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Transportation & Logistics career
Postal Mail Carrier
Also called: USPS Mail Carrier · City Carrier · Rural Carrier · Letter Carrier
What postal mail carriers do, what they earn, how long training takes and how to get started, with official BLS pay data and practical, job-level detail.
What does a postal mail carrier do?
Postal service mail carriers sort and deliver mail and packages on assigned routes, on foot or by vehicle, collect outgoing mail and provide service to customers along their routes. The median pay is $60,550 per year (BLS, May 2025), most people train for about 2–4 weeks, and employment is projected to grow -0.3% from 2025–35.
Pay data: BLS OEWS, May 2025 · Outlook: BLS 2025–35 · Checked October 15, 2026
- Median pay$60,550$29.11/hour · May 2025
- Job growth-0.3%2025–35, little or no change
- Openings per year19,600Average, 2025–35
- Typical entry educationNo formal educational credentialBLS classification
- Time to train2–4 weeksTypical program length
- U.S. jobs316,400Employment, 2025
What postal mail carriers do
Mail carriers deliver to every address in the country. They case and organize mail, load their vehicles, deliver letters and packages on walking, driving or rural routes, scan deliveries, collect outgoing mail and answer customers’ questions. Carriers learn their routes well and become familiar faces in their communities.
Most carriers start as non-career city carrier assistants or rural carrier associates and convert to career positions over time. Hiring requires an online assessment, a background check, a drug screen and a safe driving record. Postal jobs offer federal benefits and a steady career, though new carriers often work long, irregular hours.
Typical duties
- Sort and organize mail for the route
- Load and drive or walk the route
- Deliver mail and packages and scan deliveries
- Collect outgoing mail
- Obtain signatures for certified and registered mail
- Answer customer questions
- Follow safety procedures for vehicles and dogs
Work environment and schedule
Carriers work outdoors in all weather, walking long distances or driving postal vehicles. The job involves carrying heavy satchels and parcels and dealing with dogs and traffic.
Schedule: New carriers often work long days, weekends and holidays. Career carriers get more regular schedules, though overtime is common.
A day in the life
- Clock in at the post office and case letters and flats for the route.
- Load parcels in delivery order and inspect the vehicle.
- Start the route, delivering to curbside boxes and businesses.
- Get a signature for certified mail.
See a full day in the life of a postal mail carrier →
Postal Mail Carrier salary
Half of postal mail carriers earned more than $60,550 and half earned less in May 2025. Pay ranged from about $42,390 for the lowest 10% to $81,040 for the top 10%.
Full postal mail carrier pay scale and hourly rates →
How to become a postal mail carrier
- Check requirements
- Apply on the USPS careers site
- Pass the assessment
- Complete training
- Convert to career
No formal education is required. Applicants complete an online assessment, background check, drug screen and driving record review, then train at a carrier academy and on the job.
Step-by-step guide to becoming a postal mail carrier →
Skills and tools
Technical skills
- Mail sorting
- Route navigation
- Safe vehicle operation
- Scanner use
- Package handling
People skills
- Reliability
- Customer service
- Stamina
- Independence
All postal mail carrier skills and tools →
Pros and cons
Pros
- Federal benefits and job security
- No degree required
- Independence on the route
- Exercise and time outdoors
Cons
- Long, irregular hours for new carriers
- Weather and physical strain
- Dog bites and traffic hazards
- Heavy package volume at peak
Certifications and licenses
- Valid driver’s license: Required for most carrier positions.
- USPS carrier academy completion: Initial training on procedures and safety.
- Postal vehicle certification: Driving test on postal vehicles.
- Safe driver record: A clean record is required.
Career path
- City Carrier Assistant or RCA: Deliver routes as a non-career carrier.
- Career Carrier: Hold a regular route.
- Supervisor: Lead carriers.
- Postmaster: Manage a post office.
Learn the job before day one
Our Postal Mail Carrier training (6 hours, $59.99) covers the role, 15+ key terms, step-by-step procedures such as case mail for a route and deliver safely around dogs, safety and how to land your first job.
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Postal Mail Carrier FAQ
Do mail carriers need a degree?
No. Applicants pass an assessment and background checks.
What is a CCA?
A city carrier assistant, a non-career position that can convert to career.
Is it a good job?
Many value the federal benefits and stability, though early hours can be long.
How much does a postal mail carrier make?
The median annual wage for postal mail carriers was $60,550 ($29.11 per hour) in May 2025, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. The lowest 10% earned less than $42,390 and the highest 10% earned more than $81,040.
How long does it take to become a postal mail carrier?
Most people need about 2–4 weeks of training. No formal education is required. Applicants complete an online assessment, background check, drug screen and driving record review, then train at a carrier academy and on the job.
Do you need a degree to be a postal mail carrier?
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.
More postal mail carrier questions →
Sources
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025, SOC 43-5052 (Postal service mail carriers).
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, BLS Employment Projections, Table 1.2 (2025–35).
- O*NET OnLine summary for Postal service mail carriers (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.