Postal Service Mail Carriers
Sort and deliver mail for the United States Postal Service (USPS). Deliver mail on established route by vehicle or on foot. Includes postal service mail carriers employed by USPS contractors.
Technology Tools
Key Tasks
- Scan labels on letters or parcels to confirm receipt.
- Obtain signed receipts for registered, certified, and insured mail, collect associated charges, and complete any necessary paperwork.
- Return to the post office with mail collected from homes, businesses, and public mailboxes.
- Sort mail for delivery, arranging it in delivery sequence.
- Deliver mail to residences and business establishments along specified routes by walking or driving, using a combination of satchels, carts, cars, and small trucks.
- Meet schedules for the collection and return of mail.
- Register, certify, and insure parcels and letters.
- Sign for cash-on-delivery and registered mail before leaving the post office.
- Hold mail for customers who are away from delivery locations.
- Turn in money and receipts collected along mail routes.
- Leave notices telling patrons where to collect mail that could not be delivered.
- Maintain accurate records of deliveries.
- Bundle mail in preparation for delivery or transportation to relay boxes.
- Record address changes and redirect mail for those addresses.
- Travel to post offices to pick up the mail for routes or pick up mail from postal relay boxes.
- Return incorrectly addressed mail to senders.
- Answer customers' questions about postal services and regulations.
- Sell stamps and money orders.
- Complete forms that notify publishers of address changes.
- Provide customers with change of address cards and other forms.
- Report any unusual circumstances concerning mail delivery, including the condition of street letter boxes.
Skills
Knowledge
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Abilities
Work Activities
Work Context
Outdoors, Exposed to All Weather Conditions
How often does this job require working outdoors, exposed to all weather conditions?
98%
In an Enclosed Vehicle or Operate Enclosed Equipment
How often does this job require working in a closed vehicle or operate enclosed equipment (like a car)?
94%
Spend Time Making Repetitive Motions
How much does this job require making repetitive motions?
91%
Importance of Being Exact or Accurate
How important is being very exact or highly accurate in performing this job?
88%
Importance of Repeating Same Tasks
How important are continuous, repetitive, physical activities (like key entry) or mental activities (like checking entries in a ledger) to performing this job?
82%
Face-to-Face Discussions with Individuals and Within Teams
How frequently does your job require face-to-face discussions with individuals and within teams?
81%
Spend Time Using Your Hands to Handle, Control, or Feel Objects, Tools, or Controls
How much does this job require using your hands to handle, control, or feel objects, tools or controls?
80%
Indoors, Environmentally Controlled
How often does this job require working indoors in an environmentally controlled environment (like a warehouse with air conditioning)?
78%
Time Pressure
How often does this job require the worker to meet strict deadlines?
78%
Exposed to Very Hot or Cold Temperatures
How often does this job require working in very hot (above 90 F degrees) or very cold (below 32 F degrees) temperatures?
77%
Deal With External Customers or the Public in General
How important is it to deal with external customers (as in retail sales) or the public in general (as in police work) in this job?
76%
Frequency of Decision Making
How often is the worker required to make decisions that affect other people, the financial resources, and/or the image and reputation of the organization?
73%
Contact With Others
How much does this job require the worker to be in contact with others (face-to-face, by telephone, or otherwise) in order to perform it?
70%
Impact of Decisions on Co-workers or Company Results
What results do your decisions usually have on other people or the image or reputation or financial resources of your employer?
68%
Duration of Typical Work Week
Number of hours typically worked in one week.
62%
Spend Time Standing
How much does this job require standing?
62%
Freedom to Make Decisions
How much decision making freedom, without supervision, does the job offer?
60%
Spend Time Bending or Twisting Your Body
How much does this job require bending or twisting your body?
59%
Physical Proximity
To what extent does this job require the worker to perform job tasks physically close to other people?
57%
Exposed to Contaminants
How often does this job require working exposed to contaminants (such as pollutants, gases, dust or odors)?
55%
Exposed to Minor Burns, Cuts, Bites, or Stings
How often does this job require exposure to minor burns, cuts, bites, or stings?
54%
Spend Time Walking or Running
How much does this job require walking or running?
53%
Exposed to Sounds, Noise Levels that are Distracting or Uncomfortable
How often does this job require working exposed to sounds and noise levels that are distracting or uncomfortable?
52%
Dealing With Unpleasant, Angry, or Discourteous People
How frequently does the worker have to deal with unpleasant, angry, or discourteous individuals as part of the job requirements?
50%
Indoors, Not Environmentally Controlled
How often does this job require working in an environment that is not environmentally controlled (like a warehouse without air conditioning)?
50%
Consequence of Error
How serious would the result usually be if the worker made a mistake that was not easily correctable?
