What does a mail handler do?
An employee given the responsibility of a mail handler is dedicated to walking, office work, and delivering mail. A mail handler's day starts by sorting out and preparing mail/packages that are loaded to trucks for dispatch. Mail handlers also have responsibilities in post offices where they perform clergy jobs, attend to customer queries, weigh packages, and organize mail according to location and address. Overall, it's a detailed job to sort and prepare mail, load in trucks, and provide tracking to ensure all mail is routed to its correct destination.
Mail handler responsibilities
Here are examples of responsibilities from real mail handler resumes:
- 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
- Replenish and replace the BMC carts when fill and escort carts to the loading dock.
- Operate a DBCS, which is an automation machine used to sort mail by zip codes and states.
- Work within various departments of the USPS in prepping, sorting, and separating mail according to area codes.
- Organize and place packages into the correct bulk mail container (BMC) cart base on their corresponding flight.
- Load and unload trucks using sit down lift, process mail through the DBCS machines, train new employees.
- Maintain confidentiality & professionalism regarding USPS affairs.
- Coordinate delivery of large projects with upper management.
- Perform canceling operations and rewrap damage packages in processing.
- Operate OPEX machines which are used to open customer lockbox payment envelopes consistently meeting or exceeding productivity standards.
Mail handler skills and personality traits
We calculated that 28% of Mail Handlers are proficient in Mail Containers, Delivery Truck, and Pallet Jack.
We break down the percentage of Mail Handlers that have these skills listed on their resume here:
- Mail Containers, 28%
Mail handling, mail processing, loading and unloading bulk mail, emptying mail from or loading mail into mail containers.
- Delivery Truck, 15%
Operated fork-lifts and other heavy-duty machinery, participated in light mechanical engineering duties, and loaded and unloaded delivery trucks.
- Pallet Jack, 12%
Operate pallet jacks and heavy machinery; have the ability to push, pull and roll cages up to 1,500 pounds.
- Load Trucks, 10%
Position Responsibilities: Load and Unload trucks, move pallets, sort letters and packages, manage time, etc.
- Mail Delivery, 5%
Maintain strict adherence to federal postal rules and regulations regarding compliance procedures for mail delivery.
- Mail Handling, 4%
Demonstrated ability to troubleshoot creatively, solve problems effectively, and make informed decisions while successfully completing mail handling assignments.
Common skills that a mail handler uses to do their job include "mail containers," "delivery truck," and "pallet jack." You can find details on the most important mail handler responsibilities below.
Customer-service skills. The most essential soft skill for a mail handler to carry out their responsibilities is customer-service skills. This skill is important for the role because "postal service workers, particularly clerks, regularly interact with customers." Additionally, a mail handler resume shows how their duties depend on customer-service skills: "walked along routes as far as 4miles, assisted customer with questions and listened to customer concerns regarding the usps. "
Physical strength. Many mail handler duties rely on physical strength. "postal service workers must be able to lift heavy mail bags and parcels without injuring themselves.," so a mail handler will need this skill often in their role. This resume example is just one of many ways mail handler responsibilities rely on physical strength: "distributed physical mail and emails to over 100 employees in six departments and processed outgoing/incoming ups and fedex packages. "
The three companies that hire the most mail handlers are:
- TPI66 mail handlers jobs
- Sheridan39 mail handlers jobs
- United Service Technologies3 mail handlers jobs
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Compare different mail handlers
Mail handler vs. Insert operator
An insert operator's job is to set up, maintain, and troubleshoot the insert machine to produce accurate work on a timely basis. The operator conducts quality checks and performs other tasks whenever needed as he/she works with one or more machines from time to time depending on workload and date of delivery (DOD). He/she may be able to adapt to changing dynamic production environment since the job involves multitasking, must possess good verbal and written communication skills, basic mechanical and trouble-shooting skills, and must be flexible in the work schedule based on volume needs.
There are some key differences in the responsibilities of each position. For example, mail handler responsibilities require skills like "mail containers," "delivery truck," "load trucks," and "mail delivery." Meanwhile a typical insert operator has skills in areas such as "quality standards," "quality checks," "basic math," and "machine operation." This difference in skills reveals the differences in what each career does.
Insert operators really shine in the manufacturing industry with an average salary of $33,806. Comparatively, mail handlers tend to make the most money in the retail industry with an average salary of $38,744.On average, insert operators reach similar levels of education than mail handlers. Insert operators are 0.2% less likely to earn a Master's Degree and 0.1% less likely to graduate with a Doctoral Degree.Mail handler vs. Tube station attendant
In addition to the difference in salary, there are some other key differences worth noting. For example, mail handler responsibilities are more likely to require skills like "mail containers," "delivery truck," "pallet jack," and "load trucks." Meanwhile, a tube station attendant has duties that require skills in areas such as "adventure," "guest service," "safety regulations," and "safety procedures." These differences highlight just how different the day-to-day in each role looks.
Average education levels between the two professions vary. Tube station attendants tend to reach similar levels of education than mail handlers. In fact, they're 1.5% more likely to graduate with a Master's Degree and 0.1% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Mail handler vs. Folder machine operator
The required skills of the two careers differ considerably. For example, mail handlers are more likely to have skills like "mail containers," "delivery truck," "pallet jack," and "load trucks." But a folder machine operator is more likely to have skills like "mbo," "safety rules," "machine operation," and "trouble shoot."
Most folder machine operators achieve a similar degree level compared to mail handlers. For example, they're 0.0% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree, and 0.1% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Mail handler vs. Mail service coordinator
Types of mail handler
Updated January 8, 2025
