Postal Service Mail Sorters, Processors, and Processing Machine Operators

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.

Also Known As:

Automation Clerk Computer Forwarding System Markup Clerk (CFS Markup Clerk) Distribution Clerk Flat Sorting Machine Clerk (FSM Clerk) Mail Handler Mail Handler Equipment Operator Mail Processing Clerk Mail Processor Parcel Post Distribution Machine Operator (PDPMO) Small Package and Bundle Sorter Clerk (SPBS Clerk)

Wages

Hourly

Annual wages for Postal Service Mail Sorters, Processors, and Processing Machine Operators in United States

Job Outlook Below Average

New job opportunities are less likely in the future

United States 2033 Projected Employment

102,500

-8% Change From 2023

Explore Postal Service Mail Carriers video

Tasks you might complete in a day.

Subject areas you may need to master.

Communications and Media - Knowledge of media production, communication, and dissemination techniques and methods. This includes alternative ways to inform and entertain via written, oral, and visual media.
Computers and Electronics - Knowledge of circuit boards, processors, chips, electronic equipment, and computer hardware and software, including applications and programming.
Physics - Knowledge and prediction of physical principles, laws, their interrelationships, and applications to understanding fluid, material, and atmospheric dynamics, and mechanical, electrical, atomic and sub-atomic structures and processes.
Administration and Management - Knowledge of business and management principles involved in strategic planning, resource allocation, human resources modeling, leadership technique, production methods, and coordination of people and resources.
Customer and Personal Service - Knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services. This includes customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction.
Personnel and Human Resources - Knowledge of principles and procedures for personnel recruitment, selection, training, compensation and benefits, labor relations and negotiation, and personnel information systems.
Psychology - Knowledge of human behavior and performance; individual differences in ability, personality, and interests; learning and motivation; psychological research methods; and the assessment and treatment of behavioral and affective disorders.
English Language - Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, and rules of composition and grammar.
Philosophy and Theology - Knowledge of different philosophical systems and religions. This includes their basic principles, values, ethics, ways of thinking, customs, practices, and their impact on human culture.
Fine Arts - Knowledge of the theory and techniques required to compose, produce, and perform works of music, dance, visual arts, drama, and sculpture.
Foreign Language - Knowledge of the structure and content of a foreign (non-English) language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition and grammar, and pronunciation.
Mathematics - Knowledge of arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, statistics, and their applications.
Design - Knowledge of design techniques, tools, and principles involved in production of precision technical plans, blueprints, drawings, and models.
Engineering and Technology - Knowledge of the practical application of engineering science and technology. This includes applying principles, techniques, procedures, and equipment to the design and production of various goods and services.
Building and Construction - Knowledge of materials, methods, and the tools involved in the construction or repair of houses, buildings, or other structures such as highways and roads.
Biology - Knowledge of plant and animal organisms, their tissues, cells, functions, interdependencies, and interactions with each other and the environment.
Production and Processing - Knowledge of raw materials, production processes, quality control, costs, and other techniques for maximizing the effective manufacture and distribution of goods.
Food Production - Knowledge of techniques and equipment for planting, growing, and harvesting food products (both plant and animal) for consumption, including storage/handling techniques.
Education and Training - Knowledge of principles and methods for curriculum and training design, teaching and instruction for individuals and groups, and the measurement of training effects.
History and Archeology - Knowledge of historical events and their causes, indicators, and effects on civilizations and cultures.
Public Safety and Security - Knowledge of relevant equipment, policies, procedures, and strategies to promote effective local, state, or national security operations for the protection of people, data, property, and institutions.
Law and Government - Knowledge of laws, legal codes, court procedures, precedents, government regulations, executive orders, agency rules, and the democratic political process.
Chemistry - Knowledge of the chemical composition, structure, and properties of substances and of the chemical processes and transformations that they undergo. This includes uses of chemicals and their interactions, danger signs, production techniques, and disposal methods.
Medicine and Dentistry - Knowledge of the information and techniques needed to diagnose and treat human injuries, diseases, and deformities. This includes symptoms, treatment alternatives, drug properties and interactions, and preventive health-care measures.
Geography - Knowledge of principles and methods for describing the features of land, sea, and air masses, including their physical characteristics, locations, interrelationships, and distribution of plant, animal, and human life.
Telecommunications - Knowledge of transmission, broadcasting, switching, control, and operation of telecommunications systems.
Transportation - Knowledge of principles and methods for moving people or goods by air, rail, sea, or road, including the relative costs and benefits.
Sociology and Anthropology - Knowledge of group behavior and dynamics, societal trends and influences, human migrations, ethnicity, cultures, and their history and origins.
Therapy and Counseling - Knowledge of principles, methods, and procedures for diagnosis, treatment, and rehabilitation of physical and mental dysfunctions, and for career counseling and guidance.
Administrative - Knowledge of administrative and office procedures and systems such as word processing, managing files and records, stenography and transcription, designing forms, and workplace terminology.
Economics and Accounting - Knowledge of economic and accounting principles and practices, the financial markets, banking, and the analysis and reporting of financial data.
Sales and Marketing - Knowledge of principles and methods for showing, promoting, and selling products or services. This includes marketing strategy and tactics, product demonstration, sales techniques, and sales control systems.
Mechanical - Knowledge of machines and tools, including their designs, uses, repair, and maintenance.

Strengths you may need in this role.

