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Mail Clerks and Mail Machine Operators, Except Postal Service

The occupation Mail Clerks and Mail Machine Operators, Except Postal Service covers people who prepare incoming and outgoing mail for distribution. The job can ask you to lift and unload containers of mail or parcels onto equipment for transportation to sortation stations. The strongest interest signal is Conventional (6.5 of 7), then Realistic (4.0) and Enterprising, which gives it the code CRE. Plan on a few months to a year of learning on the job; O*NET labels this some preparation. Strength in time management, speaking, and reading comprehension helps most here. It tends to suit people who want orderly work with data, records and clear procedures, and it offers little for anyone seeking research, analysis and working through hard problems.

What they do

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.

Main tasks

  • Lift and unload containers of mail or parcels onto equipment for transportation to sortation stations.
  • Verify that items are addressed correctly, marked with the proper postage, and in suitable condition for processing.
  • Clear jams in sortation equipment.
  • Place incoming or outgoing letters or packages into sacks or bins based on destination or type, and place identifying tags on sacks or bins.
  • Release packages or letters to customers upon presentation of written notices or other identification.
  • Remove containers of sorted mail or parcels and transfer them to designated areas according to established procedures.

Skills

  • Time Management
  • Speaking
  • Reading Comprehension
  • Monitoring
  • Critical Thinking
  • Writing

Who this career fits

May suit you if

  • You like clear rules and getting the details right.
  • You like ending the day with a physical result you can point to.
  • You want to start work after a short stretch of training.
  • You are comfortable relying on time management and speaking.

May not suit you if

  • You get restless with routine, records and exact procedures.
  • You want to spend most of your time analyzing and researching. Investigative rates 1.0 out of 7 here.
  • You want a career built on years of advanced study.

Interest profile

O*NET rates each occupation from 1 to 7 on six interest types. The code CRE takes the three highest, and Conventional comes first here.

Preparation

Some preparation. Most people start with a high school diploma, then learn from experienced coworkers over a few months to a year.

Most-reported requirement in the O*NET survey: Associate's Degree or other 2-year degree. This reflects what workers reported most often and is not a legal minimum. Licensing rules can differ by state or industry, so confirm what applies where you plan to work.

Also called

  • Insert Operator
  • Inserter Operator
  • Mail Clerk
  • Mail Handler
  • Mail Machine Operator

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This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA.