Career comparison
Bank Teller vs. Postal Clerk
Side-by-side pay, training, growth and day-to-day duties to help you choose between two related careers.
Postal clerks earn more at the median ($62,130 vs. $43,030), while bank tellers usually get to work faster (A few weeks on the job of training). Bank tellers help bank customers with deposits, withdrawals and everyday banking. Postal clerks serve customers at the post office counter and sort mail.
Pay data: BLS OEWS, May 2025 · Outlook: BLS 2025–35 · Checked October 15, 2026
| Bank Teller | Postal Clerk | |
|---|---|---|
| Median pay | $43,030 ($20.69/hr) | $62,130 ($29.87/hr) |
| Pay range (10th–90th) | $34,360 – $49,680 | $42,600 – $75,030 |
| Job growth, 2025–35 | -13.2% (a projected decline) | -0.3% (little or no change) |
| Openings per year | 26,800 | 5,300 |
| Typical entry education | High school diploma or equivalent | No formal educational credential |
| Training time | A few weeks on the job | A few weeks of training |
| Key credential | Bank teller certificate | USPS retail training |
| Work setting | Tellers work in bank and credit union branches.. | Clerks work in post offices.. |
What each job does
Bank Teller
- Process deposits and withdrawals
- Cash checks
- Balance the cash drawer
- Spot counterfeit bills and fraud
- Answer account questions
Postal Clerk
- Serve customers
- Sell stamps and money orders
- Weigh packages
- Explain mailing options
- Sort mail
How they’re similar
Both careers involve working with people, steady routines, and indoor work. They sit in different fields, business & office and transportation & logistics, but share transferable skills such as accuracy and courtesy.
Which should you choose?
Choose bank teller if…
- I’m accurate with money
- I like customers
- I’m trustworthy
Choose postal clerk if…
- I like helping customers
- I’m accurate with money
- I can stand
Still torn? Take the Bank Teller fit quiz and the Postal Clerk fit quiz, or the full Career Match Quiz.
Quick comparisons
Which pays more, bank teller or postal clerk?
Postal Clerks earn more at the median: $62,130 versus $43,030 for bank tellers, based on BLS May 2025 data.
Which takes less time to train for?
Bank Tellers typically train faster (A few weeks on the job) than postal clerks (A few weeks of training).
Which career has better job growth?
BLS projects postal clerks to grow -0.3% from 2025–35, compared with -13.2% for bank tellers.