Postmasters and Mail Superintendents
SOC code 11-9131 · O*NET-SOC 11-9131.00 · Little to some preparation needed
Postmasters and Mail Superintendents pay
U.S. national figures, May 2025 BLS survey · How we got this number
Median pay
$96,660
a year
Hourly
$46.47
per hour
The solid band is the middle 50% of workers; the bar spans the 10th to 90th percentile.
Average pay
$97,360
$46.81 per hour
Middle 50%
$90,650 – $102,960
25th to 75th percentile
Full spread
$85,090 – $111,740
10th to 90th percentile
People employed
13,810
nationwide
National U.S. figure, May 2025. Local pay can be higher or lower.
- 10th percentile
- $85,090
- $40.91/hr
- 25th percentile
- $90,650
- $43.58/hr
- Median percentile
- $96,660
- $46.47/hr
- 75th percentile
- $102,960
- $49.50/hr
- 90th percentile
- $111,740
- $53.72/hr
What do postmasters and mail superintendents do?
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.
The tasks that matter most day to day
- Monitor employees' work schedules and attendance for payroll purposes.
- Organize and supervise activities, such as the processing of incoming and outgoing mail.
- Resolve customer complaints.
- Prepare employee work schedules.
- Direct and coordinate operational, management, and supportive services of one or a number of postal facilities.
- Hire and train employees, and evaluate their performance.
- Prepare and submit detailed and summary reports of post office activities to designated supervisors.
- Select and train postmasters and managers of associate postal units.
How to qualify for this work
Most people in this role hold high school diploma or the equivalent (such as a ged) — 62% 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.
Education reported by people doing this job
- High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED)62%
- Bachelor's Degree13%
- Some College Courses11%
- Post-Secondary Certificate7%
Common questions
How much does a postmasters and mail superintendents earn?
The national median is $96,660 a year. The full range runs from $85,090 at the 10th percentile to $111,740 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 postmasters and mail superintendents 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
- Reading Comprehension4.0/5
- Active Listening4.0/5
- Speaking4.0/5
- Critical Thinking3.8/5
- Monitoring3.8/5
Knowledge areas
- Administration and Management4.4/5
- Public Safety and Security4.2/5
- English Language4.1/5
- Production and Processing4.0/5
- Customer and Personal Service4.0/5
- Education and Training3.7/5
- Personnel and Human Resources3.6/5
- Mathematics3.6/5
Transferable strengths: Social Perceptiveness, Coordination, Time Management, Management of Personnel Resources, Negotiation.