43
Postal Service Mail Sorters, Processors, and Processing Machine Operators is a notable career in the 43 category. This page provides verified data from BLS OEWS 2024 + O*NET 29.0 (2024), helping you compare Postal Service Mail Sorters, Processors, and Processing Machine Operators against similar careers and make data-driven decisions.
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| soc | 43-5053 |
| title | Postal Service Mail Sorters, Processors, and Processing Machine Operators |
| onet code | 43-5053.00 |
| description | 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. |
| job zone | 2 |
| major group | 43 |
| tot emp | 111,930 |
| a mean | 58,310 |
| a median | 56,530 |
| a pct10 | 42,600 |
| a pct25 | 47,380 |
| a pct75 | 72,970 |
| a pct90 | 74,050 |
| h mean | 28 |
| h median | 27 |
The day-to-day work of a postal service mail sorters, processors, and processing machine operators typically centers on clear jams in sorting equipment. 3 of these 8 tasks are Core O*NET duties; the remainder are common supplemental work. Task descriptions below are quoted from the U.S. Department of Labor's O*NET 29.0 occupation profile.
Workers in this occupation rely most on Monitoring, Coordination, and Reading Comprehension. Across the top 5 skills, the average O*NET importance score is 3.02 out of 5 — moderately weighted for this role. Importance reflects how essential each skill is for adequate job performance.
Among working postal service mail sorters, processors, and processing machine operators, the most common entry qualification is a High School Diploma (81.4%). Bachelor's-degree-or-higher credentials are reported by 0% of incumbents. Most workers enter without a four-year degree, making this a relatively accessible career path.
Median annual pay is highest in District of Columbia at $67,830 and lowest in Alaska at $53,350 — a 1.3× spread. The top five states (District of Columbia, Iowa, Kansas, New Jersey, South Dakota) average $61,206. Figures reflect BLS OEWS May 2024 state-level wage estimates; percentiles shown are for full-time wage-earners in each state.
| State | Median | Mean | 10th % | 90th % | Employed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| District of Columbia | $67,830 | $62,300 | $42,600 | $74,150 | 460 |
| Iowa | $59,550 | $61,010 | $45,990 | $74,150 | 1,050 |
| Kansas | $59,550 | $60,070 | $44,160 | $74,150 | 670 |
| New Jersey | $59,550 | $60,580 | $42,600 | $74,150 | 4,090 |
| South Dakota | $59,550 | $60,810 | $45,990 | $74,050 | 230 |
| Wyoming | $59,550 | $60,550 | $44,160 | $74,050 | 120 |
| North Dakota | $58,780 | $60,220 | $42,600 | $74,050 | 250 |
| Vermont | $58,650 | $61,090 | $45,990 | $74,050 | 130 |
| Nebraska | $58,510 | $59,930 | $42,600 | $74,050 | 660 |
| Arkansas | $57,490 | $58,750 | $42,600 | $74,050 | 650 |
| California | $57,490 | $59,800 | $42,600 | $74,050 | 11,330 |
| Connecticut | $57,490 | $59,960 | $42,600 | $74,150 | 1,160 |
| Delaware | $57,490 | $59,070 | $44,160 | $74,050 | 450 |
| Maine | $57,490 | $59,390 | $44,160 | $74,150 | 500 |
| Michigan | $57,490 | $58,760 | $42,600 | $74,050 | 3,880 |
| Minnesota | $57,490 | $59,110 | $42,600 | $74,050 | 2,050 |
| Montana | $57,490 | $58,760 | $44,160 | $74,050 | 270 |
| New York | $57,490 | $59,030 | $42,600 | $74,050 | 9,170 |
| Oklahoma | $57,490 | $59,260 | $42,600 | $74,050 | 810 |
| Rhode Island | $57,490 | $59,150 | $44,160 | $74,050 | 630 |
| Texas | $57,490 | $59,080 | $42,600 | $74,050 | 7,430 |
| Washington | $57,490 | $59,640 | $44,160 | $74,150 | 1,960 |
| West Virginia | $57,490 | $58,090 | $42,600 | $74,050 | 460 |
| Wisconsin | $57,490 | $59,000 | $44,160 | $74,050 | 1,570 |
| Kentucky | $57,140 | $58,250 | $42,600 | $74,050 | 950 |
| Colorado | $56,530 | $58,440 | $42,600 | $74,150 | 2,080 |
| Idaho | $56,530 | $59,040 | $42,600 | $74,050 | 250 |
| Massachusetts | $56,530 | $58,240 | $42,600 | $74,050 | 3,220 |
| Arizona | $56,450 | $57,280 | $42,600 | $74,050 | 1,940 |
| Hawaii | $56,450 | $57,770 | $42,600 | $74,050 | 440 |
| Illinois | $56,450 | $58,190 | $42,600 | $74,050 | 5,920 |
| Maryland | $56,450 | $57,980 | $42,350 | $74,050 | 2,780 |
| Missouri | $56,450 | $58,020 | $44,160 | $74,150 | 2,900 |
| New Hampshire | $56,450 | $57,790 | $42,600 | $74,050 | 760 |
| Pennsylvania | $56,450 | $57,910 | $42,600 | $74,050 | 6,010 |
| Virginia | $56,450 | $57,460 | $42,600 | $74,050 | 2,660 |
| Florida | $56,160 | $57,680 | $42,600 | $74,050 | 7,480 |
| South Carolina | $56,160 | $56,940 | $42,600 | $74,050 | 1,400 |
| Ohio | $55,850 | $57,420 | $42,600 | $74,050 | 4,170 |
| Alabama | $55,410 | $57,030 | $42,600 | $74,050 | 1,220 |
| Indiana | $55,410 | $56,080 | $38,730 | $74,050 | 2,090 |
| Louisiana | $55,410 | $57,320 | $42,600 | $74,050 | 1,310 |
| Mississippi | $55,410 | $56,270 | $42,600 | $74,050 | 390 |
| Nevada | $55,410 | $57,310 | $42,600 | $74,050 | 950 |
| New Mexico | $55,410 | $57,210 | $42,600 | $74,050 | 410 |
| Oregon | $55,410 | $57,840 | $44,160 | $74,050 | 1,220 |
| Utah | $55,410 | $56,900 | $42,600 | $74,050 | 880 |
| North Carolina | $54,700 | $55,800 | $42,350 | $74,050 | 4,070 |
| Georgia | $54,370 | $55,910 | $42,600 | $74,050 | 3,200 |
| Tennessee | $54,370 | $55,730 | $42,600 | $74,050 | 3,040 |
| Alaska | $53,350 | $54,760 | $42,600 | $74,050 | 260 |
Recruiters and job boards use several alternate titles for postal service mail sorters, processors, and processing machine operators. Knowing these variants widens your job search — listings for Assorter or Automation Clerk frequently describe the same role. The list below is a sample of the most common industry variants.
This data helps you understand how Postal Service Mail Sorters, Processors, and Processing Machine Operators compares to others in the 43 category. Use it to make informed decisions based on verified data from BLS OEWS 2024 + O*NET 29.0.
careers with the closest data values to Postal Service Mail Sorters, Processors, and Processing Machine Operators
The CertifyWize editorial team aggregates and verifies careers data from BLS OEWS 2024 + O*NET 29.0. Every statistic on this site is cross-referenced against the official source before publication, with quarterly re-verification cycles.
Read our full methodology or contact us with corrections.
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