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Mail Clerks are responsible for the processing and distribution of internal and external mail of business establishments.  

JOB DUTIES

Mail Clerks may:

Open envelopes by hand or with a letter opening machine  

Stamp date and time of receipt on incoming mail  

Sort mail according to destination ad type  

Readdress undeliverable mail  

Separate outgoing mail and seal envelopes by hand or with an envelope sealing machine  

Stamp outgoing mail by hand or with a postage meter  

Weigh mail to determine amount of postage needed  

Address mail according to a mailing list by hand or with an addressing machine that prints names from prepared plates  

Keep records of registered mail  

Fold letters or circulars and insert them in envelopes  

(Also, see MOIScript #090, Postal Clerk, for information on clerks who work for the U.S. Postal Service.)  

Tools, equipment, and materials used may include:

OCCUPATIONAL SPECIALTIES

Mail Clerks may specialize in these areas:

209.687-026 MAIL CLERKS sort incoming mail for distribution and dispatch outgoing mail.

222.387-038 PARCEL-POST CLERKS wrap, inspect, and determine postage for parcel-post packages. They also record collect on delivery (C.O.D.) and insurance information.

222.587-030 MAILERS mail and dispatch newspapers, periodicals, envelopes, cartons, or other bulk printed matter for printing and publishing firms.

MAILROOM SUPERVISORS (Clerical) direct and coordinate the activities of Mail Clerks who open, sort, and route letters. Mail Supervisors may also interview, hire and train employees.  

MAILROOM SUPERVISORS (Printing and Publishing) supervise Mail Clerks who wrap and address books, newspapers, and magazines to send to subscribers and dealers. Mail Supervisors also coordinate distribution activities to meet departure times of buses, trains, and airlines.  

In addition to learning about these specialties, you may also find it helpful to explore the following MOIScripts:  

WORKING CONDITIONS AND REQUIREMENTS

Mail Clerks work with co-workers and often come in contact with people throughout their organization. Mail Clerks generally work under the direction of supervisors. They usually work indoors in clean and pleasant surroundings.  

Mail Clerks generally work a 5-day, 40-hour week. They may work on Saturdays if the volume of mail is particularly heavy.  

Mail Clerks may belong to a union present in the employer's establishment. Union members must pay dues.  

You Should Prefer:

• Working with things and objects  

• Having business contact with people  

• Doing routine work  

• Using machines, processes, or methods in your work  

You Should Be Able To:

• Follow instructions  

• See details and recognize errors in written materials  

• Deal effectively with people beyond giving and receiving instructions  

• Repeat tasks according to a required procedure or sequence  

• Perform a variety of duties which may change often  

• Read and sort mail rapidly and accurately  

• Demonstrate dependability and honesty  

• Plan/direct/control an entire activity  

• Plan/direct/control the activities of others (if a supervisor)  

• Rate information using standards that can be measured or checked  

Math Problem You Should Be Able to Solve:

The postal service charges $0.75 for postal money orders up to and including $25.00 and $1.00 for postal money orders over $25.00. A person wishing to purchase a postal money order in the sum of $235.67 must pay how much?  

Reading Example You Should Be Able to Read and Comprehend:

Mailing addresses from all areas of the world. For example:  

Ms. Hair Yamaguchi  

3-13 Tsukiji 5-Chome  

Chuo-Ku  

Tokyo 104  

Japan  

Writing Example You Should Be Able to Produce:

A written work schedule to be distributed to established customers indicating times of mail pick-up.  

Thinking Skill You Should Be Able to Demonstrate:

Should be able to demonstrate analytical skills in assessing and sorting professional mail from businesses and organizations.  

Mail clerks employed by governmental agency usually must pass a civil service examination. Some Mail Clerks may be required to pass a physical exam.

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EDUCATION AND PREPARATION OPPORTUNITIES

NOTE: A High School Diploma or Equivalent may qualify a person for this occupation.

The following education and preparation opportunities are helpful in preparing for occupations in the MOIScript:  

***SCHOOL SUBJECTS***

0600 BUSINESS , 0700 CAREERS , 1000 COMPUTERS

***VOCATIONAL EDUCATION PROGRAMS***

There are no Vocational Education Programs related to this MOIScript  

***POSTSECONDARY PROGRAMS***

There are no Postsecondary Programs related to this MOIScript      

***APPRENTICESHIP OPPORTUNITIES***

There are no apprenticeships related to this MOIScript  

***MILITARY PROGRAMS***

There are no Military Programs related to this MOIScript      

E-Learning Courses and Programs        

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OPPORTUNITIES FOR EXPERIENCE AND METHODS OF ENTRY

Some summer and part-time work may be available with mail-order houses and firms that use direct-mail advertising. Mailing service companies might also hire part-time workers during election campaigns.  

