Career comparison
Mail Clerk 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. $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. 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
| Mail Clerk | Postal Clerk | |
|---|---|---|
| Median pay | $39,280 ($18.89/hr) | $62,130 ($29.87/hr) |
| Pay range (10th–90th) | $30,780 – $54,820 | $42,600 – $75,030 |
| Job growth, 2025–35 | -7.2% (a projected decline) | -0.3% (little or no change) |
| Openings per year | 4,700 | 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 | USPS bulk mail training | USPS retail training |
| Work setting | Mail clerks work in mailrooms of companies, hospitals, universities and print shops.. | Clerks work in post offices.. |
What each job does
Mail Clerk
- Sort incoming mail
- Deliver mail and packages
- Run postage meters
- Operate folding and inserting machines
- Prepare bulk mailings
Postal Clerk
- Serve customers
- Sell stamps and money orders
- Weigh packages
- Explain mailing options
- Sort mail
How they’re similar
Both careers involve steady routines and indoor work. They sit in different fields, business & office and transportation & logistics, but share transferable skills such as reliability and courtesy.
Which should you choose?
Choose mail clerk if…
- I like moving around
- I’m organized
- I’m reliable
Choose postal clerk if…
- I like helping customers
- I’m accurate with money
- I can stand
Still torn? Take the Mail Clerk fit quiz and the Postal Clerk fit quiz, or the full Career Match Quiz.
Quick comparisons
Which pays more, mail clerk or postal clerk?
Postal Clerks earn more at the median: $62,130 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 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 -7.2% for mail clerks.