Mail Clerks and Mail Machine Operators, Except Postal Service: Career Profile
Prepare incoming and outgoing mail for distribution. Time-stamp, open, read, sort, and route incoming mail; and address, seal, stamp, fold, stuff, and affix postage to outgoing mail or packages. Duties may also include keeping necessary records and completed forms.
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The Daily Work of Mail Clerks and Mail Machine Operators, Except Postal Service Take On?
Typical responsibilities of mail clerks and mail machine operators, except postal service include:
- Wrap packages or bundles by hand, or by using tying machines.
- Verify that items are addressed correctly, marked with the proper postage, and in suitable condition for processing.
- Remove containers of sorted mail or parcels and transfer them to designated areas according to established procedures.
- Sort and route incoming mail, and collect outgoing mail, using carts as necessary.
- Affix postage to packages or letters by hand, or stamp materials, using postage meters.
- Determine manner in which mail is to be sent, and prepare it for delivery to mailing facilities.
- Accept and check containers of mail or parcels from large volume mailers, couriers, and contractors.
- Seal or open envelopes, by hand or by using machines.
Skills and Knowledge
Effective mail clerks and mail machine operators, except postal service combine a mix of skills and domain knowledge.
Key Skills
These are the skills that matter most in this role, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:
Top Knowledge Areas
Related Job Titles
This career also goes by job titles like:
- Addressing Machine Operator
- Addressograph Operator
- Advertising Inserter
- Canceling Machine Operator
- Dead Mail Checker
- Direct Mail Clerk
- Direct Mail Coordinator
- Distribution Clerk
How Many Mail Clerks and Mail Machine Operators, Except Postal Service Are There?
There are roughly 977,033 mail clerks and mail machine operators, except postal service working in the United States today. Employment is projected to grow by +3.3% over the projection horizon.
How Much Do Mail Clerks and Mail Machine Operators, Except Postal Service Make?
| Statistic | Value |
|---|---|
| Annual median | $39,996 |
| Hourly median | $19.23 |
| 10th percentile | $28,994 |
| 25th percentile | $34,495 |
| 75th percentile | $45,497 |
| 90th percentile | $50,998 |
Pay can vary substantially based on experience, location, and industry.
Mail Clerks and Mail Machine Operators, Except Postal Service Salary by State
| State | Annual median salary |
|---|---|
| District of Columbia | $48,230 |
| Massachusetts | $46,160 |
| Hawaii | $44,700 |
| Washington | $44,260 |
| Vermont | $43,440 |
| Colorado | $43,160 |
| California | $42,860 |
| Minnesota | $42,650 |
| Rhode Island | $42,390 |
| Connecticut | $42,370 |
| New York | $41,530 |
| Oregon | $41,410 |
| Utah | $41,170 |
| Idaho | $40,890 |
| New Jersey | $40,570 |
| New Hampshire | $40,130 |
| Maine | $40,100 |
| Maryland | $39,460 |
| Nebraska | $39,150 |
| Alaska | $39,100 |
| Nevada | $38,800 |
| New Mexico | $38,770 |
| Indiana | $38,750 |
| Missouri | $38,170 |
| Ohio | $37,960 |
| Georgia | $37,930 |
| Florida | $37,800 |
| Montana | $37,570 |
| North Dakota | $37,220 |
| Texas | $37,010 |
| Iowa | $36,980 |
| South Dakota | $36,980 |
| Illinois | $36,940 |
| Arkansas | $36,840 |
| Wisconsin | $36,500 |
| North Carolina | $36,340 |
| Oklahoma | $36,190 |
| Delaware | $35,930 |
| Pennsylvania | $35,760 |
| Alabama | $35,700 |
| Kentucky | $35,590 |
| Arizona | $35,560 |
| Michigan | $35,340 |
| Kansas | $35,060 |
| Tennessee | $34,580 |
| Virginia | $34,260 |
| South Carolina | $33,140 |
| Wyoming | $32,650 |
| West Virginia | $32,380 |
| Mississippi | $31,200 |
| Puerto Rico | $27,560 |
| Louisiana | $27,300 |
Top-Paying U.S. Regions
Compensation for mail clerks and mail machine operators, except postal service shift depending on where you work. These regions lead on median pay:
