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What does a mail clerk do?

Updated January 8, 2025
6 min read
What does a mail clerk do

A mail clerk is responsible for sorting and processing mails for the business. Mail clerks' duties include maintenance of mailing supplies by regularly monitoring inventory, forwarding incoming mails and safe packages to appropriate departments, labeling outgoing mails with secured packaging, keeping records of acknowledged mails, and returning misdirected mails to the correct recipient. A mail clerk must be detail-oriented, as well as having strong organizational and multi-tasking skills to arrange deliveries, operate mailing machines, and categorize efficiently.

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Mail clerk responsibilities

Here are examples of responsibilities from real mail clerk resumes:

  • Manage files, prepare lobby monitor presentations using Microsoft PowerPoint.
  • Identify, analyze and sort tax forms, checks and vouchers submit to the IRS by individuals and businesses.
  • Prepare all documents and packages for shipment via FedEx, DHL, & GSO.
  • Process payroll and pay adjustments.
  • Operate and troubleshoot form letter inserter.
  • Place larger packages on porch or doorstep.
  • Place service calls for xerox machines and printers.
  • Perform faxing, photocopying, filing, folding of documents.
  • Enter payroll data collection at the end of each pay period.
  • Weigh and meter outgoing mail and ship and track packages through FedEx.
  • Operate electric fork lifts; rewrap damage parcels; weigh incoming sacks.
  • Stack down the product onto pallets from the press runs and insert stackers.
  • Unload mail and packages out of fed-ex cans; prepare mail for distribution.
  • Ensure accuracy of filings, conduct audits, and inventories of OPF's.
  • Answer phones, faxing, filing, photocopying, and incoming / outgoing mail

Mail clerk skills and personality traits

We calculated that 21% of Mail Clerks are proficient in Customer Service, Delivery Sequence, and Place Packages. They’re also known for soft skills such as Detail oriented, Organizational skills, and Customer-service skills.

We break down the percentage of Mail Clerks that have these skills listed on their resume here:

  • Customer Service, 21%

    Processed the incoming and campus mail Processed outgoing mail and shipments Delivered mail to designated departments Provided excellent customer service

  • Delivery Sequence, 17%

    Sorted /cased mail in delivery sequence and delivered mail to residences and business establishments.

  • Place Packages, 10%

    Place packages/letters in mailbox and secure with mailbox flap, as well as retrieve outgoing mail.

  • Mail Room, 5%

    Operated various computerized mail processing machinery in Department mail room operations.

  • Postal Regulations, 5%

    Maintained comprehensive knowledge of postal regulations and services to answer customer questions as needed.

  • Mail Containers, 5%

    Emptied and loaded mail from and/or into mail containers - Exercised protective care for equipment and materials used

"customer service," "delivery sequence," and "place packages" are among the most common skills that mail clerks use at work. You can find even more mail clerk responsibilities below, including:

Customer-service skills. Another skill that relates to the job responsibilities of mail clerks is customer-service skills. This skill is critical to many everyday mail clerk duties, as "postal service workers, particularly clerks, regularly interact with customers." This example from a resume shows how this skill is used: "sorted mail into correct zip codes, so it could be loaded on trucks and delivered to customers. "

Physical strength. A big part of what mail clerks do relies on "physical strength." You can see how essential it is to mail clerk responsibilities because "postal service workers must be able to lift heavy mail bags and parcels without injuring themselves." Here's an example of how this skill is used from a resume that represents typical mail clerk tasks: "digitalized physical tax forms and stored them in secured database. "

See the full list of mail clerk skills

The three companies that hire the most mail clerks are:

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Compare different mail clerks

Mail clerk vs. Data entry associate

Data entry associates are a group of professionals using computers and data processing programs to supply information into a database or documentation platform or to transcribe data via phone conversations or recordings. They can multitask effectively with excellent verbal and written communication skills and perform repetitive tasks accurately with excellent attention to detail. Part of their task is to maintain the database by encoding new and updated customer account information by preparing source data for computer entry, compiling, and sorting information. To be effective, typing speed and accuracy must be considered.

The annual salary of data entry associates is $5,701 higher than the average salary of mail clerks.While their salaries may differ, the common ground between mail clerks and data entry associates are a few of the skills required in each roleacirc;euro;trade;s responsibilities. In both careers, employee duties involve skills like customer service, office equipment, and computer system.

These skill sets are where the common ground ends though. The responsibilities of a mail clerk are more likely to require skills like "delivery sequence," "place packages," "mail room," and "postal regulations." On the other hand, a job as a data entry associate requires skills like "computer database," "data entry," "payroll," and "wpm." As you can see, what employees do in each career varies considerably.

