Career comparison
Mail Clerk vs. Office Clerk
Side-by-side pay, training, growth and day-to-day duties to help you choose between two related careers.
Office clerks earn more at the median ($45,010 vs. $39,280), while mail clerks usually get to work faster (A few weeks on the job of training). Mail clerks sort, process and deliver mail and packages inside an organization. Office clerks handle the everyday tasks that keep an office running.
Pay data: BLS OEWS, May 2025 · Outlook: BLS 2025–35 · Checked October 15, 2026
| Mail Clerk | Office Clerk | |
|---|---|---|
| Median pay | $39,280 ($18.89/hr) | $45,010 ($21.64/hr) |
| Pay range (10th–90th) | $30,780 – $54,820 | $30,310 – $64,680 |
| Job growth, 2025–35 | -7.2% (a projected decline) | -6.0% (a projected decline) |
| Openings per year | 4,700 | 249,000 |
| Typical entry education | High school diploma or equivalent | High school diploma or equivalent |
| Training time | A few weeks on the job | A few weeks on the job |
| Key credential | USPS bulk mail training | Microsoft Office Specialist |
| Work setting | Mail clerks work in mailrooms of companies, hospitals, universities and print shops.. | Office clerks work in nearly every kind of office.. |
What each job does
Mail Clerk
- Sort incoming mail
- Deliver mail and packages
- Run postage meters
- Operate folding and inserting machines
- Prepare bulk mailings
Office Clerk
- Answer phones
- Greet visitors
- Type documents
- File records
- Enter data
How they’re similar
Both careers involve steady routines and indoor work. Both are part of the business & office field, so many skills transfer between them.
Which should you choose?
Choose mail clerk if…
- I like moving around
- I’m organized
- I’m reliable
Choose office clerk if…
- I like variety
- I’m organized
- I’m friendly
Still torn? Take the Mail Clerk fit quiz and the Office Clerk fit quiz, or the full Career Match Quiz.
Quick comparisons
Which pays more, mail clerk or office clerk?
Office Clerks earn more at the median: $45,010 versus $39,280 for mail clerks, based on BLS May 2025 data.
Which takes less time to train for?
Mail Clerks typically train faster (A few weeks on the job) than office clerks (A few weeks on the job).
Which career has better job growth?
BLS projects office clerks to grow -6.0% from 2025–35, compared with -7.2% for mail clerks.