How To Become A Mail Handler: What It Is and Career Path

What is a mail handler and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025

4 min read

A mail handler sorts and distributes mail within a post office or other mail facility. Mail handlers ensure that each piece of mail is correctly sorted and delivered to its intended recipient. They may also operate machinery including conveyor belts and forklifts to move mail throughout the facility. They must follow strict security procedures to prevent theft and maintain confidentiality of sensitive mail.

ScoreMail HandlerUS Average

Salary

2.8

Avg. Salary $35,851

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability level

8.4

Growth rate -6%

Growth rate 0.3%

Diversity

10.0

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 0.68%

Asian 6.05%

Black or African American 11.27%

Hispanic or Latino 15.84%

Unknown 3.56%

White 62.60%

Gender

female 46.33%

male 53.67%

Age - 46

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%

Asian 7.00%

Black or African American 14.00%

Hispanic or Latino 19.00%

White 57.00%

Gender

female 47.00%

male 53.00%

Age - 46

Stress level

8.4

Stress level is high

7.1 - high

Complexity level

5.0

Complexity level is intermediate

7 - challenging

Work life balance

6.7

Work life balance is good

6.4 - fair

What are the pros and cons of being a mail handler?

Pros

Job stability with consistent hours
Opportunities for overtime pay
Benefits such as health insurance and retirement plans
Good starting pay with potential for raises
Job availability in many different locations

Cons

Repetitive motions can lead to physical strain or injury
Exposure to dust, dirt, and other allergens
Can be stressful during peak holiday periods
Work schedule may include weekends or holidays
Monotonous nature of work may become boring over time

Key steps to become a mail handler

Explore mail handler education requirements

Most common mail handler degrees

High School Diploma

45.3 %

Bachelor's

17.8 %

Associate

17.8 %

Start to develop specific mail handler skills

Skills	Percentages
Mail Containers	28.10%
Delivery Truck	14.75%
Pallet Jack	11.80%
Load Trucks	9.93%
Mail Delivery	4.57%

Complete relevant mail handler training and internships

Accountants spend an average of 1-3 months on post-employment, on-the-job training. New mail handlers learn the skills and techniques required for their job and employer during this time. The chart below shows how long it takes to gain competency as a mail handler based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real mail handler resumes.

Research mail handler duties and responsibilities

Process mail with RF scanner.
Comply with FAA and FedEx rules and regulations.
Operate tug and dolly to the fedex plane so they can load them
Process mail with RF scanners, or weigh mail for proper postage for shipping

Prepare your mail handler resume

When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your mail handler resume.

You can use Zippia's AI resume builder to make the resume writing process easier while also making sure that you include key information that hiring managers expect to see on a mail handler resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.

Choose from 10+ customizable mail handler resume templates

Build a professional mail handler resume in minutes. Browse through our resume examples to identify the best way to word your resume. Then choose from 10+ resume templates to create your mail handler resume.