As a long-time analyst of the retail and consumer industry, I‘ve studied the U.S. Postal Service (USPS) from many angles. USPS is a major player in the shipping and delivery space, competing with private carriers like FedEx, UPS, and Amazon. But it‘s also one of the nation‘s largest employers, with a sprawling workforce of over 600,000 people.
In this article, I‘ll put on my "picky shopper" hat and do a deep dive into USPS jobs. We‘ll examine the pay, benefits, working conditions, career prospects, and more to help you decide if working for the postal service is a good deal. I‘ll share some surprising statistics, insights from academic research, and personal stories from real USPS employees. By the end, you‘ll have a comprehensive understanding of what it‘s really like to work for America‘s mail carrier.
USPS Workforce Overview
Let‘s start with some basic facts about the USPS workforce:
- USPS employed 644,000 workers as of 2020, making it the 3rd largest civilian employer in the U.S. after Walmart and Amazon (source)
- The workforce is split between 495,000 career employees and 149,000 non-career employees
- Career employees include mail carriers, mail processors, and various professional and administrative roles
- Non-career employees are temporary workers not eligible for full benefits
- The average age of a USPS employee is 46 years old (source)
- The workforce is 58% male and 42% female (source)
- As of 2020, USPS employed 100,000 military veterans, about 15% of the total workforce (source)
These statistics paint a picture of a massive, diverse workforce that includes people of all ages, genders, and backgrounds. It‘s a cross-section of America, with representation from every community in the country.
USPS Pay and Benefits
Now let‘s take a closer look at compensation. What can you expect to earn at various positions within USPS?
According to data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, here are the average annual wages for some common USPS jobs as of 2020:
- Postal Service Mail Carriers: $52,180
- Postal Service Mail Processors: $51,440
- Postal Service Clerks: $51,200
- Postmasters and Mail Superintendents: $76,900
Keep in mind that these are averages, and actual pay depends on factors like years of service, location, and specific role. For example, a 2021 job listing for a City Carrier Assistant in Denver, CO listed a starting pay of $18.01 per hour, equating to about $37,500 per year.
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics
But there‘s more to compensation than just salary. As a government agency, USPS offers extremely generous benefits that substantially increase the total value of the job. According to USPS.com, all career employees receive:
- Premium-free health insurance (FEHB) with 72% of premiums paid by USPS
- Dental and vision coverage with most premiums paid by USPS
- Flexible Spending Accounts for out-of-pocket health care and dependent care costs
- Federal Employees Retirement System (FERS) pension, equivalent to 1% of high-3 average salary for each year of service, plus Social Security
- Thrift Savings Plan (TSP), a 401(k)-style retirement plan with up to 5% matching from USPS
- 13 days of annual leave (vacation) per year, increasing to 20 days after 3 years and 26 days after 15 years
- 13 days of sick leave per year with no limit on accumulation
- 10 paid federal holidays per year
- Group life insurance with options up to 5x annual salary
These benefits are extremely valuable and make the total compensation package much more attractive. One analysis found that when you add up the value of pay and benefits using Office of Personnel Management data, a typical USPS city carrier earns $83,051 per year.
Working Conditions and Environment
Of course, a job is about more than just pay and benefits. What is the day-to-day experience of working for USPS actually like?
By all accounts, most USPS jobs are physically demanding. Mail carriers are on their feet most of the day, often carrying heavy satchels full of mail. They work outdoors in all weather conditions, from blazing heat to freezing cold. Mail handlers and processors also do a lot of lifting, standing, and walking.
The work can be exhausting, and not everyone is cut out for it. In a 2012 survey by the USPS Inspector General, employees were asked to rate their level of agreement with the statement "The work that I do is physically challenging." 52% of city carriers, 44% of rural carriers, and 37% of mail handlers agreed or strongly agreed.
The hours can also be very long, especially for new employees. USPS.com notes that "Working evenings, weekends, and holidays is common. Full-time work schedules, which USPS defines as anywhere between 35 and 48 hours per week, are the norm."
One mail carrier in Pennsylvania reported working 12-13 hours per day, 6-7 days per week, with only a 30-minute break for lunch and two 10-minute breaks. "It‘s tough to have a family life," he said. "I missed a lot over the years."
The working environment can also be stressful at times. Carriers face pressure to complete their routes according to strict schedules, while dealing with obstacles like weather, traffic, and unleashed dogs. In the USPS Inspector General survey, 40% of city carriers and 34% of rural carriers said they often feel that "Every day on this job is a bad day."
However, that doesn‘t mean USPS employees are miserable. In fact, many workers take great pride in their jobs and feel a sense of camaraderie with their co-workers. The same survey found that 78% of respondents agreed that "I am personally responsible for making sure that every customer gets great service," and 60% agreed that "Employees treat each other with dignity and respect."
