Postal Service Clerk
A Postal Service Clerk plays a vital role within the United States Postal Service (USPS), focusing on customer service and administrative responsibilities. These clerks are primarily involved in organizing, sorting, and distributing mail while also engaging with customers at the post office counter. Their duties include selling postage, weighing packages, answering inquiries about mail services, and ensuring compliance with federal regulations regarding mail handling. While the job typically requires a high school diploma or equivalent, no specialized training is necessary, and clerks often receive on-the-job training.
The work environment for postal clerks is generally indoors in a temperature-controlled setting, where they spend long hours standing and interacting with the public. Skills such as organization, basic mathematical proficiency, and problem-solving are essential for success in this role. Although the occupation is facing a projected decline in employment opportunities, it offers a median annual salary of approximately $56,510, along with competitive benefits. Overall, being a postal clerk is suited for individuals who enjoy routine tasks and are dedicated to serving their community.
Postal Service Clerk
Snapshot
Career Cluster(s): Business, Management & Administration
Interests: Business, administrative tasks, customer service, communication, business technology
Earnings (Yearly Median): $56,510 per year $27.17 per hour
Employment & Outlook: -8% (Decline)
Entry-Level Education High school diploma or equivalent
Related Work Experience None
On-the-job Training Short-term on-the-job training
Overview
Sphere of Work. Postal clerks are responsible for various administrative and customer service-oriented duties related to the United States Postal Service (USPS). Postal clerks handle and supervise the organization of all mail items received and sent through the post office from which they work. They ensure that mail is sorted and delivered promptly and that all parcels are packaged and shipped according to federal mail regulations and instructions. In addition to sorting mail, postal clerks work behind the post office counter to sell products, weigh and calculate package postage, answer questions, and conduct other business with customers.
Work Environment. Postal clerks usually work out of one of the country’s mail processing centers or post offices, where they stand for much of the day. Unlike mail carriers, postal clerks work indoors in a comfortable, temperature-controlled environment with other postal workers and post office employees. They report to mail supervisors, postmasters, or post office managers. Most postal clerks work a standard forty-hour week, with some expected overtime during holidays and other rush periods. Some may work on weekends, depending upon the size and location of the post office in which they work. They are generally required to wear uniforms.
Occupation Interest. Individuals interested in pursuing a career in postal work must genuinely enjoy routine activities. Candidates should be highly organized and exhibit a desire to complete assignments correctly. They should be interested in helping and serving other people and have an aptitude for solving problems and offering suggestions and alternatives. They should be skilled in basic mathematical calculations and able to skim, read, and sort text and mail parcels quickly and efficiently. There are no specialized training or education requirements for postal work, and clerks typically receive excellent benefits.
A Day in the Life—Duties and Responsibilities. Postal clerks are responsible for handling the mail for a specified region. They arrange delivered and pending mail items, including letters, publications, and packages, into specific categories according to type, weight, and geographic location. Some postal clerks sort mail and parcels by hand, and others use electronic mail sorting machines to accelerate the organization process. They prepare mail for distribution to post office boxes or bags using mailing identifiers, like addresses and recipient names. They may be required to lift and carry heavy packages and oversized or oddly shaped parcels.
When interacting with customers, postal clerks sell stamps and other postage, envelopes and boxes, and money orders. They handle special transactions involving mail that needs to be registered, certified, or insured. They weigh parcels, determine shipping costs, and offer customers the most appropriate shipping options for their items. In addition, postal clerks are responsible for inspecting mail items to ensure they have received the correct postage and packaging. They respond to questions from the public regarding lost, delivered, and damaged mail, postage rates, mail theft, and federal mail regulations. In many post offices, postal clerks are also responsible for filing US passport applications on behalf of the applicants.
Work Environment
Immediate Physical Environment. Postal clerks spend the majority of their time behind the counter of a large or small post office. Their workstations must be well organized, clean, and tidy, as they are responsible for keeping track of many parcels, packages, and documents.
Human Environment. Postal clerks interact frequently with the public. Therefore, they must maintain a friendly, upbeat, and accommodating attitude, especially when dealing with long lines and impatient or difficult customers. Postal clerks also work with other postal employees, including mail processors, delivery people, mail supervisors, and postmasters.
Technological Environment. The emergence of new postal handling equipment has begun to limit the amount of manual computing that postal clerks must do; however, clerks must be familiar with new technologies as they become available. They must use sorting and canceling machines, scales, computers, conveyor systems, optical character reading machines, and self-mailing systems. They must also handle large packages, boxes, stamps, envelopes, tape, and various mailing forms and other paperwork.
Education, Training, and Advancement
High School/Secondary. High school students looking to begin a career in postal work should study business, communications, mathematics, and economics. They should also take English and foreign language courses and public speaking to become familiar with different cultures and customs and sharpen their communication skills. In addition, it is helpful for students to learn about and understand United States geography, history, and the origins of the United States Postal Service. Students can also visit their local post offices to become familiar with postal processes and procedures.
Postsecondary. Prospective postal clerks must have earned a high school diploma or its equivalent. Formal postsecondary or undergraduate training is not required; however, as the job market decreases and the demand for jobs increases, more employers hire candidates with associate’s or bachelor’s degrees in any field.
Related Occupations
− Shipping and Receiving Clerk
Bibliography
"About." US Postal Service, 2024, about.usps.com/what/. Accessed 26 Aug. 2024.
"Postal Service Workers." Occupational Outlook Handbook. Bureau of Labor Statistics, US Department of Labor, 17 Apr. 2024, www.bls.gov/ooh/office-and-administrative-support/postal-service-workers.htm. Accessed 26 Aug. 2024.