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Career

Mail Clerks and Mail Machine Operators, Except Postal Service

Typical education: High school diplomaModerate pressure

What they do

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.

Kinds of work

  • Conventional: Organizing information, following clear procedures and working with data and details.
  • Realistic: Hands-on work with tools, machines, plants or animals, often outdoors.

Moderate pressure: How much pressure workers in this job report: deadlines, conflict, dealing with upset people, the cost of mistakes, responsibility for others' safety, competition and long hours. It varies a lot from one employer to the next. Source: U.S. Department of Labor worker surveys.

Pay, tasks and more

Salary

United States $39,280 Median per year · $18.89/hr Most earn $30,780–$54,820

BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, 2025.

What you might do

  • Seal or open envelopes, by hand or by using machines.
  • Read production orders to determine types and sizes of items scheduled for printing and mailing.
  • Answer inquiries regarding shipping or mailing policies.
  • Mail merchandise samples or promotional literature in response to requests.
  • Sort and route incoming mail, and collect outgoing mail, using carts as necessary.
  • Add ink, fill paste reservoirs, and change machine ribbons when necessary.

Job outlook

United States
7% fewer jobs by 2035, declining · about 4,700 openings a year

Openings include new jobs and jobs left by workers who retire or change careers. Projections: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. "Bright Outlook": U.S. Department of Labor.

Where they work

  • Business support services21.0%
  • Advertising, public relations, and related services7.6%
  • Printing and related support activities7.4%
  • Colleges, universities, and professional schools7.2%
  • Newspaper publishers4.5%

Share of all workers in this career. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, National Employment Matrix.

Experience before this job: None

Some people start through an apprenticeship: paid training on the job, often with classes. Search apprenticeships on Apprenticeship.gov (opens in a new tab) ↗

Career path

How people usually get into this career, from school to their first job and beyond.

Typical education: High school diplomaExperience before this job: NoneEntry-level

This is an entry-level job. Most people start right after high school, since it usually requires only a diploma and no prior work experience.

  1. High school diploma

    About 4 years

    Finishing high school gives you the basic education most employers ask for, and reading, math, and organization skills are the foundation for this work.

  2. Mail Clerk

    Start right after school

    You sort, time-stamp, route, and prepare incoming and outgoing mail, and keep simple records, which builds accuracy and attention to detail.

Where it can lead

  1. Shipping and Receiving Clerk

    1-2 years of experience first

    You move from handling mail to tracking packages and goods coming in and going out, which usually means more record-keeping and inventory work.

  2. Postal Service Clerk

    1-2 years of experience first

    You work with postal customers and mail processing at a post office, which typically requires passing postal hiring steps and building experience handling mail accurately.

What you can do now

Ideas for high school and college students.

In high school

  • Take math and English classesStrong reading and arithmetic help you sort, count, and record mail accurately.
  • Learn basic computer skillsTyping and spreadsheet basics are used for logging mail and keeping records.
  • Get a part-time or summer jobAny job that involves sorting, stocking, or handling items shows employers you can work reliably.
  • Volunteer with a school or community officeHelping with the front office or with mailings gives you hands-on practice with mail and forms.
  • Join a club that involves organizing events or materialsWorking on mailings, schedules, or supplies builds the sorting and tracking habits this job needs.

In college

  • Take business or office administration coursesClasses in office procedures or records management teach the systems used to track and route mail.
  • Work a campus job in a mailroom or officeMany colleges have mail or shipping jobs on campus, which give you real experience with this exact work.
  • Build spreadsheet and data entry skillsBeing quick and accurate with software helps you keep logs and records, a common part of this job.
  • Earn an office or customer service certificateShort certificates from a community college or local training program can show employers you are prepared.
  • Look for internships in shipping, logistics, or administrative officesInternships show you how mail and packages move through a larger organization and help you build a reference.

Tips for getting started

  • Ask a school office, library, or local business if they need help with mail or deliveries, so you can show real experience on a job application.
  • Practice typing and basic computer skills, since many mail roles now involve logging items and keeping electronic records.
  • Keep your work neat and on time. Employers in this job value reliability and careful sorting more than anything else.

Related jobs a step up

Education, experience and related careers: U.S. Department of Labor. The step-by-step path, where it can lead and what you can do now were written by AI as typical examples; many people take other ways.

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