What does a mailroom assistant do?
Mailroom assistants receive incoming mail and then process, sort, and distribute it to the proper recipients. They may maintain mailroom supply inventories and sort office mail and messages. It is part of their responsibilities to check outgoing mail by preparing it for delivery, including distribution of packages and logging. Moreover, they usually operate mailroom tools such as envelope openers, postage meters, mail sorting machines, mail sealers, fold-and-insert machines, labeling machines, and scanners.
Mailroom assistant responsibilities
Here are examples of responsibilities from real mailroom assistant resumes:
- Manage files, prepare lobby monitor presentations using Microsoft PowerPoint.
- Present cases for equipment upgrades by use of ROI tools and specification advantages.
- Help implement and maintain USPS standards, policies, and procedures in mail management.
- Create new division for NCOA processes for outside customers that increase revenue there as well.
- Pick up, sort, and deliver all USPS mail including time and authorization sensitive correspondence.
- Distribute incoming FedEx and DHL packages to employees on assign floors as well as processing and shipping outgoing FedEx and DHL.
- Evaluate and section customer database to ensure maximum ROI achievement.
- Answer incoming calls from physicians and hospital associates requesting copies of radiology images.
- Meter postage to mail collect from various units within Cuna.
Mailroom assistant skills and personality traits
We calculated that 27% of Mailroom Assistants are proficient in Office Equipment, Data Entry, and HR. They’re also known for soft skills such as Customer-service skills, Detail oriented, and Organizational skills.
We break down the percentage of Mailroom Assistants that have these skills listed on their resume here:
- Office Equipment, 27%
Operated office equipment that was used on a regular basis including computers, printers, and postage meter machines.
- Data Entry, 15%
Performed varying levels of data entry and general filing duties including sorting and filing applications, correspondence and records.
- HR, 14%
Assisted in producing and distributing new hire kits for HR as well as track new hire arrivals through internal reporting.
- Mail Room, 8%
Assisted in everyday mail room activities such as preparing brochures, labeling, stuffing and sealing envelopes in large volumes.
- USPS, 5%
Reduced mail costs by effective use of FEDEX, UPS and USPS mail rates when assisting other departments' mail needs.
- Customer Service, 5%
Provided customer service producing paperback documents and copy orders for staff using photocopying machines.
Common skills that a mailroom assistant uses to do their job include "office equipment," "data entry," and "hr." You can find details on the most important mailroom assistant responsibilities below.
Customer-service skills. One of the key soft skills for a mailroom assistant to have is customer-service skills. You can see how this relates to what mailroom assistants do because "general office clerks often provide general information to company staff, customers, or the public." Additionally, a mailroom assistant resume shows how mailroom assistants use customer-service skills: "garnered expertise in database systems to track client/customer information, file confidential records and document financial reports. "
Detail oriented. Another soft skill that's essential for fulfilling mailroom assistant duties is detail oriented. The role rewards competence in this skill because "general office clerks perform many clerical tasks that require attention to detail, such as preparing bills." According to a mailroom assistant resume, here's how mailroom assistants can utilize detail oriented in their job responsibilities: "updated detailed notes of contacts in computer system. "
Organizational skills. Another skill that relates to the job responsibilities of mailroom assistants is organizational skills. This skill is critical to many everyday mailroom assistant duties, as "general office clerks file and retrieve records." This example from a resume shows how this skill is used: "mail room duties, filing and pulling documents, answering phones, organizational skills: self and associates organized. "
The three companies that hire the most mailroom assistants are:
- Robert Half16 mailroom assistants jobs
- Panda Express2 mailroom assistants jobs
- Firstservice Residential California, Inc.2 mailroom assistants jobs
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Mailroom assistant vs. Secretary
Secretaries are employees who are responsible for many of the administrative needs of the office. They are usually assigned to executives or to a specific department. They manage schedules and appointments, often handling the calendar in the office. They are also responsible for keeping files organized, whether physical or digital copies. During office meetings, secretaries are in charge of documenting the minutes of the meeting and highlighting the action steps that need to be taken. They may also be assigned to check on concerned departments who need to present deliverables in the next office meeting.
While similarities exist, there are also some differences between mailroom assistants and secretary. For instance, mailroom assistant responsibilities require skills such as "data entry," "mail room," "usps," and "postage meter." Whereas a secretary is skilled in "telephone calls," "scheduling appointments," "word processing," and "travel arrangements." This is part of what separates the two careers.
Secretaries really shine in the government industry with an average salary of $46,574. Comparatively, mailroom assistants tend to make the most money in the government industry with an average salary of $32,606.The education levels that secretaries earn slightly differ from mailroom assistants. In particular, secretaries are 1.5% more likely to graduate with a Master's Degree than a mailroom assistant. Additionally, they're 0.5% more likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Mailroom assistant vs. Office specialist
An office specialist is responsible for performing administrative and clerical duties to support the organization's daily operations. Office specialists must be highly organizational, as well as having excellent time-management skills to handle work units. They have duties including data entry procedures, greeting visitors, responding to customers' inquiries through phone calls and e-mails, and filing and sorting documents. Office specialists are responsible for creating meeting reports, scheduling appointments, evaluating financial statements, coordinating with other staff for event planning, and assisting the senior management with complex functions.
While some skills are similar in these professions, other skills aren't so similar. For example, resumes show us that mailroom assistant responsibilities requires skills like "mail room," "usps," "postage meter," and "organization." But an office specialist might use other skills in their typical duties, such as, "patients," "phone calls," "word processing," and "office support."
Office specialists earn a higher average salary than mailroom assistants. But office specialists earn the highest pay in the finance industry, with an average salary of $37,752. Additionally, mailroom assistants earn the highest salaries in the government with average pay of $32,606 annually.In general, office specialists achieve similar levels of education than mailroom assistants. They're 2.4% more likely to obtain a Master's Degree while being 0.5% more likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Mailroom assistant vs. Administrator secretary
Administrator secretaries are assistants to managers or higher officers in charge of administrative tasks. Their responsibilities include liaising with an organization's internal departments and in communicating with the general public. They make arrangements and scheduling of meetings, events, and appointments. Sometimes, they assume tasks in clerical and administrative nature. It is also part of their job to work hand-in-hand with executives, managers, and any other personnel in corporations.
The required skills of the two careers differ considerably. For example, mailroom assistants are more likely to have skills like "mail room," "usps," "postage meter," and "organization." But a administrator secretary is more likely to have skills like "patients," "routine correspondence," "telephone calls," and "office procedures."
Administrator secretaries earn the highest salary when working in the manufacturing industry, where they receive an average salary of $36,398. Comparatively, mailroom assistants have the highest earning potential in the government industry, with an average salary of $32,606.Most administrator secretaries achieve a similar degree level compared to mailroom assistants. For example, they're 2.4% more likely to graduate with a Master's Degree, and 0.3% more likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Mailroom assistant vs. Administrative receptionist
An administrative receptionist is responsible for performing administrative tasks, handling visitors' inquiries and concerns, verifying appointments, and leading them to the appropriate personnel and department, as well as handling and routing calls. Administrative receptionists also keep records of the staff meeting and executive conference, including company and promotional events. They receive packages and mail, sort documents, manage office supply inventories, create incident reports, and report suspicious guests within the premises. An administrative receptionist must have excellent communication and customer service skills, especially on resolving and escalating complaints.
Types of mailroom assistant
Updated January 8, 2025