Career Prospects and Opportunities
For many people, a key consideration in any job is the opportunity for growth and advancement. So what are the career prospects like at USPS?
The good news is that USPS has a strong tradition of promoting from within and offers well-defined career paths for those who want to move up. Non-career employees who perform well almost always have the opportunity to convert to career positions over time. Career employees can then follow various tracks into management and executive roles.
For example, a common progression for a mail carrier might look like this:
- City Carrier Assistant (non-career)
- City Carrier (career)
- City Carrier Technician (career with additional duties)
- Customer Services Supervisor
- Manager of Customer Services
- Postmaster
Of course, not everyone wants to go into management. For those content to stay in frontline roles, there are opportunities to move into specialized positions or higher-paying assignments. For example, a carrier can become a:
- Carrier Technician: A top-level carrier responsible for a more complex route and assisting with administrative tasks. Receives higher pay.
- Driving Safety Instructor: Teaches safe driving techniques to new carriers and handles driver training paperwork.
- Primary Case Resolver: Works cases involving customer claims, inquiries, and complaints.
- Facilitator: Delivers training programs to groups of employees on topics like safety, ethics, and harassment prevention.
One advantage of working for such a large organization is that there are many different types of jobs to explore. If you get tired of carrying mail, you can apply for a role in vehicle maintenance, finance, IT, or dozens of other departments. Some people spend their entire 30-40 year careers with USPS in a wide variety of positions.
USPS Financial Challenges and Job Outlook
While the career opportunities at USPS are attractive, it‘s important to understand the financial context of the organization. USPS has been losing money for many years due to declining mail volume and rising costs, especially for retiree benefits.
According to USPS financial statements, the agency lost $9.2 billion in fiscal year 2020 and has accumulated $160.9 billion in net losses since 2007. A 2020 report from the Government Accountability Office (GAO) warned that "USPS‘s current business model is not financially sustainable" due to trends like declining mail volume and rising compensation costs.
To address these challenges, USPS has proposed various cost-cutting measures over the years, including reducing delivery frequency, closing post offices, and reducing the workforce through attrition. In 2020, USPS leaders unveiled a 10-year plan to get the agency back to financial stability, which includes measures like reducing staff and increasing postage rates.
So what does this mean for the job outlook at USPS? The agency is likely to continue hiring to replace workers lost through retirement and attrition. The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects that USPS employment will decline by 14% between 2019 and 2029, but that still equates to about 22,100 openings each year, on average.
However, the long-term trend is likely toward a leaner, more tech-driven USPS with fewer total jobs. As mail volume continues to fall and automation increases, there will be less need for functions like sorting and processing. The jobs that remain will likely be concentrated in "last mile" delivery, where machines can‘t easily replace humans, at least not yet.
Is USPS Right For You?
So given everything we‘ve covered, is working for USPS a good job for you? As with any career decision, it depends on your individual needs, preferences, and skills. Here are some key questions to ask yourself:
- Do you meet the physical requirements? Can you lift heavy mail bags and walk/stand for most of the day? Are you ready to face the elements as a carrier?
- Are you okay with the working conditions? Can you handle long hours, overtime, and a rigid schedule? Do you feel comfortable dealing with challenging customers?
- Does serving the public appeal to you? Will you take pride in delivering an essential service that keeps people and businesses connected?
- How important is work-life balance? Are you willing to sacrifice some family/leisure time for the sake of job security and good pay and benefits?
- What are your career goals? Are you looking to start in an entry-level position and work your way up over many years?
No job is perfect, and working for USPS has both advantages and drawbacks. But there‘s no denying that the pay and benefits are extremely competitive, especially for those without a four-year degree. If you value stability, service, and career growth, USPS is one of the best employers out there.
As one long-time USPS employee told me, "The work is challenging, but it‘s also incredibly rewarding. Knowing that you‘re out there connecting people, delivering everything from birthday cards to medication to online orders, there‘s just nothing else like it. It becomes part of who you are."
The Bottom Line
There you have it, my deep dive into working for USPS from the perspective of a long-time retail and consumer industry analyst. I‘ve aimed to present a balanced and comprehensive view of what USPS jobs are really like, backed up by facts, figures, and real-world insights.
The key takeaways are:
- USPS jobs are physically demanding, but they offer excellent pay and benefits, especially for those without higher education.
- Career opportunities and paths for advancement are abundant, with many options to move up or try new roles.
- The working environment can be stressful but also rewarding for those who value service and camaraderie.
- While USPS faces financial challenges, the agency will continue to be a major employer with thousands of openings each year for the foreseeable future.
Ultimately, only you can decide if USPS is the right fit for your skills and aspirations. But if it is, it can be an incredibly rewarding career that allows you to serve your community while earning a good living. The mail never stops, and neither does the opportunity to build a brighter future.
