepare outgoing mail.
Verify shipping documentation.
Attach identification information to products, items or containers.
Sort mail.
Maintain office equipment in proper operating condition.
Route mail to correct destinations.
Weigh parcels to determine shipping costs.
Analyze shipping information to make routing decisions.
Unload materials or equipment.
Package objects for shipping.
Monitor equipment operation to ensure proper functioning.
Read work orders to determine material or setup requirements.
Send information, materials or documentation.
Inspect items for damage or defects.
Coordinate shipping activities with external parties.
Operate computers or computerized equipment.
Adjust office equipment to ensure proper operation.
Receive shipments.
Obtain written authorization to perform activities.
Explain regulations, policies, or procedures.
Sell products or services.
Collect deposits, payments or fees.

Work Values

Achievement

Occupations that satisfy this work value are results oriented and allow employees to use their strongest abilities, giving them a feeling of accomplishment. Corresponding needs are Ability Utilization and Achievement.

Working Conditions

Recognition

Relationships

Support

Independence

Tasks

Wrap packages or bundles by hand, or by using tying machines.
Verify that items are addressed correctly, marked with the proper postage, and in suitable condition for processing.
Remove containers of sorted mail or parcels and transfer them to designated areas according to established procedures.
Sort and route incoming mail, and collect outgoing mail, using carts as necessary.
Affix postage to packages or letters by hand, or stamp materials, using postage meters.
Determine manner in which mail is to be sent, and prepare it for delivery to mailing facilities.
Accept and check containers of mail or parcels from large volume mailers, couriers, and contractors.
Seal or open envelopes, by hand or by using machines.
Weigh packages or letters to determine postage needed, using weighing scales and rate charts.
Inspect mail machine output for defects and determine how to eliminate causes of any defects.
Remove from machines printed materials, such as labeled articles, postmarked envelopes or tape, and folded sheets.
Release packages or letters to customers upon presentation of written notices or other identification.
Operate computer-controlled keyboards or voice recognition equipment to direct items according to established routing schemes.
Answer inquiries regarding shipping or mailing policies.
Lift and unload containers of mail or parcels onto equipment for transportation to sortation stations.
Contact delivery or courier services to arrange delivery of letters and parcels.
Place incoming or outgoing letters or packages into sacks or bins based on destination or type, and place identifying tags on sacks or bins.
Clear jams in sortation equipment.
Mail merchandise samples or promotional literature in response to requests.
Adjust guides, rollers, loose card inserters, weighing machines, and tying arms, using rules and hand tools.
Read production orders to determine types and sizes of items scheduled for printing and mailing.
Sell mail products, and accept payment for products and mailing charges.
Start machines that automatically feed plates, stencils, or tapes through mechanisms, and observe machine operations to detect any malfunctions.
Stamp dates and times of receipt of incoming mail.
Add ink, fill paste reservoirs, and change machine ribbons when necessary.
Fold letters or circulars and insert them in envelopes.

Work Styles

Innovation

A tendency to be inventive, to be imaginative, and to adopt new perspectives on ways to accomplish work.

Achievement Orientation

Intellectual Curiosity

Tolerance for Ambiguity

Initiative

Adaptability

Self-Confidence

Perseverance

Leadership Orientation

Humility

Sincerity

Empathy

Cooperation

Optimism

Social Orientation

Cautiousness

Attention to Detail

Dependability

Integrity

Stress Tolerance

Self-Control

Data Source: This page includes information from the O*NET 30.0 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. This page includes Employment Projections program, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics program, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Session has been expired