What does a Mail Processing Clerk do?

Mail processing clerks work as postal support employees for the U.S Postal Service where they sort and prepare mail for distribution by mail carriers by hand or machine. They are responsible for loading and operating machinery involved in the machine processing, sorting, and canceling of items. They sort and organize mail for delivery and prepare mail to load into carrier and postal trucks while ensuring to pack parcels in a delivery route’s chronological order. They bundle, label, and route mail depending upon the destination as well as established guidelines or special services including Next Day Air or registered mail and help unload mail trucks when a route ends.

Mail processing clerks operate optical character readers including scanning equipment and assist customers with inquiries and concerns. If a package or a letter is damaged or broken, mail processing clerks fix them to make them eligible for shipment. They check each item’s address for legibility and place mail onto conveyors where they are coded and sorted, and if machines break, mail processing clerks oversee their repair and maintenance. They assist customers by weighing parcels to determine postage costs and sometimes operate forklifts and trains to move large boxes and mail items. Mail processing clerks need a high-school diploma, basic computer and arithmetic skills, and a valid driver's license.