48%
Work With or Contribute to a Work Group or Team
How important is it to work with or contribute to a work group or team in this job?
47%
Exposed to Extremely Bright or Inadequate Lighting Conditions
How often does this job require working in extremely bright or inadequate lighting conditions?
44%
Conflict Situations
How frequently are there conflict situations the employee has to face in this job?
43%
Spend Time Sitting
How much does this job require sitting?
43%
Determine Tasks, Priorities and Goals
How much freedom does the worker have in determining the tasks, priorities, or goals of the job?
42%
Health and Safety of Other Workers
How much responsibility is there for the health and safety of others in this job?
42%
Telephone Conversations
How often do you have telephone conversations in this job?
40%
Written Letters and Memos
How frequently does your job require written letters and memos?
37%
Degree of Automation
How automated is the job?
36%
Outdoors, Under Cover
How often does this job require working outdoors, under cover (like in an open shed)?
33%
Level of Competition
To what extent does this job require the worker to compete or to be aware of competitive pressures?
31%
In an Open Vehicle or Operating Equipment
How often does this job require working in an open vehicle or operating equipment (like a tractor)?
29%
Wear Common Protective or Safety Equipment such as Safety Shoes, Glasses, Gloves, Hearing Protection, Hard Hats, or Life Jackets
How often does this job require wearing common protective or safety equipment such as safety shoes, glasses, gloves, hearing protection, hard hats or life-jackets?
27%
Coordinate or Lead Others in Accomplishing Work Activities
How important is it to coordinate or lead others (not as a supervisor or team leader) in accomplishing work activities in this job?
24%
Exposed to Hazardous Equipment
How often does this job require exposure to hazardous equipment?
21%
Spend Time Keeping or Regaining Balance
How much does this job require keeping or regaining your balance?
21%
Exposed to Cramped Work Space, Awkward Positions
How often does this job require working in cramped work spaces that requires getting into awkward positions?
20%
Work Outcomes and Results of Other Workers
How responsible is the worker for work outcomes and results of other workers?
19%
Spend Time Kneeling, Crouching, Stooping, or Crawling
How much does this job require kneeling, crouching, stooping or crawling?
18%
Public Speaking
How frequently does your job require public speaking (one speaker with an audience)?
13%
Dealing with Violent or Physically Aggressive People
How frequently does this job require the worker to deal with physical aggression of violent individuals?
11%
Work Schedules
How regular are the work schedules for this job?
9%
Exposed to Disease or Infections
How often does this job require exposure to disease/infections?
8%
Exposed to Hazardous Conditions
How often does this job require exposure to hazardous conditions?
8%
How frequently does your job require you to use E-mail?
6%
Pace Determined by Speed of Equipment
How important is it to this job that the pace is determined by the speed of equipment or machinery? (This does not refer to keeping busy at all times on this job.)
3%
Exposed to Radiation
How often does this job require exposure to radiation?
1%
Exposed to High Places
How often does this job require exposure to high places?
0%
Exposed to Whole Body Vibration
How often does this job require exposure to whole body vibration (like operating a jackhammer or earth moving equipment)?
0%
Spend Time Climbing Ladders, Scaffolds, or Poles
How much does this job require climbing ladders, scaffolds, poles, etc.?
0%
Wear Specialized Protective or Safety Equipment such as Breathing Apparatus, Safety Harness, Full Protection Suits, or Radiation Protection
How often does this job require wearing specialized protective or safety equipment such as breathing apparatus, safety harness, full protection suits, or radiation protection?
0%
Education
High school diploma or equivalent
Less than high school diploma
Some college, no degree
Interests
Conventional
Work involves following procedures and regulations to organize information or data, typically in a business setting. Conventional occupations are often associated with office work, accounting, mathematics/statistics, information technology, finance, or hum
Realistic
Work involves designing, building, or repairing of equipment, materials, or structures, engaging in physical activity, or working outdoors. Realistic occupations are often associated with engineering, mechanics and electronics, construction, woodworking, t
Enterprising
Work involves managing, negotiating, marketing, or selling, typically in a business setting, or leading or advising people in political and legal situations. Enterprising occupations are often associated with business initiatives, sales, marketing/advertis
Social
Work involves helping, teaching, advising, assisting, or providing service to others. Social occupations are often associated with social, health care, personal service, teaching/education, or religious activities.
Artistic
Work involves creating original visual artwork, performances, written works, food, or music for a variety of media, or applying artistic principles to the design of various objects and materials. Artistic occupations are often associated with visual arts,
Investigative
Work involves studying and researching non-living objects, living organisms, disease or other forms of impairment, or human behavior. Investigative occupations are often associated with physical, life, medical, or social sciences, and can be found in the f
Work Styles
Work Values
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