How to become a postal service mail carrier

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.

Steps to get there

Most employers expect usually requires a high school diploma or ged, though some occupations may not..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.

What postal service mail carriers do

• Obtain signed receipts for registered, certified, and insured mail, collect associated charges, and complete any necessary paperwork.
• Return to the post office with mail collected from homes, businesses, and public mailboxes.
• Sort mail for delivery, arranging it in delivery sequence.
• Deliver mail to residences and business establishments along specified routes by walking or driving, using a combination of satchels, carts, cars, and small trucks.
• Sign for cash-on-delivery and registered mail before leaving the post office.
• Hold mail for customers who are away from delivery locations.

Skills that matter most

• Active Listening
• Speaking
• Critical Thinking
• Reading Comprehension
• Monitoring
• Writing
• Active Learning
• Learning Strategies

Is postal service mail carrier a good career?

On the numbers, this job pays above the typical job. Median pay is 19% above the all-occupation median. Whether it fits you depends on the work itself, the schooling you are willing to do and where you want to live.

Where it pays most

• District of Columbia $64,250
• Rhode Island $63,610
• Arizona $62,390
• California $62,090
• Illinois $62,070

Postal Service Mail Carriers salary by state and city

Sources: O*NET® 31.0 (CC BY 4.0, USDOL/ETA) and BLS Employment Projections 2025–35. Pay: BLS OEWS May 2025.