Post Office Jobs

By Susan Weber

The post office employees over 700,000 people.

Nearly 700,000 individuals have post office jobs. They are working in a variety of jobs to deliver the mail to more than 300 million people at 146 million homes and businesses. There are 37,000 post offices that serve more than nine million customers daily.

Types of Post Office Jobs

There are a wide variety of post office jobs available -- search online to find out what kinds of opportunities are available in your area.

City Carrier

This is the person who delivers and collects mail in an assigned geographic area. Employees work a flexible schedule and are paid an hourly rate. In order to qualify, job applicants need to:

Have a valid driver's license, at least two years of documented driving experience and a good driving record
Be able to carry mailbags of up to 35 pounds and to move parcels and other mail up to 70 pounds
Carry out duties requiring prolonged standing, walking and reaching
Take and pass exam number 473-C

Rural Carrier Associate

This job involves sorting and loading mail and then delivering and collecting mail along a rural route. Employees work a flexible schedule and are paid an hourly rate. In order to qualify, job applicants need to:

Have a valid driver's license, two years of driving experience and a good driving record
Be able to move parcels and other mail up to 70 pounds
Take and pass exam number 460

Casual and Temporary Jobs

These are jobs that are for a limited period of time. An exam is not required, but the job requirements for the specific job must be met. You can apply online. Casual and temporary jobs are available for:

City Carrier - delivering mail in a prescribed area
Mail Processing Clerk - operating automated mail processing equipment and transferring processing mail from one area to another
Mail Handler - load, unload, open and empty containers of mail

Sales, Services and Distribution Associate

These positions provide sales and customer service in the post office. New employees work a flexible schedule based on the workflow and are paid an hourly rate. In order to qualify, job applicants need to:

Take and pass exam number 473
Complete an on-the-job training program

Data Conversion Operator

This job involves using a computer terminal to prepare mail before it enters automated sorting equipment. The employee types addresses so that a bar code can be added to the letter. Job applicants need to:

Have typing or data entry experience
Take and pass exam number 710

Motor Vehicle and Tractor-Trailer Operators

These positions operate mail trucks and heavy-duty tractor trailers to transport mail. Both positions may include irregular hours. Job applicants need to:

Have at least two years of driving experience
Have at least one year of full-time experience driving at least a seven-ton capacity truck or a 16-passenger bus. Tractor-Trailer Operators must have at least six months of tractor-trailer driving experience
Have a safe driving record
Have a valid Commercial Driver's License with air brakes certification
Take and pass exam number 238

For More Information

Several books are available to give you more detailed information about post office jobs. They are a great resource for learning the details of various jobs, finding available jobs and preparing for the postal exams. Some of the more complete reference books include: