Postmasters and Mail Superintendents

Career summary

#No alternate titles CJ

Postmasters and mail superintendents work at United States Post Offices. They organize and supervise the sorting and processing of mail for all post offices and sectional mail distribution centers in their districts. They also keep track of inventory and order supplies.

Postmasters and mail superintendents select and train employees. They evaluate employees and other postmasters. They also handle customer complaints and labor disputes.

Postmasters and mail superintendents keep the public informed about changing postal laws. They also prepare reports and submit them to their supervisors.

Related careers

This career is part of the Government and Public Administration cluster of careers.

Related careers include:

• Administrative Services Managers
• Blue-Collar Worker Supervisors
• General and Operations Managers
• Human Resources Managers
• Janitor and Housekeeper Supervisors
• Mail Carriers
• Office Managers
• Postal Clerks
• Storage and Transportation Managers
• Supply Chain Managers

Military careers

• Administrative Officers

Job duties

Task list

The following list of tasks is specific to postmasters and mail superintendents.

• Organize and supervise post office activities, such as processing incoming and outgoing mail.
• Direct and coordinate operations and services of several sectional centers within a district, and associate post offices.
• Collect rents for post office boxes.
• Resolve customer complaints. Inform the public of postal laws and regulations.
• Select, train, and evaluate performance of employees and other managers.
• Prepare work schedules.
• Issue and cash money orders.
• Negotiate labor disputes.
• Prepare and submit detailed and summary reports of post office activities to supervisors.
• Talk to suppliers to obtain bids for proposed purchases.
• Requisition supplies and disburse funds as specified by law.

Common work activities

Postmasters and mail superintendents perform the following tasks. These tasks are common to many careers.

• Get information needed to do the job
• Communicate with supervisors, peers, or subordinates
• Resolve conflicts and negotiate with others
• Make decisions and solve problems
• Use computers
• Schedule work and activities
• Organize, plan, and prioritize work
• Perform administrative tasks
• Guide, direct, and motivate others
• Coordinate the work and activities of others
• Identify objects, actions, and events
• Establish and maintain relationships
• Coach others
• Document and record information
• Evaluate information against standards
• Monitor events, materials, and surroundings
• Process information
• Recruit, interview, or hire others
• Develop goals and strategies
• Explain the meaning of information to others
• Develop and build teams
• Judge the value of objects, services, or people
• Analyze data or information
• Teach others
• Communicate with people outside the organization
• Update and use job-related knowledge
• Provide advice and consultation to others
• Monitor and control resources
• Perform for or work with the public
• Think creatively
• Estimate sizes, quantities, time, cost, or materials needed
• Inspect equipment, structures, or materials
• Convince others to buy goods or change their minds or actions

Work requirements

Working conditions

In a typical work setting, postmasters and mail superintendents:

Interpersonal relationships

• Are responsible for the health and safety of their employees.
• Are responsible for the work done by their employees.
• Have a high level of social contact. They work closely with the public and other postal employees.
• Deal with unpleasant, angry, or discourteous customers on a weekly basis.
• Are often placed in conflict situations.
• Speak to large groups of people on a weekly basis.
• Communicate with the public and other postal employees daily by telephone, e-mail, or in person.
• Write letters and memos on a daily basis.
• Work in a group or as part of a team.

Physical work conditions

• Almost always work indoors. May occasionally work outdoors.
• Are often exposed to contaminants.
• Work somewhat close to other people, such as when sharing office space.

Work performance

• Must be exact in their work. Errors could result in lost or delayed mail.
• Must repeat the same activities, such as resolving customer complaints.
• Make decisions on a daily basis that strongly impact the public and other postal employees. They rarely consult a supervisor before making a decision.
• Are able to set most tasks and goals for the day without talking to a supervisor.
• Are highly competitive with other delivery companies.
• Must meet strict deadlines on a daily basis.

Hours/travel

• Generally have a set schedule each week.
• Usually work more than 40 hours a week.

Physical demands

Postmasters and mail superintendents frequently:

• Stand for long periods of time.
• Sit for long periods of time.

It is important for postmasters and mail superintendents to be able to:

• Understand the speech of another person.
• Speak clearly so listeners can understand.
• See details of objects that are less than a few feet away.