Complex Problem Solving - Noticing a problem and figuring out the best way to solve it.
Mathematics - Using math to solve problems.
Learning Strategies - Using the best training or teaching strategies for learning new things.
Instructing - Teaching people how to do something.
Negotiation - Bringing people together to solve differences.
Social Perceptiveness - Understanding people's reactions.
Operations Monitoring - Watching gauges, dials, or display screens to make sure a machine is working.
Coordination - Changing what is done based on other people's actions.
Operations Analysis - Figuring out what a product or service needs to be able to do.
Monitoring - Keeping track of how well people and/or groups are doing in order to make improvements.
Service Orientation - Looking for ways to help people.
Programming - Writing computer programs.
Judgment and Decision Making - Thinking about the pros and cons of different options and picking the best one.
Reading Comprehension - Reading work-related information.
Equipment Maintenance - Planning and doing the basic maintenance on equipment.
Quality Control Analysis - Testing how well a product or service works.
Speaking - Talking to others.
Installation - Installing equipment, machines, wiring, or computer programs.
Systems Evaluation - Measuring how well a system is working and how to improve it.
Active Learning - Figuring out how to use new ideas or things.
Equipment Selection - Deciding what kind of tools and equipment are needed to do a job.
Management of Personnel Resources - Selecting and managing the best workers for a job.
Systems Analysis - Figuring out how a system should work and how changes in the future will affect it.
Management of Financial Resources - Making spending decisions and keeping track of what is spent.
Active Listening - Listening to others, not interrupting, and asking good questions.
Operation and Control - Using equipment or systems.
Writing - Writing things for co-workers or customers.
Science - Using scientific rules and strategies to solve problems.
Troubleshooting - Figuring out what is causing equipment, machines, wiring, or computer programs to not work.
Repairing - Repairing machines or systems using the right tools.
Management of Material Resources - Managing equipment and materials.
Time Management - Managing your time and the time of other people.
Persuasion - Talking people into changing their minds or their behavior.
Technology Design - Making equipment and technology useful for customers.
Critical Thinking - Thinking about the pros and cons of different ways to solve a problem.
Speech Recognition - Recognizing spoken words.
Depth Perception - Deciding which thing is closer or farther away from you, or deciding how far away it is from you.
Near Vision - Seeing details up close.
Auditory Attention - Paying attention to one sound while there are other distracting sounds.
Information Ordering - Ordering or arranging things.
Response Orientation - Quickly deciding if you should move your hand, foot, or other body part.
Rate Control - Changing when and how fast you move based on how something else is moving.
Category Flexibility - Grouping things in different ways.
Originality - Creating new and original ideas.
Wrist-Finger Speed - Making fast, simple, repeated movements of your fingers, hands, and wrists.
Speed of Limb Movement - Quickly moving your arms and legs.
Explosive Strength - Jumping, sprinting, or throwing something.
Finger Dexterity - Putting together small parts with your fingers.
Far Vision - Seeing details that are far away.
Sound Localization - Noticing the direction that a sound came from.
Memorization - Remembering words, numbers, pictures, or steps.
Glare Sensitivity - Seeing something even if there is a glare or very bright light.
Gross Body Coordination - Moving your arms, legs, and mid-section together while your whole body is moving.
Written Comprehension - Reading and understanding what is written.
Problem Sensitivity - Noticing when problems happen.
Number Facility - Adding, subtracting, multiplying, or dividing.
Selective Attention - Paying attention to something without being distracted.
Stamina - Exercising for a long time without getting out of breath.
Oral Comprehension - Listening and understanding what people say.
Peripheral Vision - Seeing something to your side when your are looking ahead.
Perceptual Speed - Quickly comparing groups of letters, numbers, pictures, or other things.
Multilimb Coordination - Using your arms and/or legs together while sitting, standing, or lying down.
Written Expression - Communicating by writing.
Spatial Orientation - Knowing where things are around you.
Time Sharing - Doing two or more things at the same time.
Gross Body Equilibrium - Keeping your balance or staying upright.
Hearing Sensitivity - Telling the difference between sounds.
Night Vision - Seeing at night or under low light.
Dynamic Flexibility - Quickly and repeatedly bending, stretching, twisting, or reaching out with your body, arms, and/or legs.
Oral Expression - Communicating by speaking.
Inductive Reasoning - Making general rules or coming up with answers from lots of detailed information.
Flexibility of Closure - Seeing hidden patterns.
Manual Dexterity - Holding or moving items with your hands.
Fluency of Ideas - Coming up with lots of ideas.
Mathematical Reasoning - Choosing the right type of math to solve a problem.
Visualization - Imagining how something will look after it is moved around or changed.
Control Precision - Quickly changing the controls of a machine, car, truck or boat.
Reaction Time - Quickly moving your hand, finger, or foot based on a sound, light, picture or other command.
Visual Color Discrimination - Noticing the difference between colors, including shades and brightness.
Deductive Reasoning - Using rules to solve problems.
Speed of Closure - Quickly knowing what you are looking at.
Arm-Hand Steadiness - Keeping your arm or hand steady.
Static Strength - Lifting, pushing, pulling, or carrying.
Dynamic Strength - Exercising for a long time without your muscles getting tired.
Trunk Strength - Using your lower back and stomach.
Extent Flexibility - Bending, stretching, twisting, or reaching with your body, arms, and/or legs.
Speech Clarity - Speaking clearly.