How to hire postal service clerks
A job description you can copy, interview questions tied to the real work, and what to pay. Free.
Job description template
Copy it, fill in the brackets, and remove anything that does not fit your job. Keep only must-haves you would really turn someone away for.
[Job title] at [Company name] [City, State] · [Full-time / Part-time] · [Pay range] About the role [Two or three sentences about your team, the work and why it matters.] What you will do • Answer questions regarding mail regulations and procedures, postage rates, and post office boxes. • Check mail to ensure correct postage and that packages and letters are in proper condition for mailing. • Obtain signatures from recipients of registered or special delivery mail. • Sort incoming and outgoing mail, according to type and destination, by hand or by operating electronic mail-sorting and scanning devices. • Transport mail from one work station to another. • Weigh letters and parcels, compute mailing costs based on type, weight, and destination, and affix correct postage. What you bring • [Required license, certification or years of experience, if any] • [Education, only if you truly need it. Typical to start in this job: No formal educational credential] • Strong active listening, speaking, reading comprehension, critical thinking and monitoring skills • Working knowledge of customer and personal service • [Anything else you would really turn someone away for] Pay and benefits [Pay range]. For reference, the U.S. median for this job is $29.87 an hour ($62,130 a year). [Benefits, schedule and anything else candidates should know.] How to apply [Apply on JAI Bot. Every applicant hears back.]
Interview questions for postal service clerks
Ask every candidate the same questions, in the same order, and write down what they say. Questions about past work show what someone has actually done.
- Tell me about a time you had to answer questions regarding mail regulations and procedures, postage rates, and post office boxes. What did you do, and how did it turn out?
- Tell me about a time you had to check mail to ensure correct postage and that packages and letters are in proper condition for mailing. What did you do, and how did it turn out?
- Tell me about a time you had to obtain signatures from recipients of registered or special delivery mail. What did you do, and how did it turn out?
- Tell me about a time you had to sort incoming and outgoing mail, according to type and destination, by hand or by operating electronic mail-sorting and scanning devices. What did you do, and how did it turn out?
- Tell me about a time you had to understand a request or problem that was explained poorly. How did you make sure you got it right?
- Explain something technical from your last job as you would to a new coworker.
- Tell me about written instructions, a policy or a manual you had to follow closely. How did you make sure you followed it correctly?
- Why this job, and why now? What would make you stay here for the long term?
Good answers name a real situation, what the person did themselves and what happened. Avoid questions about age, family plans, religion, health, national origin or anything else unrelated to the job.
What postal service clerks do
- Answer questions regarding mail regulations and procedures, postage rates, and post office boxes.
- Check mail to ensure correct postage and that packages and letters are in proper condition for mailing.
- Obtain signatures from recipients of registered or special delivery mail.
- Sort incoming and outgoing mail, according to type and destination, by hand or by operating electronic mail-sorting and scanning devices.
- Transport mail from one work station to another.
- Weigh letters and parcels, compute mailing costs based on type, weight, and destination, and affix correct postage.
Skills that matter most
Education, experience and outlook for postal service clerks
- Typical education to start: No formal educational credential (BLS)
- Related work experience most have: 6 months to 1 year (O*NET)
- Training on the job: Short-term on-the-job training (BLS)
- Job outlook: -0.3% over ten years, little or no change · about 5,300 openings a year (BLS)
What to pay postal service clerks
Pay depends a lot on where the job is. Highest and lowest median yearly pay by state:
| State | Median yearly pay |
|---|---|
| New Jersey | $64,290 |
| North Carolina | $64,290 |
| Michigan | $63,650 |
| California | $63,650 |
| Louisiana | $63,210 |
| Oklahoma | $59,490 |
| Arkansas | $59,490 |
| Montana | $58,470 |
See postal service clerks pay in every state
Related hiring guides
- Postal Service Mail Carriers
- Mail Clerks and Mail Machine Operators, Except Postal Service
- Shipping, Receiving, and Inventory Clerks
- Postal Service Mail Sorters, Processors, and Processing Machine Operators
- Postmasters and Mail Superintendents
- Couriers and Messengers
- Order Clerks
- Cargo and Freight Agents
- Stockers and Order Fillers
- Office Clerks, General
Post this job on JAI Bot. Free to start: JAI Bot reads every applicant against your must-haves, shows the resume evidence behind each one, and helps you reply to everyone. People make every decision.
Post a job freePay by areaJob duties and skills: O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA), used under the CC BY 4.0 license; O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. JAI Bot has modified this information; USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications. Pay: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS, May 2025. Interview questions and the job description template: JAI Bot, based on the duties and skills above.