What Postal Service Mail Sorters, Processors, and Processing Machine Operators do
The U.S. Department of Labor's O*NET database describes the work of Postal Service Mail Sorters, Processors, and Processing Machine Operators this way: "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."
The core tasks O*NET records for this occupation include: "Operate various types of equipment, such as computer scanning equipment, addressographs, mimeographs, optical character readers, and bar-code sorters"; "Clear jams in sorting equipment"; "Sort odd-sized mail by hand, sort mail that other workers have been unable to sort, and segregate items requiring special handling".
Education, experience and training
According to the BLS Employment Projections, the typical education needed to enter this occupation is no formal educational credential. Typical on-the-job training to reach competency is short-term on-the-job training.
Job outlook for Postal Service Mail Sorters, Processors, and Processing Machine Operators
The Bureau of Labor Statistics counted 101,200 jobs in this occupation in 2025 and projects 95,900 in 2035, a decrease of 5,300 jobs (-5.3%). That is slower than the 3.5% projected for all occupations.
About 7,300 openings a year are projected on average, counting both new positions and positions vacated by workers who retire or switch occupations. Relative to today's employment that is 7.2% a year, against 10.3% for all occupations. BLS lists a national median annual wage of $58,470, compared with $50,980 for all occupations.
Where Postal Service Mail Sorters, Processors, and Processing Machine Operators earn the most
Across the 2 states with published data, the employment-weighted average of local median wages for this occupation ranges from $59,005 in New Jersey to $59,166 in New York, a gap of $161 (1.00 times). 2 of those 2 states average above the BLS national median of $58,470 and 0 average at or below it.
New Jersey employs the most people in this occupation among the states covered, 12,720, which is 53.8% of the 23,660 counted across them. New York follows with 10,940.
Highest-paying states
New York ($59,166) and New Jersey ($59,005) lead the ranking, while New Jersey ($59,005) and New York ($59,166) are at the bottom. The table below lists every state with a link to its county-level detail.
Occupations related to Postal Service Mail Sorters, Processors, and Processing Machine Operators
Postal Service Mail Carriers belong to the same detailed SOC group. Other occupations in the same SOC minor group (43-5000) include Production, Planning, and Expediting Clerks, Cargo and Freight Agents, Dispatchers, Except Police, Fire, and Ambulance and Shipping, Receiving, and Inventory Clerks.
Frequently asked questions about Postal Service Mail Sorters, Processors, and Processing Machine Operators
What is the national median wage for Postal Service Mail Sorters, Processors, and Processing Machine Operators?
BLS lists a national median annual wage of $58,470. Across the states covered here the average local median ranges from $59,005 to $59,166.
Which state pays Postal Service Mail Sorters, Processors, and Processing Machine Operators the most?
New York, with an employment-weighted average local median wage of $59,166. New Jersey is next at $59,005.
What is the job outlook for Postal Service Mail Sorters, Processors, and Processing Machine Operators?
BLS projects employment to shrink by 5.3% between 2025 and 2035, compared with 3.5% for all occupations, with about 7,300 openings a year.
What education do Postal Service Mail Sorters, Processors, and Processing Machine Operators need?
The typical entry-level education is no formal educational credential and short-term on-the-job training, according to BLS.