Data entry associates earn the highest salaries when working in the finance industry, with an average yearly salary of $52,978. On the other hand, mail clerks are paid more in the retail industry with an average salary of $33,929.The education levels that data entry associates earn slightly differ from mail clerks. In particular, data entry associates are 0.7% more likely to graduate with a Master's Degree than a mail clerk. Additionally, they're 0.2% more likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.

Mail clerk vs. Data entry operator

A data entry operator is someone responsible for entering collected information into a database using different computer software. Data entry duties include updating customer data, transcribing information, and entering accounting records. Also, it is their responsibility to organize collected data and maintain their accurate record on the database so it can be accessed at any time. Data operators must be proficient in typing skills, keen to details and able to manage a large amount of data. They must also be familiar with using spreadsheets, along with other word processing programs.

On average, data entry operators earn a $903 higher salary than mail clerks a year.While the salary may differ for these jobs, they share a few skills needed to perform their duties. Based on resume data, both mail clerks and data entry operators have skills such as "customer service," "office equipment," and "tax returns. "

While some skills are similar in these professions, other skills aren't so similar. For example, resumes show us that mail clerk responsibilities requires skills like "delivery sequence," "place packages," "mail room," and "postal regulations." But a data entry operator might use other skills in their typical duties, such as, "data entry equipment," "computer database," "wpm," and "word processing."

Data entry operators earn a higher average salary than mail clerks. But data entry operators earn the highest pay in the finance industry, with an average salary of $38,543. Additionally, mail clerks earn the highest salaries in the retail with average pay of $33,929 annually.Average education levels between the two professions vary. Data entry operators tend to reach similar levels of education than mail clerks. In fact, they're 1.1% more likely to graduate with a Master's Degree and 0.2% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.

Mail clerk vs. Order entry clerk

An Order Entry Clerk is primarily in charge of receiving and processing customer orders, ensuring accuracy and timeliness. Upon receiving orders, an order entry clerk is responsible for entering customer information into databases such as names, billing details, address, and item specifications. They communicate with customers through calls or email to confirm their orders and information, answering inquiries should there be any. Besides handling databases, an Order Entry Clerk Prepares and processes shipping documents, invoices, and contracts, tracking procedures to ensure smooth workflow. Moreover, there are also instances where they must receive and handle customer complaints, resolving them promptly.

On average, order entry clerks earn higher salaries than mail clerks, with a $3,764 difference per year.Using the responsibilities included on mail clerks and order entry clerks resumes, we found that both professions have similar skill requirements, such as "customer service," "irs," and "computer system.rdquo;

The required skills of the two careers differ considerably. For example, mail clerks are more likely to have skills like "delivery sequence," "place packages," "mail room," and "postal regulations." But a order entry clerk is more likely to have skills like "purchase orders," "data entry errors," "customer orders," and "edi."

Order entry clerks earn the highest salary when working in the automotive industry, where they receive an average salary of $36,204. Comparatively, mail clerks have the highest earning potential in the retail industry, with an average salary of $33,929.Most order entry clerks achieve a similar degree level compared to mail clerks. For example, they're 0.2% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree, and 0.0% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.

Mail clerk vs. Office services clerk

An office services clerk is an individual employee who performs a multitude of administrative tasks as well as office maintenance duties of an organization. Office services clerks are required to maintain an inventory of office supplies as well as purchase and distribute office supplies to all employees when needed. They must manage office services staff to ensure that their duties are met efficiently and effectively. Office services clerks must also provide customer service to a wide range of customers by answering phones and responding to emails.

Office services clerks average a lower salary than the annual salary of mail clerks. The difference is about $1,223 per year.While both mail clerks and office services clerks complete day-to-day tasks using similar skills like customer service, usps, and postage meter, the two careers vary in some skills.While some skills are required in each professionacirc;euro;trade;s responsibilities, there are some differences to note. "delivery sequence," "place packages," "mail room," and "postal regulations" are skills that commonly show up on mail clerk resumes. On the other hand, office services clerks use skills like office services, data entry, word processing, and clerical support on their resumes.office services clerks enjoy the best pay in the utilities industry, with an average salary of $37,812. For comparison, mail clerks earn the highest salary in the retail industry.The average resume of office services clerks showed that they earn similar levels of education compared to mail clerks. So much so that theyacirc;euro;trade;re 1.0% more likely to earn a Master's Degree and less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree by 0.0%.

Types of mail clerk

Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Research Team
Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.

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