Postmaster and Mail Superintendent
Postmasters and mail superintendents serve as senior managers within post office branches in the United States, overseeing both administrative and operational tasks. Their responsibilities include managing daily activities, coordinating employees, resolving customer complaints, and ensuring efficient mail delivery. Typically, individuals aspiring to become postmasters start their careers as mail carriers, gaining valuable experience in the postal system. The position requires strong problem-solving and communication skills, as well as the ability to train and supervise staff effectively.
Postmasters work in a fast-paced environment, interacting frequently with employees and customers, and must be adept at using various technological tools, including mail-sorting machinery. Although a high school diploma is the minimum educational requirement, job experience is critical, with higher degrees in business management or public administration providing advantageous skills. The role of a postmaster is vital to the postal system, which handles thousands of mail items daily, and effective leadership is key to maintaining service quality and operational efficiency. With a median annual earning of around $88,770, the outlook for this career is declining, indicating potential challenges for future job seekers in this field.
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Subject Terms
Postmaster and Mail Superintendent
Snapshot
Career Cluster(s): Business, Management & Administration
Interests: Business management, public administration, training and supervising, customer service, human resources
Earnings (Yearly Median): $88,770 annual, $43.16 hourly
Employment & Outlook: -1% or lower (Decline)
Overview
Sphere of Work. Postmasters and mail superintendents act as senior managers in post office branches throughout the United States. Their job is both administrative and managerial. Mail superintendents oversee the daily workings of a post office, including the coordination of workers and operational activities. They also handle customer complaints. The head of the national mail system is known as the postmaster general.
Work Environment. Postmasters work at the post office they manage. The environment is mentally and physically fast-paced. Most postmasters begin their careers as mail carriers, a job that can be very physically demanding. The job of a postmaster requires interaction with employees, trainees, colleagues, and customers.
Occupation Interest. Aspiring postmasters must be problem-solvers and effective communicators. They must also work well with others because their job is largely managerial. They are responsible for training and supervising employees and interacting with customers. Though the job does not require a high level of education, it does require a certain number of years of experience working for the US Postal Service. Men and women who want to become postmasters must be willing to work their way up to the position.
A Day in the Life—Duties and Responsibilities. Having served in various positions within the post office, postmasters can apply years of experience to everyday problems. Postmasters are managers, and their days vary based on the needs of their team.
Postmasters oversee every aspect of a post office. They hire and train employees on facility procedures, compose weekly employee schedules, order supplies, and manage mail-delivery routes. They ensure that the work behind the post office's front counter is done effectively and that each employee completes their tasks efficiently.
When a problem occurs at a post office, either between employees or with a customer, it is the postmaster’s job to negotiate a resolution. Although postmasters do not serve customers at the counter, they must have excellent customer service skills. Post offices throughout the United States handle thousands of pieces of mail each day. Packages and letters must be weighed and sorted. In the event of a lost or damaged parcel, the postmaster locates the missing item and communicates a plan of action to customers and employees.
Work Environment
Immediate Physical Environment. Postmasters work in an office located in a local or regional post office. Their work environment can include industrial machinery such as mail-sorting machines, crowds of customers, and a staff of employees.
Human Environment. Postmasters spend a lot of time interacting with employees and customers each day. They communicate with other branches and federal agencies via phone and email, but many of their daily interactions are face-to-face.
Technological Environment. Postmasters must be comfortable using a computer and computer systems. They must also be familiar with the machinery that sorts the mail. Each postmaster completes a US Postal Service training program on the mail-sorting machinery in the post office.
Education, Training, and Advancement
High School/Secondary. Postmasters are required to have a high school diploma or GED. A high school student who wishes to become a postmaster should do well in their classes and seek opportunities to volunteer at the post office. Sometimes, mentorships are available. It would also be wise for a student to begin a fitness regimen, as many postmasters start their careers as mail carriers, and post office employees must also pass a physical fitness exam. An individual must be at least eighteen to work for the US Postal Service or sixteen with a high school diploma.
Postsecondary. For postmasters, experience on the job is more important than higher education. However, a higher degree in public administration or business management can familiarize an aspiring postmaster with leadership techniques, organizational behavior, and human resource models. There is no degree program directly related to postal work or becoming a postmaster, but the critical-thinking skills acquired through a postsecondary education would prove valuable on the job.
Related Occupations
− General Manager & Top Executive
− Supervisor
Bibliography
"Postmasters and Mail Superintendents." Occupational Employment Statistics. Bureau of Labor Statistics, US Department of Labor, 3 Apr. 2024, www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes119131.htm. Accessed 26 Aug. 2024.