| Region | Median annual wage | Share of U.S. jobs | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|
| New England | $43,809 | 4.5% | 0.99 |
| Far Western US | $42,740 | 12.2% | 0.74 |
| Rocky Mountains | $40,861 | 2.9% | 0.84 |
| Middle Atlantic | $39,634 | 24.8% | 1.67 |
| Plains States | $39,000 | 7.5% | 1.10 |
| Great Lakes | $37,035 | 16.6% | 1.19 |
| Southwest | $36,730 | 9.5% | 0.77 |
| Southeast | $36,087 | 21.8% | 1.02 |
Highest-Paying Metro Areas for Mail Clerks and Mail Machine Operators, Except Postal Service
| Metro area | State | Median annual wage | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | CA | $55,970 | 240 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | CA | $49,320 | 590 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | WA | $46,040 | 960 |
| Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | MA | $45,690 | 1,050 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | CA | $45,060 | 350 |
| Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI | MN | $44,890 | 1,090 |
| Provo-Orem-Lehi, UT | UT | $44,840 | 90 |
| Bridgeport-Stamford-Danbury, CT | CT | $44,710 | 210 |
Which Industries Hire Mail Clerks and Mail Machine Operators, Except Postal Service
The largest employers of mail clerks and mail machine operators, except postal service are found across these industries:
| Industry | Employment | Median annual wage |
|---|---|---|
| Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Services | 19,790 | $36,680 |
| Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 8,440 | $37,210 |
| Finance and Insurance | 6,160 | $41,640 |
| Educational Services | 5,020 | $39,700 |
| Manufacturing | 4,850 | $40,990 |
| Information | 4,420 | $35,370 |
| Transportation and Warehousing | 2,410 | $37,780 |
| Health Care and Social Assistance | 1,930 | $39,430 |
Mail Clerks and Mail Machine Operators, Except Postal Service work in the following industries:
Tech Stack
- Document management software: Adobe Acrobat (hot technology)
- Data base user interface and query software: Microsoft Access (hot technology)
- Spreadsheet software: Microsoft Excel (hot technology)
- Office suite software: Microsoft Office software (hot technology)
- Electronic mail software: Microsoft Outlook (hot technology)
- Presentation software: Microsoft PowerPoint (hot technology)
- Operating system software: Microsoft Windows (hot technology)
- Word processing software: Microsoft Word (hot technology)
What the Workplace Is Like
The work environment for mail clerks and mail machine operators, except postal service reflects the following characteristics:
- Indoors, Environmentally Controlled
- Telephone Conversations
- Frequency of Decision Making
- Contact With Others
How to Become Mail Clerks and Mail Machine Operators, Except Postal Service
Typical mail clerks and mail machine operators, except postal service positions require a high school diploma or equivalent as the typical entry-level education. This career aligns with Some Preparation Needed (Job Zone 2), indicating the level of preparation typically expected.
Similar Occupations
Similar Occupations
- Postmasters and Mail Superintendents (Supplemental)
- Cashiers (Supplemental)
- Switchboard Operators, Including Answering Service (Supplemental)
- File Clerks (Supplemental)
- Order Clerks (Primary-Long)
- Receptionists and Information Clerks (Supplemental)
- Cargo and Freight Agents (Supplemental)
- Couriers and Messengers (Primary-Short)
References
Statistics shown above are sourced from the following authoritative sources:
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics — Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) for employment and wage data by state and industry.
- BLS Employment Projections for total employment and growth forecasts.
- O*NET (Occupational Information Network) for skills, knowledge, tasks, work activities, work context, technology, and education-zone data.
SOC code: 43-9051.00 (Mail Clerks and Mail Machine Operators, Except Postal Service).
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