Postal worker
A postal worker is an employee of a governmental postal service responsible for sorting, processing, and delivering mail and packages to residential and business addresses.[1][2] In the United States, postal workers primarily serve with the United States Postal Service (USPS), the nation's second-largest civilian employer with approximately 596,000 employees as of mid-2025, tasked with reaching nearly every address through a universal service obligation.[3][4][5] Key duties encompass casing mail into delivery sequences, traversing assigned routes on foot or by vehicle regardless of weather, collecting outgoing mail, and managing parcels, often involving moderate to heavy lifting and interaction with automated sorting equipment.[6][7][8] The profession traces its roots to the colonial postal system formalized in 1775 under Benjamin Franklin as the first Postmaster General, evolving into a structured workforce following the 1971 transformation of the Post Office Department into the independent USPS amid labor reforms after the 1970 strike.[9][10][11] Postal workers face physical hazards, ergonomic strains, and public safety risks such as dog attacks, yet their role sustains essential communication and commerce, with career paths offering federal benefits and union representation through organizations like the American Postal Workers Union and National Association of Letter Carriers.[12][13]Overview and Role
Definition and Primary Duties
A postal worker is an employee of a national postal service, such as the United States Postal Service (USPS), responsible for the collection, sorting, processing, transportation, and delivery of letters, parcels, and other mail items to businesses and residences.[12] These workers operate within a government-established system designed to provide universal service at affordable rates, handling an average of over 700 million pieces of mail daily in the US as of recent data.[12] Primary duties include sorting incoming mail and parcels by destination using automated equipment or manual methods, loading and unloading vehicles, and casing mail into delivery sequences for efficient distribution.[6] Postal workers also collect outgoing mail from mailboxes and post offices, weigh items to determine postage, and register, certify, or insure valuable shipments as required by customers.[12] Delivery personnel, a core subset, traverse assigned routes on foot or by vehicle—often under adverse weather conditions—to place mail in secure locations like mailboxes or hand-deliver to recipients, while scanning packages for tracking and collecting payments or fees when applicable.[8] Clerical roles focus on window services, such as selling stamps, money orders, and postal products, alongside providing guidance on shipping options and locations for pickups.[12] All duties emphasize accuracy, timeliness, and safety protocols to minimize errors and hazards in high-volume operations.[14]Types of Postal Positions
Postal positions in the United States Postal Service (USPS) are categorized into delivery, customer service, mail processing, transportation, and maintenance roles, with many entry-level positions classified as non-career auxiliaries that can transition to permanent career status.[6] Delivery RolesCity carrier assistants (CCAs) deliver and collect mail on foot or by vehicle in urban and suburban areas, involving sorting, lifting heavy loads, and exposure to varying weather conditions.[6] Rural carrier associates (RCAs) and assistant rural carriers (ARCs) perform similar duties in rural and suburban routes, often using personal vehicles, selling stamps, and working weekends or holidays.[6] These positions align with the broader classification of postal service mail carriers, who primarily work outdoors delivering mail door-to-door.[12] Customer Service and Clerical Roles
Postal support employees (PSEs) as sales and services or distribution associates handle customer interactions at post office windows, processing postage purchases, passport services, and basic mail sorting, often requiring prolonged standing.[6] This corresponds to postal service clerks, who sell stamps, money orders, and other products indoors at retail counters.[12] Mail Processing Roles
Mail handler assistants (MHAs) and PSE mail processing clerks load, unload, sort, and move bulk mail using machinery or manual methods, including rewrapping damaged items in processing facilities.[6] These duties match mail sorters, processors, and processing machine operators, who collect, sort, and route mail indoors via automated equipment.[12] Transportation Roles
Motor vehicle operators (MVOs) drive light trucks on fixed routes to transport mail, performing loading, minor repairs, and safety checks, while tractor-trailer operators (TTOs) handle long-haul bulk mail with heavy-duty vehicles, both requiring commercial driver's licenses.[6] Maintenance and Support Roles
Automotive technicians and lead automotive technicians diagnose, repair, and maintain the USPS vehicle fleet, conducting tests and updating service records, with leads overseeing teams for complex tasks.[6] The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports approximately 500,000 postal service workers employed in these categories as of 2024, encompassing clerks, carriers, and sorters.[12]