What Does a Mail Sorter Do? Duties, Pay & Outlook

Mail Sorter

Also called: Mail Processing Clerk · Mail Handler · Postal Machine Operator · Mail Processor

What mail sorters do, what they earn, how long training takes and how to get started, with official BLS pay data and practical, job-level detail.

Updated October 18, 2026By the Career Education Institute Curriculum Team

What does a mail sorter do?

Postal service mail sorters, processors and processing machine operators prepare incoming and outgoing mail for distribution, using mail processing machines. The median pay is $58,470 per year (BLS, May 2025), most people train for about A few weeks of training, and employment is projected to grow -5.3% from 2025–35.

Pay data: BLS OEWS, May 2025 · Outlook: BLS 2025–35 · Checked October 15, 2026

Median pay
$58,470
$28.11/hour · May 2025
Job growth
-5.3%
2025–35, a projected decline
Openings per year
7,300
Average, 2025–35
Typical entry education
No formal educational credential
BLS classification
Time to train
A few weeks of training
Typical program length
U.S. jobs
101,200
Employment, 2025

What mail sorters do

Mail sorters keep millions of letters and packages moving. They load and sweep high-speed sorting machines, handle packages on belts, move containers and fix jams at USPS processing plants.

No formal education is required, and training is short. BLS projects decline as automation grows.

Typical duties

Load sorting machines
Sweep sorted mail
Handle packages
Move containers
Clear jams
Scan mail
Follow schedules

Work environment and schedule

Sorters work in large processing plants.

Schedule: Often nights and weekends.

A day in the life

10:00 PMStart the night tour.
10:30 PMLoad letter mail.
12:00 AMSweep bins.
2:00 AMBreak.

See a full day in the life of a mail sorter →

Mail Sorter salary

Half of mail sorters earned more than $58,470 and half earned less in May 2025. Pay ranged from about $45,530 for the lowest 10% to $75,280 for the top 10%.

$45,53010th$58,470Median$75,28090th

Full mail sorter pay scale and hourly rates →

How to become a mail sorter

Apply on USPS careers
Pass the assessment
Complete training
Work tours
Advance

No formal educational credential is required.

Step-by-step guide to becoming a mail sorter →

Skills and tools

Technical skills

Machine loading
Sweeping
Package handling
Scanning
Container moving

People skills

Reliability
Speed
Stamina
Teamwork

All mail sorter skills and tools →

Pros and cons

Pros

Federal benefits
No degree needed
Steady work
Night differential pay

Cons

Declining employment
Night shifts
Noise
Repetitive

Certifications and licenses

USPS training: Required.
Powered equipment training: USPS.
Safety training: USPS.
Forklift certification: Helpful.

Career path

Mail Handler: Entry.
Mail Processing Clerk: Machines.
Lead: Lead.
Supervisor: Lead.

Learn the job before day one

Our Mail Sorter training (6 hours, $59.99) covers the role, 15+ key terms, step-by-step procedures such as sweep a letter sorting machine and clear a sorting machine jam safely, safety and how to land your first job.

View Mail Sorter training Is this career right for me?

Postal Clerk

Serve customers at the post office counter and sort mail.

$62,130
A few weeks of training

Postal Mail Carrier

Deliver mail and packages to homes and businesses for the U.S. Postal Service.

$60,550
2–4 weeks

Warehouse Associate

Receive, pick, pack and ship orders that keep stores and customers supplied.

$40,240
Days (on the job)

Mail Clerk

Sort, process and deliver mail and packages inside an organization.

$39,280
A few weeks on the job

Compare: Mail Sorter vs. Postal Clerk · Mail Sorter vs. Mail Carrier · Mail Sorter vs. Warehouse Associate · Mail Sorter vs. Mail Clerk

Mail Sorter FAQ

Is the job declining?

BLS projects decline.

Are shifts at night?

Many are.

Do I need a degree?

No.

How much does a mail sorter make?

The median annual wage for mail sorters was $58,470 ($28.11 per hour) in May 2025, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. The lowest 10% earned less than $45,530 and the highest 10% earned more than $75,280.

How long does it take to become a mail sorter?

Most people need about A few weeks of training of training. No formal educational credential is required.

Do you need a degree to be a mail sorter?

No four-year degree is typically required. BLS lists “no formal educational credential” as the typical entry-level education, plus short-term on-the-job training.

Sources

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025, SOC 43-5053 (Postal service mail sorters, processors, and processing machine operators).
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, BLS Employment Projections, Table 1.2 (2025–35).
O*NET OnLine summary for Postal service mail sorters, processors, and processing machine operators (U.S. Department of Labor).
BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook.

Reviewed by the Career Education Institute Curriculum Team. Pay figures are national estimates; local pay varies. See our editorial policy.