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.

Also Known As

Mail Clerk
Mail Handler
Mail Machine Operator
Postal Clerk

Alternate Job Titles

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

What You'll Do

In this role, your typical responsibilities include:

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.

Knowledge You'll Use

You'll need solid knowledge in these areas:

Customer and Personal Service

Key Abilities

This career requires key abilities in:

Near Vision
Oral Comprehension
Speech Recognition
Information Ordering
Category Flexibility
Written Comprehension
Finger Dexterity
Manual Dexterity
Oral Expression
Problem Sensitivity

Work Style

People who excel in this career typically demonstrate:

Dependability
Attention to Detail
Integrity
Cautiousness
Cooperation

What Matters in This Career

This career tends to satisfy these work values:

Support
Relationships
Working Conditions
Achievement
Independence

Education & Preparation

Typical Education: High School Diploma - or the equivalent (for example, GED)

On-the-Job Training: Over 1 month, up to and including 3 months

Education Details: Usually requires a high school diploma or GED, though some occupations may not.

Experience Required: Some occupations may need little or no previous experience; others require several months to a year of experience. For example, landscaping and groundskeeping workers might require very little training or previous experience, while agricultural equipment operators can benefit from on-the job training.

Technology You'll Use

Popular Technologies & Software

Adobe Acrobat
Microsoft Access
Microsoft Excel
Microsoft Office software
Microsoft Outlook
Microsoft PowerPoint
Microsoft Windows
Microsoft Word

Tools & Equipment

10-key calculators
Automated filing systems
Automatic envelope opening machines
Automatic envelope sealing machines
Computer data input scanners
Computer inkjet printers
Copy machines
Date stampers
Digital duplicating machines
Electronic cash registers
Electronic mailing machines
Hand trucks
Lamination machines
Laser facsimile machines
Letter folding machines

Work Environment

Indoors, Environmentally Controlled
Telephone Conversations
E-Mail
Frequency of Decision Making
Contact With Others

Salary & Job Market

Salary Percentile	Annual Wage
Entry-Level (10th percentile)	$29,460
Median	$38,150
Top Earners (90th percentile)	$52,150

Workers Employed Nationally: 62,730