Mail Clerks and Mail Machine Operators, Except Postal Service
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.
Also known as: Addressing Machine Operator, Addressograph Operator, Advertising Inserter, Canceling Machine Operator, Dead Mail Checker, Direct Mail Clerk, Direct Mail Coordinator, Distribution Clerk, ...
Annual Salary
Median annual wage (May 2024)
Job Outlook
Projected growth, 2024–2034 (Declining)
What You'd Do
- Seal or open envelopes, by hand or by using machines.
- Affix postage to packages or letters by hand, or stamp materials, using postage meters.
- Verify that items are addressed correctly, marked with the proper postage, and in suitable condition for processing.
- Sort and route incoming mail, and collect outgoing mail, using carts as necessary.
- Determine manner in which mail is to be sent, and prepare it for delivery to mailing facilities.
- Wrap packages or bundles by hand, or by using tying machines.
- Remove containers of sorted mail or parcels and transfer them to designated areas according to established procedures.
- Accept and check containers of mail or parcels from large volume mailers, couriers, and contractors.
- Place incoming or outgoing letters or packages into sacks or bins based on destination or type, and place identifying tags on sacks or bins.
- Clear jams in sortation equipment.
- Weigh packages or letters to determine postage needed, using weighing scales and rate charts.
- Lift and unload containers of mail or parcels onto equipment for transportation to sortation stations.
- Fold letters or circulars and insert them in envelopes.
- Remove from machines printed materials, such as labeled articles, postmarked envelopes or tape, and folded sheets.
- Add ink, fill paste reservoirs, and change machine ribbons when necessary.
- Start machines that automatically feed plates, stencils, or tapes through mechanisms, and observe machine operations to detect any malfunctions.
- Read production orders to determine types and sizes of items scheduled for printing and mailing.
- Mail merchandise samples or promotional literature in response to requests.
- Inspect mail machine output for defects and determine how to eliminate causes of any defects.
- Contact delivery or courier services to arrange delivery of letters and parcels.
Top Skills
Importance scale: 1 (low) – 5 (high)
Knowledge Areas
Importance scale: 1 (low) – 5 (high)
Education Level Distribution
Percentage of workers in this occupation by education level
Technology & Tools
Software and tools commonly used in this role
In-Demand Technologies
Other Tools
Work Styles
Personality traits and work styles important for this career
Key Abilities
Cognitive, physical, and sensory abilities important for this role
Importance scale: 1 (low) – 5 (high)
Work Activities
General types of job behaviors occurring on this job
Importance scale: 1 (low) – 5 (high)
Work Environment
Physical and social factors that influence the nature of work
Related Careers
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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.