Explore This Path

Postal Service Mail Carrier

💰 Earn $48K-$75K

📚 High School Diploma or GED

⏱️ 6–12 Month Training

📈 -3.5% Job Growth

Enjoy a dynamic workday delivering mail and connecting with your community.
Ensure timely and accurate mail delivery, impacting daily communication nationwide.
Experience the outdoors and stay active while serving your local area.

What Postal Service Mail Carriers DoSort 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.

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.

Postal Service Mail Carriers Education, Salary, and Growth

Minimum EducationHigh School Diploma or GED

Career ProspectsShaky (Decreasing by 1-5%)

Training Time6 months to 1 year

Job Openings20,600 Annually

Median Earnings

$58,390 in California

$57,490 Nationally

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Only you can decide how much you need to earn — but knowing what it actually costs to live in your area can help. The Family Budget Calculator can guide you.

Real Talk Reel

We've curated a playlist for you to get a glimpse into a day in the life of this career.

@gweezy0326

Is This Career Right For You?

YOU Like

Using data or completing tasks
Working with my hands

you value

Having support
Job security
Personal relationships

you are skilled in

Speaking
Critical Thinking
Reading Comprehension
Active Listening
Writing

Go Deeper: Postal Service Mail Carriers Explained

Postal Service Mail CarrierExplore career pathways, key skills, and what each role has to offer.

How Do You Train for This Career?

Learn about the education and training paths that can lead to this career — and what to expect from each one.

Strategic EmploymentStrategic employment provides individuals with valuable work experience, opportunities for professional growth and networking, and exposure to an industry where they may want to pursue advancement.

🎓 Paid Work

⏱️ Finish in 1-3 years

Vocational SchoolA vocational school typically equips students with specialized skills and practical training in specific trades or occupations, enhancing their employability and providing direct pathways to relevant careers.

🎓 Skills-Focused

⏱️ Finish in 6 months - 2 years

Workforce Development ProgramA workforce development program typically enhances participants' opportunities to succeed in the workforce through employment skill-building, career counseling, connections to employers, and pathways to high-demand and high-wage jobs.

🎓 Skills-Focused

⏱️ Finish in 6 months - 2 years

ApprenticeshipAn apprenticeship typically offers a combination of hands-on training and classroom instruction, leading to practical skills, industry-specific knowledge, and the potential for long-term employment in a specific trade or profession.

🎓 Paid Work

⏱️ Finish in 2-5 years

6 Career Keys: MilitaryMilitary service typically instills discipline and a sense of duty to national defense, offers specialized training, and facilitates career advancement within the armed forced or civilian sectors.

🎓 Paid Work

⏱️ Finish in 2-5+ years

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