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Career

Postmasters and Mail Superintendents

Typical education: High school diplomaHigh pressure

What they do

Plan, direct, or coordinate operational, administrative, management, and support services of a U.S. post office; or coordinate activities of workers engaged in postal and related work in assigned post office.

Kinds of work

  • Enterprising: Leading, persuading, selling and starting new projects or businesses.
  • Conventional: Organizing information, following clear procedures and working with data and details.

High 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 $96,660 Median per year · $46.47/hr Most earn $85,090–$111,740

BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, 2025.

What you might do

  • Direct and coordinate operational, management, and supportive services of one or a number of postal facilities.
  • Prepare employee work schedules.
  • Confer with suppliers to obtain bids for proposed purchases and to requisition supplies, disbursing funds according to federal regulations.
  • Resolve customer complaints.
  • Negotiate labor disputes.
  • Collect rents for post office boxes.

Job outlook

United States
About the same number of jobs by 2035, little or no change · about 900 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

  • Postal service100.0%

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

Experience before this job: 1 to 2 years

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: 1 to 2 years

Postmaster and Mail Superintendent is not a first job straight out of school. Most people start with a high school diploma, work in an entry-level postal job for about 1 to 2 years, and then move into management.

  1. High school diploma

    4 years

    A high school diploma is the typical education for this career, and it is also what you need to apply for entry-level postal jobs.

  2. Mail Sorter, Processor, or Processing Machine Operator

    6 months to 1 year

    You learn how mail moves through a post office, how to work safely with equipment, and how to follow postal procedures. No prior experience is usually required.

  3. Postal Service Clerk

    6 months to 1 year

    You handle customer service, mail acceptance, and counter operations. This builds the knowledge of postal rules and daily operations that managers rely on.

  4. Postmaster or Mail Superintendent

    Usually reached after about 1 to 2 years of prior postal work

    You plan, direct, and coordinate all operations of a post office or coordinate mail-handling workers. Advancement often depends on your work record, the results of postal exams or selection processes, and openings in your area.

Where it can lead

  1. Administrative Services Manager

    Several years as a postmaster or in a similar role of experience first

    You would oversee larger administrative operations, budgets, and facilities across more than one site. It takes strong planning, budgeting, and leadership skills.

  2. General and Operations Manager

    Several years in a management role of experience first

    You would take responsibility for a broader business or organization, with wider decisions about strategy, staff, and finances. It usually requires a proven record of managing teams and operations.

What you can do now

Ideas for high school and college students.

In high school

  • Take math and English classesStrong math helps with counting, scheduling, and budgets, and clear writing helps with reports and written procedures.
  • Get a part-time or summer jobAny customer-facing or team job teaches reliability, responsibility, and how to work with the public.
  • Join a leadership club or student governmentTaking on a role where you organize people or events builds the coordination skills managers use every day.
  • Take a business or computer class if your school offers oneBasic business and computer skills, such as spreadsheets and typing, are useful in almost any postal or office role.
  • Volunteer with a community or school organizationVolunteering shows you how to organize tasks and serve the public, which are central to running a post office.

In college

  • Take business, management, or logistics coursesCourses in operations, supply chain, or public administration teach how organizations run daily work and budgets.
  • Look for a campus job with responsibilityWorking at a campus office, mailroom, or dining or events team builds experience handling schedules, people, and deadlines.
  • Apply for a postal job while you studyMany people work part-time at a post office while in school, which gives you the hands-on experience this career usually requires.
  • Build customer service and communication skillsPublic-facing work and clear communication are important for supervising staff and serving a community.
  • Get involved in a student organizationHolding a leadership role in a club shows you can plan, lead a team, and solve problems.

Tips for getting started

  • Get a job at your local post office or a postal processing facility as early as you can. Postal work is often the main route into this career, and hands-on experience counts a lot.
  • Pay attention to how postal operations run, including customer service, safety rules, and the flow of mail. Asking questions and showing you can be reliable will help you move up.
  • Practice reading job postings and exam announcements for postal positions. Knowing how the application and selection process works will help you prepare early.

Related jobs that often lead here

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.

College majors that lead here

  • Public Administration Certificate: typical pay 1 year after finishing $45,036 a year · typical debt $12,000

Majors: U.S. Department of Education and BLS (CIP–SOC crosswalk). Earnings and debt: College Scorecard, typical across U.S. colleges.

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