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Postal Service Mail Sorters, Processors, and Processing Machine Operators

Prepare incoming and outgoing mail for distribution for the United States Postal Service (USPS). Examine, sort, and route mail. Load, operate, and occasionally adjust and repair mail processing, sorting, and canceling machinery. Keep records of shipments, pouches, and sacks, and perform other duties related to mail handling within the postal service. Includes postal service mail sorters and processors employed by USPS contractors.

Median salary (BLS)

$58,470

10th–90th percentile (BLS)

$46k – $75k

Job outlook

No separate BLS projection for this specific role

AI exposure

Plan a path to Postal Service Mail Sorters, Processors, and Processing Machine Operators

Education

Typical entry: No degree required

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How to qualify

Estimate

Cost to qualify

$500–$3,150

Time to qualify

1 yr

Renewal

  1. 1

    High school diploma or GED

    Course

    Expected 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. 2

    On-the-job training

    Experience

    Employer-provided and typically paid — days to a few months for most no-degree roles.

    Cost varies · 3 months source

  3. 3

    Industry certification (optional for many roles)

    Certification

    Role-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 Sorters, Processors, and Processing Machine Operators" — 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

  1. Junior Postal Service Mail Sorters, Processors, and Processing Machine Operators

    Entry / Junior

    $45,530

    ~2 yrs to advance

  2. Postal Service Mail Sorters, Processors, and Processing Machine Operators

    Established

    $58,470

    ~3 yrs to advance

  3. Senior Postal Service Mail Sorters, Processors, and Processing Machine Operators

    Senior

    $66,875

Key skills

A typical day

  • Clear jams in sorting equipment.
  • Operate various types of equipment, such as computer scanning equipment, addressographs, mimeographs, optical character readers, and bar-code sorters.
  • Sort odd-sized mail by hand, sort mail that other workers have been unable to sort, and segregate items requiring special handling.

Fields of study

Any field

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Reputation-based selection; stats shown are outcome data per school.