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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.

What you’d do

  • 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.
  • Determine manner in which mail is to be sent, and prepare it for delivery to mailing facilities.
  • Sort and route incoming mail, and collect outgoing mail, using carts as necessary.

Skills that matter

  • Critical Thinking
  • Monitoring
  • Reading Comprehension
  • Speaking
  • Time Management
  • Active Listening

How to get there

Little to some preparation: usually a high school diploma or GED, though some jobs do not need one

Also called

  • Mail Clerk
  • Mail Machine Operator
  • Mail Sorter
  • Postal Clerk
  • Insert Operator
  • Inserter Operator

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