What they do
Prepare incoming and outgoing mail for distribution. Time-stamp, open, read, sort, and route incoming mail; and address, seal, stamp, fold, stuff, and affix postage to outgoing mail or packages. Duties may also include keeping necessary records and completed forms.
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Also called: |
Insert Operator, Inserter Operator, Mail Clerk, Mail Handler, Mail Machine Operator, Mail Processor, Mail Reader, Mail Sorter, Postal Clerk
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Wages
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Vermont - 2023 |
Percentile1 | Hourly | Yearly |
10% |
$ 17.00 |
$35,360 |
25% |
$ 18.09 |
$37,620 |
Median |
$ 20.81 |
$43,280 |
75% |
$ 23.53 |
$48,940 |
90% |
$ 24.76 |
$51,490 |
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Average |
$ 20.85 |
$43,370 |
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More at CareerOneStop |
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Industries of Employment
United States - 2022 |
Industry | Percent of total |
- Administrative and support services
| 25% |
- Professional, scientific, and technical services
| 14% |
- Educational services; state, local, and private
| 7% |
- Insurance carriers and related activities
| 7% |
| 6% |
More at BLS |
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Knowledge
People in this career often know a lot about: |
- Customer and Personal Service
Knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services. This includes customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction.
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- English Language
Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
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Skills
People in this career often have these skills: |
- Critical Thinking
Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions, or approaches to problems.
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- Monitoring
Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
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- Reading Comprehension
Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work-related documents.
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- Speaking
Talking to others to convey information effectively.
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- Time Management
Managing one's own time and the time of others.
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More at O*NET |
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Interests
People in this career often prefer these work environments: |
- 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 human resources.
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- 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, transportation, machine operation, agriculture, animal services, physical or manual labor, athletics, or protective services.
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What are your interests? Take the O*NET Interest Profiler |
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Work Styles
People in this career will do well at jobs that need: |
- Integrity
Job requires being honest and ethical.
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- Self-Control
Job requires maintaining composure, keeping emotions in check, controlling anger, and avoiding aggressive behavior, even in very difficult situations.
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- Dependability
Job requires being reliable, responsible, and dependable, and fulfilling obligations.
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- Attention to Detail
Job requires being careful about detail and thorough in completing work tasks.
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- Cooperation
Job requires being pleasant with others on the job and displaying a good-natured, cooperative attitude.
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More at O*NET |
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Tasks
On the job, you would: |
- Wrap packages or bundles by hand, or by using tying machines.
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- Verify that items are addressed correctly, marked with the proper postage, and in suitable condition for processing.
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- Remove containers of sorted mail or parcels and transfer them to designated areas according to established procedures.
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- Sort and route incoming mail, and collect outgoing mail, using carts as necessary.
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- Affix postage to packages or letters by hand, or stamp materials, using postage meters.
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More at O*NET |
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Related Occupations
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Career Video
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Projected Employment
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Vermont |
2022 employment |
91 |
2032 employment |
86 |
Annual percent change (compounded) |
-0.6% |
Annual projected job openings (due to change and separations) |
12 |
More at Occupational Projections |
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Education and Experience:
- Typical education needed for entry
High school diploma or equivalent
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- Work experience in a related occupation
None
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- Typical on-the-job training needed to attain competency
Short-term on-the-job training
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Based on BLS Education and Training Classifications |
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Physical Work Activity
Performing physical activities that require considerable use of your arms and legs and moving your whole body, such as climbing, lifting, balancing, walking, stooping, and handling materials. |
- Physical activity is Very Important
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- Level of activity is Moderate
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Low | | High |
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Compare Occupations at O*NET |
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Job Zone
Some Preparation Needed |
- Specific Vocational Preparation Range
(4.0 to < 6.0) - A typical worker will require
over 3 months up to and including 1 year
of training to achieve average performance in this occupation.
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Based on O*Net Job Zones and SVP |
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Education Level
How much education do most people in this career have? |
Education level | | Percent of U.S. Workers |
Doctoral or professional degree or post-MA certificate | | 0% |
Master's degree or post-BA certificate | | 0% |
Bachelor's degree | | 0% |
Associate's degree | | 6% |
Certificate or some college, no degree | | 0% |
High school diploma or equivalent | | 48% |
Less than high school diploma | | 45% |
More at O*NET |
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Abilities
People in this career often have talent in: |
- Near Vision
The ability to see details at close range (within a few feet of the observer).
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- Oral Comprehension
The ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences.
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- Category Flexibility
The ability to generate or use different sets of rules for combining or grouping things in different ways.
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- Finger Dexterity
The ability to make precisely coordinated movements of the fingers of one or both hands to grasp, manipulate, or assemble very small objects.
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- Information Ordering
The ability to arrange things or actions in a certain order or pattern according to a specific rule or set of rules (e.g., patterns of numbers, letters, words, pictures, mathematical operations).
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More at O*NET |
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Work Activities
In general, what you might do: |
- Performing General Physical Activities
Performing physical activities that require considerable use of your arms and legs and moving your whole body, such as climbing, lifting, balancing, walking, stooping, and handling materials.
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- Handling and Moving Objects
Using hands and arms in handling, installing, positioning, and moving materials, and manipulating things.
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- Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates
Providing information to supervisors, co-workers, and subordinates by telephone, in written form, e-mail, or in person.
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- Getting Information
Observing, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources.
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- Controlling Machines and Processes
Using either control mechanisms or direct physical activity to operate machines or processes (not including computers or vehicles).
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More at O*NET |
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Detailed Work Activities
What you might do in a day: |
- Package objects for shipping.
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- Weigh parcels to determine shipping costs.
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- Verify shipping documentation.
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- Inspect items for damage or defects.
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- Unload materials or equipment.
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More at O*NET |
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Other Resources
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- CareerOneStop
resource for job seekers, students, businessess and career professionals
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- O*NET Online
nation's primary source of occupational information
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