The United States Postal Service is a massive organization that processes and delivers 146 billion pieces of mail each year. To accomplish this monumental task, USPS relies on a workforce of over 600,000 employees, including nearly 140,000 city letter carriers.
Within this pool of mail carriers, a substantial number are City Carrier Assistants (CCAs). CCAs play an essential support role in the "last mile" of mail delivery. However, the position comes with unique challenges and is not well-understood by outsiders.
As a consumer products expert who advises major retail brands, I‘ve made a career out of digging into the details that impact customer experience. Today, I‘ll apply that same rigorous analysis to the City Carrier Assistant role. My goal is to provide the most comprehensive, transparent guide to this job on the internet.
Whether you‘re actively applying to be a CCA, considering a career at USPS, or just curious about how your mail gets delivered, you‘ll find valuable insights ahead. Let‘s dive in.
USPS By The Numbers
To put the CCA role in perspective, here are some key statistics about the U.S. Postal Service:
- 600,000 total employees
- 140,000 city delivery carriers
- 30,000 – 40,000 City Carrier Assistant positions (estimates vary)
- 231,000 total delivery routes
- 1.2 billion miles driven each year
- 6,100 post office locations
- 146 billion pieces of mail processed annually
(Sources: USPS Facts & Figures, USPS Newsroom, NALC CCA Fact Sheet)
As you can see, being a mail carrier for USPS is far from a niche job. The Postal Service has the third largest civilian workforce in the U.S. (after the federal government and Walmart). City Carrier Assistants make up roughly 5% of total USPS staff and over 20% of letter carriers.
What Do City Carrier Assistants Actually Do?
On paper, a CCA‘s duties are straightforward: prepare, sort, and deliver mail along an assigned route. In practice, the job involves a wide range of tasks and challenges:
- Sorting and "casing" mail for delivery
- Loading mail trucks
- Driving to/from route
- Delivering mail on foot, rain or shine
- Carrying mail satchels up to 35 lbs
- Scanning packages
- Obtaining signatures
- Answering customer questions
- Selling money orders and stamps
- Submitting change of address forms
- Attending daily safety meetings
A CCA‘s schedule can fluctuate significantly based on mail volume, weather, and staffing levels. During peak times like the winter holidays, overtime is very common. Many CCAs report 10-12 hour days and 6-7 day weeks during these peak periods.
City Carrier Assistant Salary & Benefits
The average base pay for a USPS CCA is around $18/hour as of 2023. However, the actual rate can vary based on location and tenure. Here‘s a quick breakdown of CCA pay over time:
| Year | Hourly Rate |
|---|---|
| 2019 | $17.29 |
| 2020 | $17.55 |
| 2021 | $18.01 |
| 2022 | $18.49 |
| 2023 | $18.92 |
(Source: NALC Pay Charts)
It‘s important to note that these are base rates – many CCAs earn significantly more through overtime. All hours beyond 8 per day or 40 per week are paid at 1.5x base rate. After 10 hours per day or 56 hours per week, pay jumps to 2x base rate (double time).
The tradeoff for these high OT rates is that CCAs get limited benefits compared to career postal workers. CCAs do get annual leave, some paid holidays, and entry-level health insurance. But they don‘t receive retirement benefits, life insurance, or job protections.
Challenges of Being a CCA
"The job of a CCA is challenging on many levels. Despite the physical and mental demands, these dedicated public servants show up day after day to ensure Americans get their mail. We owe them a tremendous debt of gratitude – and the fairest possible workplace."
— Fredric Rolando, NALC President
Being a City Carrier Assistant is not a job for the faint of heart. The turnover rate exceeds 50% at many stations. Some of the biggest pain points include:
- Long and unpredictable hours
- Physically strenuous work
- Extreme weather conditions
- Time pressure and delivery quotas
- Lack of training and support
- Abusive management practices
- Impatient or angry customers
- Unsafe delivery locations
- No clear path to career conversion
Over the years, the NALC union has fought hard to improve working conditions for CCAs. Recent contract changes have:
- Increased base pay by 8%
- Established firm caps on daily work hours
- Mandated at least one day off per week
- Added more paid holidays
- Shortened time to health benefits
- Created thousands of new career positions
However, significant challenges remain. In a 2021 report, the Postal Regulatory Commission found that high CCA turnover was a major factor in USPS failing to meet delivery time targets. Constant churn makes it difficult to keep routes fully staffed and new hires adequately trained.
