Office & Admin · SOC 43-5051
Self-service and digital alternatives are shrinking postal retail volume, but in-person service and physical handling remain.
Parts of the job are exposed, but judgment and context still matter.
Timeline: USPS is investing in automation but retail clerk roles are protected by civil service rules; significant cuts more likely from mail volume decline than AI over the next 5 years.
Tap a skill to find courses on Coursera.
Some links are affiliate links — if you sign up or buy through them, we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.
$49,900 median pay
$50,730 median pay
$38,150 median pay
$49,900 median pay
$66,140 median pay
AI job-risk card
Postal Service Clerks is watch on AIFear. Parts of the job are exposed, but judgment and context still matter.
AIFear.com
Our AI Fear Score for Postal Service Clerks is 42/100 (Watch). Parts of the job are exposed, but judgment and context still matter.
42 out of 100, based on an AI-model review of this occupation's O*NET tasks against what current AI can actually do.
Most exposed: Computing postage costs and applying correct postage, Answering questions about mail regulations and rates, Recording and balancing daily financial transactions. Harder to automate: Sorting mail by type and destination using automated equipment, Obtaining signatures for registered and special delivery items, Transporting and physically handling mail between stations.
Lean into USPS systems and regulations, Point-of-sale operations, Mail classification and handling, Customer service, Physical logistics. Consider roles such as Postal Operations Supervisor or Logistics and Distribution Coordinator or Government Customer Service Specialist.
Tasks, skills and AI-exposure for this role were reviewed by an AI model against its O*NET task profile (curated roles use published research anchors). Pay and employment, where shown, are U.S. BLS OEWS (May 2024) figures. This is an estimate, not a prediction about any individual's job. Compare all occupations.