Postal Service Mail Sorters, Processors, and Processing Machine Operators
The occupation Postal Service Mail Sorters, Processors, and Processing Machine Operators covers people who prepare incoming and outgoing mail for distribution for the United States Postal Service (USPS). O*NET rates it as some preparation, which usually means a few months to a year of learning on the job. It leans on monitoring, speaking, and reading comprehension. Expect to clear jams in sorting equipment. Its interest code is CRS. Conventional leads at 5.9 out of 7, so expect orderly work with data, records and clear procedures, with Realistic next at 4.6. If you want orderly work with data, records and clear procedures, keep it on your list. If you need creative work with room for original expression, it may feel thin.
What they do
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.
Main tasks
- 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.
Skills
- Monitoring
- Speaking
- Reading Comprehension
- Critical Thinking
- Coordination
- Time Management
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 monitoring and speaking.
May not suit you if
- You get restless with routine, records and exact procedures.
- You need creative expression to be a big part of your day. Artistic 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 CRS 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: High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED). 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
- Automation Clerk
- Computer Forwarding System Markup Clerk (CFS Markup Clerk)
- Distribution Clerk
- Flat Sorting Machine Clerk (FSM Clerk)
- Mail Handler
Related careers
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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.