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Sector

Careers in Postal Service (USPS)

The Postal Service (USPS) delivers mail nationwide โ€” a federal service with strong labor protections and remote-friendly work for some roles. Government employment with union representation.

637K
U.S. jobs
In this sector
$58K
Median salary
Across all roles
Postal Service (USPS) jobs by metro area
Bubble size = total employment
Postal Service (USPS) employment by metro ยท ~393 areas
1.New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ38K
2.Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA20K
3.Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN19K
4.Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX13K
5.Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD12K

Jobs per 100K workforce โ€” measures industry density

1.Springfield, MA985
2.Fayetteville, NC844.2
3.Johnstown, PA801.3
4.Charleston, WV772.4
5.Manchester-Nashua, NH709.2
BLS OEWS May 2024
Understanding this Sector
What it's like to work in Postal Service (USPS)

Postal work attracts people who value public service and community connection. You're part of an institution that reaches every address in the country, providing a service that remains essential even as communication methods evolve โ€” delivering packages, medication, government correspondence, and the mail that still matters.

The challenge can come from the evolving economics and operational demands. Package volume has exploded while letter mail declines, creating constant operational adjustments. The work involves long hours on your feet, weather exposure, and routes that don't get shorter during holidays or staffing shortages. The bureaucratic environment and union structures mean change happens slowly.

The sector varies by role and location. Carrier positions โ€” city, rural, or highway โ€” involve different work patterns and compensation structures. Processing facilities operate around the clock with shift work. Retail clerk positions face constant customer interaction. Urban routes differ dramatically from rural delivery spanning miles between stops.

For people who thrive here, the rewards are real: the job security and benefits of federal employment, the community relationships built over years on the same route, and the satisfaction of providing an essential service to everyone regardless of where they live. If you value stability and find purpose in consistent, reliable service, postal work offers a career with genuine public value.

How people break in

Entry through USPS application and assessment process. Carrier positions accessible. Processing roles require passing assessments. Veterans receive preference.

Work environment tends toward
Federal employmentUnion representationComprehensive benefitsStructured routesMail to package shift
Industries it connects to
Salary vs. national average
-18%
$58K median vs. $71K national
$239K$179K$119K$60K$0K$17K$39K$150K$239K*387 metro areas across 50 states, sorted by salary level โ†’
Salary range across all postal service (usps) roles
Where your dollar goes furthest
1. San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara$95K
2. Boulder$80K
3. Washington-Arlington-Alexandria$77K
4. Trenton-Princeton$72K
5. Durham-Chapel Hill$72K
BLS OEWS May 2024
* Top salaries exceed this figure. BLS caps reported wages at ~$240K to protect individual privacy in high-earning roles.

Median salaries range from ~$73K in mid-market metros to ~$108K in top-tier cities. But cost of living closes a lot of that gap โ€” metros with lower regional price parities often offer the best purchasing power.

Highest paying
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara ยท $108K
San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont ยท $91K
Washington-Arlington-Alexandria ยท $84K
Best purchasing power
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara ยท $95K adj.
Boulder ยท $80K adj.
Washington-Arlington-Alexandria ยท $77K adj.
Most jobs
New York ยท 19.9M
Los Angeles ยท 12.8M
Chicago ยท 9.6M
BLS OEWS May 2024 ยท BEA Regional Price Parities

What the data says about this sector

Beyond salary and job counts โ€” signals that shape the day-to-day experience of working in Postal Service (USPS).

๐Ÿšช
Annual Quit Rate
Based on all Transportation & Logistics data
23%
Higher than average turnover. This could indicate challenging conditions, seasonal work, or abundant external opportunities.
โ†‘ 1%vs. 22% all industries
๐Ÿ 
Remote / Hybrid Prevalence
Remote-friendly
Many roles can be done remotely. Location flexibility is a realistic expectation.
Mostly on-siteHybrid commonRemote-first
๐Ÿ“‹
Credential Density
Moderate
Most roles don't require formal credentials. Skills and experience matter more than certificates.
Few credentialsSome requiredMany required
๐Ÿค
Union Presence
Based on all Transportation & Logistics data
~16%
Moderate union coverage varies by employer and role. Some positions are covered, others aren't.
โ†‘ 16%vs. 11% all industries
BLS JOLTS 2024 ยท BLS QCEW 2024 ยท O*NET Work Context ยท BLS Union Members Summary 2024
Career Tracks

Career tracks in Postal Service (USPS)

How jobs in this sector break down by function, and what they typically pay.

Admin & Office
29%
$59K median
Explore โ†’
Transportation
24%
$58K median
Explore โ†’
Sales
22%
$58K median
Explore โ†’
Food Service
4%
$61K median
Explore โ†’
Business Operations
3%
$72K median
Explore โ†’
Engineering
2%
$52K median
Explore โ†’
Median salary for occupations employed within Postal Service (USPS). BLS OEWS May 2024.

Explore careers in Postal Service (USPS)

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Federal data: BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics (May 2024) ยท BLS JOLTS 2024 ยท BLS QCEW 2024 ยท O*NET Work Context ยท BLS Employment Projections 2024โ€“2034
Truest editorial: Industry narrative, sector context, career track mapping, working signals analysis.