Tips for CCA Job Seekers
Still interested in becoming a CCA despite the challenges? Here are some tips to improve your odds of success:
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Study for the Virtual Entry Assessment MC (474) exam. While not highly difficult, this test is the first barrier to getting hired. Focus your prep on the Work Scenarios and Check for Errors sections.
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Emphasize your customer service skills. USPS is looking for courteous, patient, and diplomatic workers who can positively represent the agency. Highlight any prior experience in retail, hospitality, or other public-facing roles.
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Show that you‘re dependable. Reliability is key for CCAs. Draw attention to your work ethic, attendance record, ability to work independently, and comfort working early mornings and weekends.
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Focus on safe driving. If applying for a driving route, you‘ll need to pass both a records check and behind-the-wheel test. Practice safe defensive driving techniques and disclose any past accidents or violations upfront.
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Be honest about physical abilities. Don‘t underestimate the physical toll of walking 10+ miles per day and carrying heavy bags. Be upfront about any medical conditions that may impact your ability to perform the work over time.
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Prepare for the weather. CCAs work outdoors year-round in all climates. Invest in quality footwear, rain gear, and cold weather clothing. Start an exercise routine to build your endurance before training begins.
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Cultivate patience. The path from CCA to career carrier can be long and uncertain. It may take 2-3 years to get promoted, depending on seniority and openings. Embrace the process and find joy in the daily work, not just the destination.
From CCA to Regular: One Carrier‘s Journey
To illustrate the career path of a CCA, I spoke with John S., a City Carrier who started as a CCA in 2015. John shared his story of perseverance and growth:
"I was working odd jobs after college and looking for something stable. I applied to USPS on a whim, not knowing much about the CCA role. I was hired and thrown into the deep end – delivering Amazon packages 7 days a week during the holidays.
It was a shock to my system. I‘d never worked so hard in my life. The hours were brutal and I wanted to quit almost every day. But I‘m proud to say I stuck it out. I learned the tricks of the trade, impressed my supervisors, and made Regular after 18 months.
Eight years later, I‘m still here and still love what I do. There‘s something special about being part of an institution like USPS. Despite the hardships, it‘s rewarding to serve the community and develop relationships with customers. I‘m grateful for the experience and the doors it‘s opened in my life."
John‘s story shows that while the CCA journey is difficult, it‘s not impossible. With hard work, dedication, and a little luck, it can be the launching pad for a fulfilling USPS career.
The Future of the CCA Workforce
Even as USPS strives to improve the CCA experience, the hard truth is that the role may not be around forever. As mail volume declines and automation expands, the agency will likely need fewer non-career carriers over time.
In the short-term, however, CCAs remain essential to USPS operations. The 2021-2024 National Agreement between USPS and the NALC calls for hiring thousands of new CCAs in the coming years.
"CCAs are the backbone of city delivery operations," says postal labor expert Katherine Steinhoff. "Until USPS can implement new technology and delivery models, it will need a strong pipeline of flexible, low-cost workers to meet demand. While the long-term outlook is murky, CCAs will play a vital role in keeping the mail moving for the foreseeable future."
The Bottom Line
Being a USPS City Carrier Assistant is not just another job. It‘s a physically and mentally demanding role that comes with significant challenges – but also valuable opportunities.
For those who can navigate the long hours, extreme weather, and extended periods of uncertainty, it can be a stable career with good pay, benefits, and public service. It‘s a chance to quite literally go the extra mile in service of your community.
No one ever said being a CCA was easy. But for the right kind of person, it can be the first step in a rewarding journey with the United States Postal Service. The choice is yours.
