Postal Service Mail Sorters, Processors, and Processing Machine Operators

What the job really is

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.

At a glance

• Sector: Office & Administrative
• O*NET-SOC code: 43-5053
• O*NET job zone: 2 — some preparation
• Work sample tasks on file: 12
• Tools and technologies listed: 12

What you actually do

Work sample tasks recorded for this occupation:

• Clear jams in sorting equipment.
• Operate various types of equipment, such as computer scanning equipment, addressographs, mimeographs, optical character readers, and bar-code sorters.
• Sort odd-sized mail by hand, sort mail that other workers have been unable to sort, and segregate items requiring special handling.
• 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.
• Bundle, label, and route sorted mail to designated areas, depending on destinations and according to established procedures and deadlines.
• 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.
• Distribute incoming mail into the correct boxes or pigeonholes.
• Rewrap soiled or broken parcels.
• Train new workers.

Tools and technology

Microsoft Excel, Microsoft Office software, Microsoft Outlook, Microsoft SharePoint, Microsoft Word, SAP software, Teradata Database, Address Management System AMS, Addressographs, Automated Package Processing System APPS, Automatic airline assignment systems, Automatic pallet unloaders

What employers expect you to already be comfortable with.

Where this job leads

Related occupations — the usual moves up and sideways:

• Mail Clerks and Mail Machine Operators, Except Postal Service
• Shipping, Receiving, and Inventory Clerks
• Postal Service Clerks
• Stockers and Order Fillers
• Office Machine Operators, Except Computer
• Weighers, Measurers, Checkers, and Samplers, Recordkeeping
• Data Entry Keyers
• Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand

Getting in

O*NET assigns this occupation job zone 2 (some preparation). The related occupations above are the realistic routes in and out.

Find openings

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Check this against the source

O*NET OnLine: Postal Service Mail Sorters, Processors, and Processing Machine Operators — the authoritative public-domain profile this page is derived from, including the full task list, reported skills and the wage estimates for your region.

Derived and rewritten from the public-domain O*NET database (U.S. Department of Labor / Employment and Training Administration). Figures are observations, not promises — always confirm salary, licensing and visa requirements with the employer and the relevant authority.