Mail Carrier salary

Mail carriers deliver post on foot and by vehicle along a fixed route. Federal postal roles carry benefits that are unusual for work with no degree requirement. Day to day, that means sort and organise mail for your route, deliver on foot and by vehicle in all weather, collect outgoing mail and signatures and handle parcels and special deliveries.

The usual route is: (1) sit the postal entrance exam, (2) start as a city carrier assistant or rural substitute, (3) build seniority toward a regular route, (4) bid on preferred routes as seniority grows. Employers typically look for 18+ (or 16+ with a diploma), valid driver's licence with a safe record and postal exam and background check.

Usually not. Most employers hire mail carriers without a specific licence, though valid driver's licence with a safe record will widen your options and often your pay.

Parcel volume has offset falling letter mail. Career postal positions carry federal benefits and pension, which is rare for a role with no education requirement.

Applications go through the USPS careers site and involve an entrance assessment plus a background check and driving record review. Most people start as a city carrier assistant or rural substitute — irregular hours and lower pay — and move to a regular route with benefits as seniority builds.