Postal Service Mail Carriers

Sort and deliver mail for the United States Postal Service (USPS). Deliver mail on established route by vehicle or on foot. Includes postal service mail carriers employed by USPS contractors.

SOC: 43-5052.00

Common Job Titles

City Letter CarrierLetter CarrierMail CarrierRural Carrier Associate (RCA)
Wage Data According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics

Annual wage data for Postal Service Mail Carriers (2024)

Estimated Total Employment (U.S.)

336,040

Wage Distribution by Percentile

MetricU.S.
10% of workers earn the following or less$42,390
10% of workers earn the following or more$76,880
Workers on average earn$59,880

+ indicates wage is at or above the BLS reporting cap ($239,200/year)

Skills & Requirements

Key competencies for this occupation, ranked by importance

  • Customer and Personal Service4.3/5
  • English Language3.3/5
  • Public Safety and Security3.2/5
  • Sales and Marketing3.1/5
  • Transportation3.0/5
Tools & Technology

Equipment and software commonly used in this occupation

In-Demand Technology

Frequently requested by employers in job postings

Microsoft Office softwareMicrosoft WindowsMicrosoft Word

Technology Skills

Address Management System AMSAutomated Data Collection System ADCSDelivery Routing System DRSDelivery operations information system DOISElectronic Time Clock ETCEnd of Run Report EORTime and Attendance Collection System TACSWord processing software

Tools & Equipment

Delivery unit computersHandheld computersMail distribution casesMail relay boxesMail sorting traysPassenger vehiclesPortable barcode scannersPostal vehicle tire chains