Business & Finance
Postal Service Mail Carriers
Sort and deliver mail for the United States Postal Service (USPS). Deliver mail on established route by vehicle or on foot. Includes postal service mail carriers employed by USPS contractors.
Median salary (BLS)
$60,550
10th–90th percentile (BLS)
$42k – $81k
Job outlook
No separate BLS projection for this specific role
AI exposure
Plan a path to Postal Service Mail Carriers
Education
Typical entry: No degree required
Plan my path to this →How to qualify
EstimateCost to qualify
$500–$3,150
Time to qualify
1 yr
Renewal
—
- 1
High school diploma or GED
CourseExpected by most employers; if you need the GED, test fees run $0–$150 depending on the state.
$0–$150 · 3 months · varies by state source
- 2
On-the-job training
ExperienceEmployer-provided and typically paid — days to a few months for most no-degree roles.
Cost varies · 3 months source
- 3
Industry certification (optional for many roles)
CertificationRole-dependent — e.g. CPA, Series 7/65, PMP, SHRM. Not always required, but often expected for advancement.
$500–$3,000 · 6 months source
Estimated typical U.S. route for "Postal Service Mail Carriers" — built from BLS education requirements and College Board 2024–25 average published prices (public, in-state tuition + fees + books). Not yet verified against a specific state's licensing rules — confirm with your state licensing board or program.
Typical progression
Junior Postal Service Mail Carriers
Entry / Junior
$42,390
~2 yrs to advance
Postal Service Mail Carriers
Established
$60,550
~3 yrs to advance
Senior Postal Service Mail Carriers
Senior
$70,795
Key skills
A typical day
- •Scan labels on letters or parcels to confirm receipt.
- •Obtain signed receipts for registered, certified, and insured mail, collect associated charges, and complete any necessary paperwork.
- •Return to the post office with mail collected from homes, businesses, and public mailboxes.
- •Sort mail for delivery, arranging it in delivery sequence.
- •Deliver mail to residences and business establishments along specified routes by walking or driving, using a combination of satchels, carts, cars, and small trucks.
Fields of study
Any field
Top colleges for Business & Finance
Explore all- University of Pennsylvania6% admit · $112,000 grad pay
- Massachusetts Institute of Technology4% admit · $124,000 grad pay
- Harvard University4% admit · $119,000 grad pay
- University of California, Berkeley11% admit · $97,000 grad pay
- New York University12% admit · $84,000 grad pay
Reputation-based selection; stats shown are outcome data per school.