Mail Clerks and Mail Machine Operators, Except Postal Service
SOC 43-9051BLS OEWS May 2025
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.
National median · BLS
$39,280
▲ +2.96%YoY
H-1B sponsor median
—
Too few H-1B filings
Average salary · BLS
$41,650
Mean annual wage
U.S. employment
55,230
Jobs (BLS)
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Pay range for Mail Clerks and Mail Machine Operators, Except Postal Service
Annual base pay at each percentile. BLS covers all U.S. workers in this occupation.
Percentile
All U.S. workers (BLS)
10th — entry pay
$30,780
25th
$35,470
Median (50th)
$39,280
75th
$46,450
90th — top pay
$54,820
Hourly ⇄ annual pay
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Monthly—
Every 2 weeks—
Weekly—
Daily—
Based on
hrs/week ×
weeks/year
= 2,080 hrs
Projections 2025–2035
Job outlook for Mail Clerks and Mail Machine Operators, Except Postal Service
BLS projects employment of mail clerks and mail machine operators, except postal service to decline 7.2% from 2025 to 2035, while employment across all occupations grows 3.5%.
About 4,700 openings are projected each year, on average, from new jobs and from replacing workers who retire or move to other occupations.
Jobs 2025 → 2035
57,800 → 53,600
-4,100 jobs
Projected change
-7.2%
All occupations: +3.5%
Openings per year
4,700
Average, 2025–2035
Typical entry education
High school diploma or equivalent
No related experience required
On-the-job training
Short-term on-the-job training
Preparation needed (O*NET Job Zone 2)
Very Little to Some Preparation Needed. Usually requires a high school diploma or GED, though some occupations may not.
Highlighted = in demand: frequently listed in employer job postings for this occupation (O*NET).
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA), used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA.
About the job
What mail clerks and mail machine operators, except postal service do
Lift and unload containers of mail or parcels onto equipment for transportation to sortation stations.
Verify that items are addressed correctly, marked with the proper postage, and in suitable condition for processing.
Clear jams in sortation equipment.
Place incoming or outgoing letters or packages into sacks or bins based on destination or type, and place identifying tags on sacks or bins.
Release packages or letters to customers upon presentation of written notices or other identification.
Remove containers of sorted mail or parcels and transfer them to designated areas according to established procedures.
Determine manner in which mail is to be sent, and prepare it for delivery to mailing facilities.
Sort and route incoming mail, and collect outgoing mail, using carts as necessary.
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Source: O*NET 31.0 (USDOL/ETA, CC BY 4.0). These are general job titles, not H-1B filings; for titles employers actually filed, see “Job titles” above.
Similar jobs and how they pay
Occupations O*NET lists as closely related to Mail Clerks and Mail Machine Operators, Except Postal Service, with BLS national medians compared with this occupation's $39,280.
