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What is a postal mail carrier and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025
2 min read
There is more than meets the eye when it comes to being a postal mail carrier. For example, did you know that they make an average of $17.28 an hour? That's $35,935 a year! Between 2018 and 2028, the career is expected to grow -6% and produce -29,300 job opportunities across the U.S.
ScorePostal Mail CarrierUS Average
Salary
2.8

Avg. Salary $35,935

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability level
5.8

Growth rate -6%

Growth rate 0.3%

Diversity
3.5
Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 0.55%

Asian 6.52%

Black or African American 13.05%

Hispanic or Latino 17.29%

Unknown 4.11%

White 58.49%

Gender

female 38.07%

male 61.93%

Age - 51
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 - 51
Stress level
5.8

Stress level is manageable

7.1 - high

Complexity level
6.7

Complexity level is challenging

7 - challenging

Work life balance
6.1

Work life balance is fair

6.4 - fair

Key steps to become a postal mail carrier

  1. Explore postal mail carrier education requirements

    Most common postal mail carrier degrees

    High School Diploma

    35.0 %

    Associate

    30.0 %

    Bachelor's

    26.3 %
  2. Start to develop specific postal mail carrier skills

    SkillsPercentages
    Delivery Sequence32.18%
    Necessary Paperwork17.21%
    Customer Service16.05%
    Business Establishments8.86%
    COD7.72%
  3. Complete relevant postal mail carrier training and internships

    Accountants spend an average of Less than 1 month on post-employment, on-the-job training. New postal mail carriers 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 postal mail carrier based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real postal mail carrier resumes.
  4. Research postal mail carrier duties and responsibilities

    • Operate approve USPS vehicle to deliver mail daily.
    • Meter outgoing military govt mail, prepare fed-ex shipments...delivery of mail to squadrons .. work in control restricted area ..
    • Separate confidential file including taxes and vouchers to facilitate IRS processing
  5. Prepare your postal mail carrier resume

    When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your postal mail carrier 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 postal mail carrier resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.

    Choose from 10+ customizable postal mail carrier resume templates

    Build a professional postal mail carrier 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 postal mail carrier resume.
    Postal Mail Carrier Resume
    Postal Mail Carrier Resume
    Postal Mail Carrier Resume
    Postal Mail Carrier Resume
    Postal Mail Carrier Resume
    Postal Mail Carrier Resume
    Postal Mail Carrier Resume
    Postal Mail Carrier Resume
    Postal Mail Carrier Resume
  6. Apply for postal mail carrier jobs

    Now it's time to start searching for a postal mail carrier job. Consider the tips below for a successful job search:

    1. Browse job boards for relevant postings
    2. Consult your professional network
    3. Reach out to companies you're interested in working for directly
    4. Watch out for job scams

How did you land your first postal mail carrier job

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Average postal mail carrier salary

The average postal mail carrier salary in the United States is $35,935 per year or $17 per hour. Postal mail carrier salaries range between $21,000 and $59,000 per year.

Average postal mail carrier salary
$35,935 Yearly
$17.28 hourly

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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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