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Career Exploration

Postal Service Mail Carriers

Also called: City Letter Carrier, Letter Carrier, Mail Carrier, Rural Carrier Associate (RCA)

What they do:

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.

On the job, you would:
  • Scan labels on letters or parcels to confirm receipt.
  • 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.
On the job, you'll need:

Business

  • customer service
  • sales and marketing

Arts and Humanities

  • English language

Safety and Government

  • public safety and security

Basic Skills

  • listening to others, not interrupting, and asking good questions
  • talking to others

Problem Solving

  • noticing a problem and figuring out the best way to solve it

Hand and Finger Use

  • keep your arm or hand steady

Endurance

  • exercise for a long time without getting out of breath

Conventional

People interested in this work like activities that include data, detail, and regular routines.

  • Dependability
  • Attention to Detail
  • Integrity
  • Independence
  • Self Control
  • Stress Tolerance

Office suite software

  • Microsoft Office software

Data base user interface and query software

  • Address Management System AMS
  • End of Run Report EOR

Enterprise resource planning ERP software

  • Delivery operations information system DOIS

Video courtesy of CareerOneStop.

Job Outlook

The job outlook for this position is Below Average.

New job opportunities are less likely in the future.

Median Annual Salary: $54,250

Education

High school diploma/GED or no high school diploma/GED is usually needed.