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Mail Clerks and Mail Machine Operators, Except Postal Service in California

Thinking about a career as a Mail Clerks and Mail Machine Operators, Except Postal Service in California? Here’s what you need to know. 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.

What do Mail Clerks and Mail Machine Operators, Except Postal Service Make in California?

For a mail clerks and mail machine operators, except postal service working in California, the median annual wage is $42,860 per year (or about $20.61/hour).Annual wages span from $35,600 at the 10th percentile to $63,730 at the 90th percentile.

Wage Statistic	Annual	Hourly
10th percentile	$35,600	$17.12
25th percentile	$37,710	$18.13
Median (50th)	$42,860	$20.61
75th percentile	$51,760	$24.88
90th percentile	$63,730	$30.64

The job concentration index in California compared to the national average — is 0.66, suggesting fewer mail clerks and mail machine operators, except postal service per worker than the national average.

National Wage Comparison

Nationally, mail clerks and mail machine operators, except postal service earn a median of $39,996 per year ($19.23/hour), exceeding the California median.

Employment Outlook

Nationally, total employment in this occupation is 977,033 mail clerks and mail machine operators, except postal service in the U.S.. In California alone, around 4,880 people work in this role. That’s higher than the typical state, which employs around 620 mail clerks and mail machine operators, except postal service.

Top California Metros for Mail Clerks and Mail Machine Operators, Except Postal Service

The largest metro-area employers of mail clerks and mail machine operators, except postal service in California.

Metro Area	Number Employed	Annual Median Salary
Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA	2,180	$42,400
San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA	590	$49,320
San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA	390	$41,800
Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA	350	$45,060
Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA	310	$40,290
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA	240	$55,970
Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA	70	$41,360
Stockton-Lodi, CA	70	$39,720
Fresno, CA	50	$39,530
Bakersfield-Delano, CA	40	$38,220
Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA	40	$42,180
Visalia, CA	30	$42,430

Top States for Mail Clerks and Mail Machine Operators, Except Postal Service Employment

View the states that employ the most mail clerks and mail machine operators, except postal service work.

State	Number Employed
New York	5,660
California	4,880
Texas	4,210
Pennsylvania	3,790
New Jersey	3,490
Illinois	3,480
Florida	3,350
Georgia	3,340
Ohio	2,150
Michigan	1,850
Maryland	1,630
Wisconsin	1,560
Virginia	1,550
Minnesota	1,510
North Carolina	1,450
Washington	1,440
Massachusetts	1,360
Indiana	1,350
Missouri	1,180
Tennessee	990

Highest-Paying States for Mail Clerks and Mail Machine Operators, Except Postal Service

Where mail clerks and mail machine operators, except postal service earn the most: mail clerks and mail machine operators, except postal service.

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

Skills

Top mail clerks and mail machine operators, except postal service skills, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:

Knowledge Areas

Key knowledge areas for this occupation, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:

Abilities

The abilities that matter most for mail clerks and mail machine operators, except postal service, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:

Daily Tasks

Day-to-day, mail clerks and mail machine operators, except postal service typically:

• 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.

Work Activities

• Performing General Physical Activities
• Handling and Moving Objects
• Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates
• Getting Information
• Controlling Machines and Processes
• Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events
• Inspecting Equipment, Structures, or Materials
• Working with Computers
• Processing Information
• Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships
• Assisting and Caring for Others
• Making Decisions and Solving Problems

Tools & Technology

Common tools and software used in this occupation include: Hot technologies: Adobe Acrobat In-demand technologies: Microsoft Excel

Related Careers

Careers similar to mail clerks and mail machine operators, except postal service include:

• Postmasters and Mail Superintendents
• Cashiers
• Switchboard Operators, Including Answering Service
• File Clerks
• Order Clerks
• Receptionists and Information Clerks

Also Known As

Addressing Machine Operator, Addressograph Operator, Advertising Inserter, Canceling Machine Operator, Dead Mail Checker, Direct Mail Clerk, Direct Mail Coordinator, Distribution Clerk, Envelope Sealer Operator, Express Clerk, Folding Machine Operator, Hand Inserter Operator, Inkjet Operator, Insert Operator, Inserter Operator.

References

• U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics — https://www.bls.gov/oes/
• O*NET Online — https://www.onetonline.org/
• BLS Employment Projections — https://www.bls.gov/emp/
• O*NET-SOC code: 43-9051.00