Postmasters and Mail Superintendents

11-9131.00 Zone 2 — Some Preparation Needed

Plan, direct, or coordinate operational, administrative, management, and support services of a U.S. post office; or coordinate activities of workers engaged in postal and related work in assigned post office.

Also known as: Delivery Supervisor, Distribution Operation Supervisor (SDO), Distribution Operations Manager, Distribution Operations Supervisor, Mail Delivery Supervisor, Mail Superintendent, Order to Delivery Supervisor, Postal Service Sectional Center Manager, ...

Annual Salary

$92,730

Median annual wage (May 2024)

$87,150 25th – 75th percentile $99,590
10th percentile $81,430
90th percentile $109,140
U.S. Employment: 13,810

Job Outlook

-3.5%

Projected growth, 2024–2034 (Declining)

Annual Job Openings 900 per year (avg. 2024–2034)
Typical education: High school diploma or equivalent
Experience: Less than 5 years
On-the-job training: Moderate-term on-the-job training

What You'd Do

  • Organize and supervise activities, such as the processing of incoming and outgoing mail.
  • Direct and coordinate operational, management, and supportive services of one or a number of postal facilities.
  • Resolve customer complaints.
  • Hire and train employees, and evaluate their performance.
  • Prepare employee work schedules.
  • Prepare and submit detailed and summary reports of post office activities to designated supervisors.
  • Negotiate labor disputes.
  • Monitor employees' work schedules and attendance for payroll purposes.
  • Collect rents for post office boxes.
  • Issue and cash money orders.

Top Skills

Reading Comprehension 4.0
Active Listening 4.0
Time Management 4.0
Speaking 4.0
Coordination 4.0
Social Perceptiveness 4.0
Management of Personnel Resources 3.9
Critical Thinking 3.8

Importance scale: 1 (low) – 5 (high)

Knowledge Areas

Administration and Management 4.4
Public Safety and Security 4.2
English Language 4.1
Production and Processing 4.0
Customer and Personal Service 4.0
Education and Training 3.7
Personnel and Human Resources 3.6
Mathematics 3.6

Importance scale: 1 (low) – 5 (high)

Education Level Distribution

Percentage of workers in this occupation by education level

High School
62.1%
Bachelor's
13.4%
Some College
11.1%
Certificate
6.7%
Associate's
6.7%

Technology & Tools

Software and tools commonly used in this role

In-Demand Technologies

Microsoft Excel Microsoft Office software Microsoft Outlook Microsoft PowerPoint Microsoft Windows Microsoft Word SAP software

Other Tools

Collection Point Management System CPMS eBuy Email software Facility database software Payroll software Personnel management software Personnel scheduling software Point of sale POS software Postal boundary mapping software Postal tracking software Vehicle management software Web Box Activity Tracing System WebBATS Web browser software

Work Styles

Personality traits and work styles important for this career

2.9
Leadership Orientation
2.7
Dependability
2.3
Integrity
2.1
Attention to Detail
2.0
Self-Control
1.8
Cooperation
1.8
Cautiousness

Key Abilities

Cognitive, physical, and sensory abilities important for this role

Oral Comprehension 4.0
Written Comprehension 4.0
Oral Expression 4.0
Speech Recognition 3.9
Deductive Reasoning 3.9
Speech Clarity 3.9
Problem Sensitivity 3.8
Inductive Reasoning 3.8

Importance scale: 1 (low) – 5 (high)

Work Activities

General types of job behaviors occurring on this job

Getting Information 4.5
Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates 4.5
Resolving Conflicts and Negotiating with Others 4.4
Making Decisions and Solving Problems 4.4
Working with Computers 4.3
Scheduling Work and Activities 4.2
Organizing, Planning, and Prioritizing Work 4.2
Guiding, Directing, and Motivating Subordinates 4.1

Importance scale: 1 (low) – 5 (high)

Work Environment

Physical and social factors that influence the nature of work

Contact With Others
5.0
Face-to-Face Discussions with Individuals and Within Teams
4.9
Time Pressure
4.9
E-Mail
4.9
Telephone Conversations
4.8
Work Outcomes and Results of Other Workers
4.7
Health and Safety of Other Workers
4.7
Indoors, Environmentally Controlled
4.7
Work With or Contribute to a Work Group or Team
4.7
Coordinate or Lead Others in Accomplishing Work Activities
4.6
Deal With External Customers or the Public in General
4.5
Frequency of Decision Making
4.5

Related Careers

Dispatchers, Except Police, Fire, and Ambulance
$49K
Office Clerks, General
$44K
Customer Service Representatives
$43K
Management Analysts
$101K
Mail Clerks and Mail Machine Operators, Except Postal Service
$38K
Postal Service Mail Carriers
$57K
Order Clerks
$45K
Logisticians
$81K
Production, Planning, and Expediting Clerks
$58K
Shipping, Receiving, and Inventory Clerks
$43K

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Salary data: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2024. Outlook data: BLS Employment Projections, 2024–2034.

This page includes information from the O*NET 30.2 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license.