School-to-Worker opportunities include:

information apprenticeships  

mentorships  

job shadowing experiences  

touring a local Mail Clerk employer  

internships  

volunteer work with a Mail Clerk employer  

community service work with an agency  

To find a job as a Mail Clerk, apply directly to any large business establishment or at civil service offices. Assistance in finding a job may be available from your high school placement office or a local office of Michigan Works!. Newspaper want ads may list openings. In addition, you should access and search the Internet's on-line employment services sites such as:  

Michigan Talent Bank ( http://www.michworks.org/mtb/user/MTB_EMPL.EntryMainPage )  

America's Job Bank ( http://www.ajb.dni.us )    

Yahoo! Careers ( http://careers.yahoo.com/ )    

Michigan Department of Career Development ( http://www.michigan.gov/mdcd

Michigan Works! ( http://www.michiganworks.org )   

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EARNINGS AND ADVANCEMENT

Wages of Mail Clerks may depend on the size and type of employer, union contract, and the community.  

Nationally, Mail Clerks had median annual earnings of $24,492 in 2001.  The median yearly earnings of  "all" workers in the U.S. were $31,044 in 2001. Mail Clerks working for employers in southwest Michigan earned an average of $23,500 per year in early 2002, with most salaries ranging between $18,700 and $23,600. In the Detroit metropolitan area, Mail Clerks earned an average of $23,734 per year (early 2002), with salaries ranging between $20,945 and $25,764.  

Mail Clerks employed by government agencies had the following annual salaries (early 2002):  

Mail supervisors employed by the State of Michigan earned between $33,011 and $44,579 per year in early 2002.  

Some employers provide cost-of-living allowances and extra pay for overtime work. Mail Clerks usually receive paid vacations and holidays; sick leave pay; medical, dental, and life insurance; and retirement plans. Some have saving and stock investment plans. These benefits are usually paid for, at least in part, by the employer.  

Advancement opportunities depend on experience and additional training. Since Mail Clerks deal with people throughout the organization, they are in a good position to become familiar with company policies and procedures. They are also among the first to learn of employment opportunities in other departments where they often advance to higher level clerical jobs or supervisory positions.  

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EMPLOYMENT AND OUTLOOK

Nationally, approximately 187,900 Mail Clerks were employed in 2000. Employment in this occupation is expected to grow about as fast as the average for all occupations through the year 2010. The industry distribution for Mail Clerks looked like this:  

Openings will occur as workers retire, die, or change jobs or occupations, or leave the labor force. An expanding economy with increased business activity will cause a need for more communication, much of which will be by mail. Employment of Mail Clerks, however, is not expected to grow with the amount of mail. The use of facsimile machines, computerized communication systems, and communicating word processing machines will allow information to be transmitted from one office to another. As that technology becomes increasingly used, the demand for Mail Clerks will slacken.  

There are about 2,950 Mail Clerks employed in Michigan. Most worked in urban areas. Many Mail Clerks worked for services, large manufacturers, insurance companies, and government agencies.  

Employment of Mail Clerks in Michigan is expected to grow about as fast as the average for all occupations through the year 2008. An average of 100 openings is expected annually, with 30 openings due to growth and 70 openings due to the need to replace those who retire, or leave the labor force for other reasons. Additional openings will occur as workers change jobs or occupations. Business expansion and greater business activity will contribute to the growth in the amount of mail that must be handled by Mail Clerks. In the future, however, greater use of electronic mail systems will reduce the growth rate for Mail Clerks. These systems make it possible to send information from office to office directly or eliminating the need for conventional mail handling.      

MICHIGAN'S AREA EMPLOYMENT OUTLOOK TO 2008      

EMPLOYMENT                              NUMBER                      PERCENT               PROJECTED YEARLY   REGION                                          EMPLOYED                 GROWTH                JOB OPENINGS  

  Ann Arbor Area                             365                                 19.5                        16

  Battle Creek Area                           30                                  23.3                         2

  Benton Harbor Area                        40                                 10.0                         1

  Central Michigan                             20                                  5.3                           0

  Detroit MSA                                  1,480                             11.4                          52

  Flint Area                                       150                                 34.9                         9

  Grand Rapids Area                         360                                21.4                         17

  Jackson Area                                  30                                  15.6                          2

  Kalamazoo Area                              70                                  20.8                         4

  Lansing MSA                                 145                                 14.4                          5

  Muskegon Area                               40                                  5.1                            1

  Northwest Lower Peninsula              35                                 35.3                           2

  Saginaw MSA                                  60                                14.8                            2

  Thumb Area                                     20                                 45.5                           2 

  Upper Peninsula                                30                                 3.2                            1

  West Central Michigan                     10                                 20.0                           0  

MSA designates a Metropolitan Statistical Area  

SOURCES OF ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Printed Occupational information is available upon request from the sources below:

Copyright © 2003 Michigan Department of Career Development