Postal Service Mail Sorters, Processors, and Processing Machine Operators

SOC code 43-5053 · O*NET-SOC 43-5053.00 · Little to some preparation needed · Office and administration

Postal Service Mail Sorters, Processors, and Processing Machine Operators pay

U.S. national figures, May 2025 BLS survey · How we got this number

Median pay

$58,470

a year

Hourly

$28.11

per hour

10th$45,530Median$58,47090th$75,280

The solid band is the middle 50% of workers; the bar spans the 10th to 90th percentile.

Average pay

$59,430

$28.57 per hour

Middle 50%

$48,880 – $75,030

25th to 75th percentile

Full spread

$45,530 – $75,280

10th to 90th percentile

People employed

105,200

nationwide

National U.S. figure, May 2025. Local pay can be higher or lower.

10th percentile: $45,530; $21.89/hr
25th percentile: $48,880; $23.50/hr
Median percentile: $58,470; $28.11/hr
75th percentile: $75,030; $36.07/hr
90th percentile: $75,280; $36.19/hr

What do postal service mail sorters, processors, and processing machine operators 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.

The tasks that matter most day to day

Direct items according to established routing schemes, using computer-controlled keyboards or voice-recognition equipment.
Check items to ensure that addresses are legible and correct, that sufficient postage has been paid or the appropriate documentation is attached, and that items are in a suitable condition for processing.
Clear jams in sorting equipment.
Bundle, label, and route sorted mail to designated areas, depending on destinations and according to established procedures and deadlines.
Operate various types of equipment, such as computer scanning equipment, addressographs, mimeographs, optical character readers, and bar-code sorters.
Move containers of mail, using equipment, such as forklifts and automated "trains".
Open and label mail containers.
Load and unload mail trucks, sometimes lifting containers of mail onto equipment that transports items to sorting stations.

How to qualify for this work

Most people in this role hold high school diploma or the equivalent (such as a ged) — 81% of workers surveyed reported it as their level of education.

Preparation level: zone 2 — Little to some preparation needed

Education: Usually requires a high school diploma or GED, though some occupations may not.
Experience: Some occupations may need little or no previous experience; others require several months to a year of experience. For example, landscaping and groundskeeping workers might require very little training or previous experience, while agricultural equipment operators can benefit from on-the job training.
Training: Ranges from a few days to one year of on-the-job training.

See all zone 2 occupations →

Education reported by people doing this job

High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED)81%
Less than a High School Diploma12%
Some College Courses6%

Common questions

How much does a postal service mail sorters, processors, and processing machine operators earn?

The national median is $58,470 a year. The full range runs from $45,530 at the 10th percentile to $75,280 at the 90th — entry pay sits closer to the lower figure, and experience, licensing and specialisation move you up the range.

Can you become a postal service mail sorters, processors, and processing machine operators without a degree?

Yes — this occupation sits in preparation zone 2, meaning the typical entry route is usually requires a high school diploma or GED, though some occupations may not. A four-year degree is not the standard requirement, though licensing or certification may still apply.

Skills and knowledge you need

Core skills

Monitoring3.1/5
Reading Comprehension3.0/5
Speaking3.0/5
Critical Thinking3.0/5
Active Listening2.9/5

Knowledge areas

English Language3.0/5

Transferable strengths: Coordination, Operations Monitoring, Judgment and Decision Making, Time Management, Social Perceptiveness.