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Postal clerk vs data entry clerk

The differences between postal clerks and data entry clerks can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a postal clerk has an average salary of $38,239, which is higher than the $31,582 average annual salary of a data entry clerk.

The top three skills for a postal clerk include customer service, postal service and postage rates. The most important skills for a data entry clerk are data entry, customer service, and computer database.

Postal clerk vs data entry clerk overview

Postal ClerkData Entry Clerk
Yearly salary$38,239$31,582
Hourly rate$18.38$15.18
Growth rate-6%-5%
Number of jobs93,101132,345
Job satisfaction-4
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 36%Bachelor's Degree, 28%
Average age5244
Years of experience-2

What does a postal clerk do?

A postal clerk is responsible for organizing mails for delivery and categorizing other mailroom supplies. Postal clerks sort mail and packages, verify the accurate addresses, and deliver to the correct location. They also operate various postal tools and equipment for labeling documents and weighing parcels. A postal clerk must be highly communicative and organizational, especially on responding to the customers' inquiries and concerns about their deliveries and handling fragile packages with utmost care to avoid complications and operational delays.

What does a data entry clerk do?

Data entry clerks are employees who work on the proper documentation of the data sets within the organization. They are responsible for copying in or typing in items from a source to the company database. In doing so, they provide and validate essential information to the organization. Data entry clerks are expected to assess the data and ensure that they are correct before logging them into the company database. They are required to have good attention to detail, to be able to type swiftly and accurately, and to be able to work with minimal supervision.

Postal clerk vs data entry clerk salary

Postal clerks and data entry clerks have different pay scales, as shown below.

Postal ClerkData Entry Clerk
Average salary$38,239$31,582
Salary rangeBetween $28,000 And $50,000Between $25,000 And $38,000
Highest paying CityProvidence, RIWashington, DC
Highest paying stateNew YorkWashington
Best paying companyEmbry-Riddle Aeronautical UniversityGeneral Dynamics Mission Systems
Best paying industryGovernmentFinance

Differences between postal clerk and data entry clerk education

There are a few differences between a postal clerk and a data entry clerk in terms of educational background:

Postal ClerkData Entry Clerk
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 36%Bachelor's Degree, 28%
Most common majorBusinessBusiness
Most common college--

Postal clerk vs data entry clerk demographics

Here are the differences between postal clerks' and data entry clerks' demographics:

Postal ClerkData Entry Clerk
Average age5244
Gender ratioMale, 47.2% Female, 52.8%Male, 19.9% Female, 80.1%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 15.6% Unknown, 3.8% Hispanic or Latino, 14.6% Asian, 10.6% White, 55.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.3%Black or African American, 10.5% Unknown, 4.2% Hispanic or Latino, 22.8% Asian, 7.5% White, 54.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.6%
LGBT Percentage10%5%

Differences between postal clerk and data entry clerk duties and responsibilities

Postal clerk example responsibilities.

  • Manage $24K official mail account, expertly track expenditures ultimately saving the DoD $1K with little to no supervision.
  • Maintain cleanliness of the company warehouse, operate warehouse machinery and organize the warehouse to ensure proper product placement.
  • Assist with various duties including spreadsheet development, payroll information and data population.

Data entry clerk example responsibilities.

  • Prepare, maintain and manage PowerPoint presentations.
  • Enter contractual data into AS400 computer terminal, implementing alphanumeric and 10-key data entry.
  • Work in multiple windows to process information.
  • Create a backup copy for one specific table on the SQL database.
  • Process radiology reports into MDIV program while meeting department month- end billing cycle.
  • Establish the ability to type approximately 58 wpm and type 10 key by touch.
  • Show more

Postal clerk vs data entry clerk skills

Common postal clerk skills
  • Customer Service, 24%
  • Postal Service, 20%
  • Postage Rates, 11%
  • ZIP Codes, 4%
  • USPS, 4%
  • Mail Delivery, 3%
Common data entry clerk skills
  • Data Entry, 23%
  • Customer Service, 19%
  • Computer Database, 12%
  • Computer System, 6%
  • Word Processing, 5%
  • WPM, 3%

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