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Mail Clerks and Mail Machine Operators, Except Postal Service: Career Overview
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.
The Daily Work of Mail Clerks and Mail Machine Operators, Except Postal Service Perform?
The core tasks performed by mail clerks and mail machine operators, except postal service span:
- 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.
Skills and Knowledge
Successful mail clerks and mail machine operators, except postal service combine a mix of skills and domain knowledge.
Top Skills
The abilities that matter most in this role, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:
Knowledge Areas
Types of Mail Clerks and Mail Machine Operators, Except Postal Service Jobs
Common job titles for this role include:
- Addressing Machine Operator
- Addressograph Operator
- Advertising Inserter
- Canceling Machine Operator
- Dead Mail Checker
- Direct Mail Clerk
- Direct Mail Coordinator
- Distribution Clerk
How Many Mail Clerks and Mail Machine Operators, Except Postal Service Are There?
The U.S. employs around 977,033 mail clerks and mail machine operators, except postal service working in the United States today. Demand is forecast to grow by +3.3% over the projection horizon.
How Much Do Mail Clerks and Mail Machine Operators, Except Postal Service Make?
| Statistic | Value |
|---|---|
| Annual median | $39,996 |
| Hourly median | $19.23 |
| 10th percentile | $28,994 |
| 25th percentile | $34,495 |
| 75th percentile | $45,497 |
| 90th percentile | $50,998 |
Wages vary widely based on experience, location, and industry.
Mail Clerks and Mail Machine Operators, Except Postal Service Salary by State
| State | Annual median salary |
|---|---|
| District of Columbia | $48,230 |
| Massachusetts | $46,160 |
| Hawaii | $44,700 |
| Washington | $44,260 |
| Vermont | $43,440 |
| Colorado | $43,160 |
| California | $42,860 |
| Minnesota | $42,650 |
| Rhode Island | $42,390 |
| Connecticut | $42,370 |
| New York | $41,530 |
| Oregon | $41,410 |
| Utah | $41,170 |
| Idaho | $40,890 |
| New Jersey | $40,570 |
| New Hampshire | $40,130 |
| Maine | $40,100 |
| Maryland | $39,460 |
| Nebraska | $39,150 |
| Alaska | $39,100 |
| Nevada | $38,800 |
| New Mexico | $38,770 |
| Indiana | $38,750 |
| Missouri | $38,170 |
| Ohio | $37,960 |
| Georgia | $37,930 |
| Florida | $37,800 |
| Montana | $37,570 |
| North Dakota | $37,220 |
| Texas | $37,010 |
| Iowa | $36,980 |
| South Dakota | $36,980 |
| Illinois | $36,940 |
| Arkansas | $36,840 |
| Wisconsin | $36,500 |
| North Carolina | $36,340 |
| Oklahoma | $36,190 |
| Delaware | $35,930 |
| Pennsylvania | $35,760 |
| Alabama | $35,700 |
| Kentucky | $35,590 |
| Arizona | $35,560 |
| Michigan | $35,340 |
| Kansas | $35,060 |
| Tennessee | $34,580 |
| Virginia | $34,260 |
| South Carolina | $33,140 |
| Wyoming | $32,650 |
| West Virginia | $32,380 |
| Mississippi | $31,200 |
| Puerto Rico | $27,560 |
| Louisiana | $27,300 |
Top-Paying U.S. Regions
Earnings for mail clerks and mail machine operators, except postal service shift depending on where you work. The following regions pay the most:
| Region | Median annual wage | Share of U.S. jobs | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|
| New England | $43,809 | 4.5% | 0.99 |
| Far Western US | $42,740 | 12.2% | 0.74 |
| Rocky Mountains | $40,861 | 2.9% | 0.84 |
| Middle Atlantic | $39,634 | 24.8% | 1.67 |
| Plains States | $39,000 | 7.5% | 1.10 |
| Great Lakes | $37,035 | 16.6% | 1.19 |
| Southwest | $36,730 | 9.5% | 0.77 |
| Southeast | $36,087 | 21.8% | 1.02 |
Where the Jobs Cluster
| Metro area | State | Median annual wage | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | CA | $55,970 | 240 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | CA | $49,320 | 590 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | WA | $46,040 | 960 |
| Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | MA | $45,690 | 1,050 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | CA | $45,060 | 350 |
| Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI | MN | $44,890 | 1,090 |
| Provo-Orem-Lehi, UT | UT | $44,840 | 90 |
| Bridgeport-Stamford-Danbury, CT | CT | $44,710 | 210 |
Industry Breakdown
The bulk of mail clerks and mail machine operators, except postal service are concentrated in the following sectors:
| Industry | Employment | Median annual wage |
|---|---|---|
| Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Services | 19,790 | $36,680 |
| Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 8,440 | $37,210 |
| Finance and Insurance | 6,160 | $41,640 |
| Educational Services | 5,020 | $39,700 |
| Manufacturing | 4,850 | $40,990 |
| Information | 4,420 | $35,370 |
| Transportation and Warehousing | 2,410 | $37,780 |
| Health Care and Social Assistance | 1,930 | $39,430 |
Mail Clerks and Mail Machine Operators, Except Postal Service work in the following industries:
Software Mail Clerks and Mail Machine Operators, Except Postal Service Use
- Document management software: Adobe Acrobat (hot technology)
- Data base user interface and query software: Microsoft Access (hot technology)
- Spreadsheet software: Microsoft Excel (hot technology)
- Office suite software: Microsoft Office software (hot technology)
- Electronic mail software: Microsoft Outlook (hot technology)
- Presentation software: Microsoft PowerPoint (hot technology)
- Operating system software: Microsoft Windows (hot technology)
- Word processing software: Microsoft Word (hot technology)
The Day-to-Day Environment
Daily working conditions for mail clerks and mail machine operators, except postal service reflects the following characteristics:
- Indoors, Environmentally Controlled
- Telephone Conversations
- Frequency of Decision Making
- Contact With Others
Education and Training
Typical mail clerks and mail machine operators, except postal service positions require a high school diploma or equivalent as the typical entry-level education. This occupation sits in Some Preparation Needed (Job Zone 2), signaling the level of preparation typically expected.
Other Careers to Consider
Similar Occupations
- Postmasters and Mail Superintendents (Supplemental)
- Cashiers (Supplemental)
- Switchboard Operators, Including Answering Service (Supplemental)
- File Clerks (Supplemental)
- Order Clerks (Primary-Long)
- Receptionists and Information Clerks (Supplemental)
- Cargo and Freight Agents (Supplemental)
- Couriers and Messengers (Primary-Short)
About the Data
Data on this page comes from the following authoritative sources:
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics — Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) for employment and wage data by state and industry.
- BLS Employment Projections for total employment and growth forecasts.
- O*NET (Occupational Information Network) for skills, knowledge, tasks, work activities, work context, technology, and education-zone data.
SOC code: 43-9051.00 (Mail Clerks and Mail Machine Operators, Except Postal Service).
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