What You Need to Know About Postal Service Mail Sorter, Processor, and Processing Machine Operator
Career Description Prepare incoming and outgoing mail for distribution. 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 other duties related to mail handling within the postal service.
Daily Life Of a Postal Service Mail Processing Machine Operator
- Open and label mail containers.
- Distribute incoming mail into the correct boxes or pigeonholes.
- Bundle, label, and route sorted mail to designated areas, depending on destinations and according to established procedures and deadlines.
- Accept and check containers of mail from large volume mailers, couriers, and contractors.
- Clear jams in sorting equipment.
- Dump sacks of mail onto conveyors for culling and sorting.
Featured schools near , edit
Skills Needed to be a Postal Service Mail Processing Machine Operator
When polled, Postal Service Mail Sorters, Processors, and Processing Machine Operators say the following skills are most frequently used in their jobs:
Monitoring: Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
Reading Comprehension: Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.
Speaking: Talking to others to convey information effectively.
Critical Thinking: Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
Coordination: Adjusting actions in relation to others’ actions.
Active Listening: Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
Types of Postal Service Mail Sorter, Processor, and Processing Machine Operator
- Mail Sorter
- Mail Examiner
- Mail Processing Clerk
- Mail Distribution Clerk
- Zip Sorter
Job Opportunities for Postal Service Mail Sorters, Processors, and Processing Machine Operators
In 2016, there was an estimated number of 106,700 jobs in the United States for Postal Service Mail Sorter, Processor, and Processing Machine Operator. There is little to no growth in job opportunities for Postal Service Mail Sorter, Processor, and Processing Machine Operator. Due to new job openings and attrition, there will be an average of 5,200 job openings in this field each year.

The states with the most job growth for Postal Service Mail Processing Machine Operator are Utah, Texas, and Connecticut. Watch out if you plan on working in Pennsylvania, Ohio, or Oklahoma. These states have the worst job growth for this type of profession.
Average Postal Service Mail Sorters, Processors, and Processing Machine Operators Salary
The typical yearly salary for Postal Service Mail Sorters, Processors, and Processing Machine Operators is somewhere between $35,230 and $60,110.

Postal Service Mail Sorters, Processors, and Processing Machine Operators who work in Idaho, Delaware, or Hawaii, make the highest salaries.
How much do Postal Service Mail Sorters, Processors, and Processing Machine Operators make in each U.S. state?
State | Annual Mean Salary |
---|---|
Alabama | $51,250 |
Alaska | $48,540 |
Arizona | $49,170 |
Arkansas | $51,220 |
California | $51,520 |
Colorado | $50,680 |
Connecticut | $52,580 |
Delaware | $53,890 |
District of Columbia | $52,930 |
Florida | $51,870 |
Georgia | $52,330 |
Hawaii | $51,760 |
Idaho | $52,820 |
Illinois | $50,880 |
Indiana | $48,870 |
Iowa | $51,130 |
Kansas | $49,850 |
Kentucky | $49,600 |
Louisiana | $51,350 |
Maine | $50,930 |
Maryland | $51,520 |
Massachusetts | $51,750 |
Michigan | $51,510 |
Minnesota | $50,070 |
Mississippi | $49,260 |
Missouri | $51,140 |
Montana | $48,100 |
Nebraska | $49,670 |
Nevada | $50,820 |
New Hampshire | $50,120 |
New Jersey | $52,420 |
New Mexico | $50,310 |
New York | $51,390 |
North Carolina | $50,900 |
North Dakota | $45,980 |
Ohio | $50,030 |
Oklahoma | $50,110 |
Oregon | $49,580 |
Pennsylvania | $51,710 |
Rhode Island | $51,460 |
South Carolina | $49,560 |
South Dakota | $48,020 |
Tennessee | $51,100 |
Texas | $52,430 |
Utah | $49,140 |
Vermont | $53,070 |
Virginia | $51,260 |
Washington | $52,420 |
West Virginia | $46,550 |
Wisconsin | $52,390 |
Wyoming | $50,400 |
Tools & Technologies Used by Postal Service Mail Sorters, Processors, and Processing Machine Operators
Although they’re not necessarily needed for all jobs, the following technologies are used by many Postal Service Mail Sorters, Processors, and Processing Machine Operators:
- Time and Attendance Collection System TACS
- Electronic Time Clock ETC
- Address Management System AMS
- NCR Advanced Store
- Delivery Routing System DRS
Becoming a Postal Service Mail Processing Machine Operator
What education or degrees do I need to become a Postal Service Mail Sorter, Processor, and Processing Machine Operator?

What work experience do I need to become a Postal Service Mail Processing Machine Operator?

Postal Service Mail Sorters, Processors, and Processing Machine Operators Sector

Postal Service Mail Sorters, Processors, and Processing Machine Operators work in the following industries:

Related Careers
Those who work as a Postal Service Mail Sorter, Processor, and Processing Machine Operator sometimes switch careers to one of these choices:
References:
More about our data sources and methodologies.
Featured Schools
![]() |
Southern New Hampshire University You have goals. Southern New Hampshire University can help you get there. Whether you need a bachelor's degree to get into a career or want a master's degree to move up in your current career, SNHU has an online program for you. Find your degree from over 200 online programs. Learn More > |