Postal Clerk Job Description
The U.S. Postal Service (USPS) started in 1775. Benjamin Franklin was the first Postmaster General. Since 1775, the USPS has changed. Not only has technology changed and advanced, but prices too. The cost to mail a domestic letter was $.02 per ounce in 1885 compared to $.44 in 2009. Although technology and prices have changed, many positions have remained including the job of postal clerk. Postal clerks account for the highest number of positions with the post office, along with mail carriers.
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Duties
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Postal service clerks may work at processing centers or local post offices. Clerks at local post offices are responsible for much of the business that happens inside the post office. They sell stamps, stationary, envelopes and boxes and money orders. They also certify, insure and register mail as well as answer any questions customers might have. Clerks at processing centers unload incoming mail, separate the mail and move them to the proper processing areas.
Work Environment
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Clerks who work in post offices normally work business hours and have a high amount of interaction with the public. They may have to deal with upset customers and are held accountable for the inventory and funds in their office. Clerks who work in processing centers have limited to no interaction with the public. They work in large areas with chutes and conveyor belts. The work still requires long hours on their feet and reaching around. They may work night or weekend shifts.
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Requirements
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Postal clerk jobs are entry level. Anyone who applies for a job with the USPS must be at least 18 years old and a U.S. citizen or have permanent resident-alien status. They also are required to take an examination and have a good command of the English language. Males are required to have registered with the Selective Service.
Salary
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According to the U.S. Department of Labor, the median annual wage for a postal clerk in May 2008 was $51,040. The hourly wage in May 2008 ranged from $21.09 to $25.52. The District of Columbia, Illinois, Rhode Island, Ohio and Maryland were the top five paying areas for postal clerks according to the U.S. Department of Labor.
Job Growth
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Job growth for postal clerks is expected to decline. This is a result of increased use of email and automated bill pay. According to the U.S. Department of Labor, from 2008-2018 employment of postal clerks is expected to decline by 18 percent. There is also expected to be intense competition for the jobs available. The number of people applying for postal clerk positions is expected to be greater than the number of jobs available because it is a desirable entry-level job with low entry-level requirements but good wages and benefits.
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References
- Photo Credit cassetta postale retrò image by Ramino from Fotolia.com
