Postal Service Mail Sorters, Processors and Processing Machine Operators: Salary, Job Description, How To Become One, and Quiz

Postal Service Mail Sorters, Processors and Processing Machine Operators prepare incoming and outgoing mail for distribution. 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 other duties related to mail handling within the postal service.

• 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.

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Postal Service Mail Machine Operators with little to no experience tend to make between $35230 and $38180 while the more experienced ones can earn over $60100 per year.

One of the easiest ways to increase your salary as a Postal Service Mail Sorter, Processor and Processing Machine Operator is to move to a higher paying state like DE. Right now, the highest paying states for Postal Service Mail Machine Operators are DE, VT, DC, ID and CT.

However, a higher pay at DE doesn’t guarantee that you will make more because the living expenses at DE might be twice as high than where you are currently at now.

Three other factors that can increase your salary as a Postal Service Mail Sorter, Processor and Processing Machine Operator is the degree you hold, the industry you work in, and lastly the company you work for.

We asked other Postal Service Mail Machine Operators what degree they had when they got the job and most of them said they had a High School Diploma followed by less than a High School Diploma.

Other than that, we also asked them what did they major in and here are the most popular majors that came up.

Here are some of the pros and cons of being a Postal Service Mail Sorter, Processor and Processing Machine Operator.

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66% of Postal Service Mail Machine Operators said they were satisfied with their job and 48% said they feel like their job is making other people’s lives better.

You can read more about these career personality types here.

People who are suitable for this job tends to like following set procedures and routines. They like working with data and details more than with ideas..

They also like work activities that include practical, hands-on problems and solutions. They like working with plants, animals, and real-world materials like wood, tools, and machinery.