It is not as important, but still necessary, for postmasters and mail superintendents to be able to:

• See details of objects that are more than a few feet away.
• Focus on one source of sound and ignore others.
• See differences between colors, shades, and brightness.
• Hear sounds and recognize the difference between them.
• Use fingers to grasp, move, or assemble very small objects.
• Use stomach and lower back muscles to support the body for long periods without getting tired.
• Be physically active for long periods without getting tired or out of breath.
• Coordinate movement of several parts of the body, such as arms and legs, while the body is moving.
• Determine the distance between objects.

Skills and abilities

Postmasters and mail superintendents need to:

Communicate

• Speak clearly so listeners can understand.
• Read and understand work-related materials.
• Understand spoken information.
• Listen to others and ask questions.
• Understand written information.
• Write clearly so other people can understand.

Reason and problem solve

• Use reasoning to discover answers to problems.
• Analyze ideas and use logic to determine their strengths and weaknesses.
• Combine several pieces of information and draw conclusions.
• Notice when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong.
• Follow guidelines to arrange objects or actions in a certain order.
• Develop rules that group items in various ways.
• Judge the costs and benefits of a possible action.
• Understand new information or materials by studying and working with them.
• Recognize the nature of a problem.
• Think of original, unusual, or creative ways to solve problems.
• Concentrate and not be distracted while performing a task.
• Recognize when important changes happen or are likely to happen in a system.
• Think of new ideas about a topic.

Manage oneself, people, time, and things

• Manage the time of self and others.
• Motivate, develop, and direct people as they work.
• Check how well one is learning or doing something.

Work with people

• Be aware of others' reactions and understand the possible causes.
• Change behavior in relation to others' actions.
• Solve problems by bringing others together to discuss differences.
• Look for ways to help people.
• Use several methods to learn or teach new things.
• Persuade others to approach things differently.
• Teach others how to do something.

Perceive and visualize

• Identify a pattern (a figure, object, word, or sound) that is hidden in distracting material.

Education and training

Educational programs

The programs of study listed below will help you prepare for the occupation or career cluster you are exploring.

Programs of study directly related to this occupation

• Public Administration

Other programs of study to consider

• Business Management and Administration
• Liberal Studies
• Logistics and Materials Management
• Operations Management
• Organizational Behavior
• Organizational Leadership
• Social Sciences, General

Training

To work as a postmaster or mail superintendent, you typically need to:

• have a high school diploma or equivalent;
• complete moderate-term, on-the-job training; and
• have one to five years of work experience in postal operations.

Education after high school

Although not required, many postmasters and mail superintendents have a college degree. Business, liberal arts, or social sciences are good majors for this occupation.

Work experience

This is not an entry-level occupation. Many managers are promoted from within the postal service from lower-skilled jobs. To qualify for those jobs, you take a written exam. The exam measures your speed and accuracy at checking names and numbers. It also measures your ability to memorize procedures. You also must be 18 years old and a US citizen or have permanent resident-alien status in the United States.

On-the-job training

Postal employees receive training in postal system laws and procedures. Managers get training in supervision and management methods. Training may last up to six months.

Military training

Some branches of the military train people to be administrative officers. This military occupation includes postmasters. You need a bachelor's degree to enter this military occupation. The length of training depends on your specialty. Additional training occurs on the job.

Helpful high school courses

You should take a general high school curriculum that meets the state's graduation requirements. You will be required to take both math and science classes to graduate.

Helpful electives to take in high school that prepare you for this career include:

• Accounting
• Communications
• Computer Applications
• Office Procedures

The courses listed above are meant to help you create your high school plan. If you have not already done so, talk to a school counselor or parent about the courses you are considering taking.

You should also check with a teacher or counselor to see if work-based learning opportunities are available in your school and community. These might include field trips, job shadowing, internships, and actual work experience. The goal of these activities is to help you connect your school experiences with real-life work.

Join some groups, try some hobbies, or volunteer with an organization that interests you. By participating in activities you can have fun, make new friends, and learn about yourself. Maybe one of them will help direct you to a future career. Here are examples of activities and groups that may be available in your high school or community.

Things to know

After taking the written exam, applicants for entry-level jobs are listed in order of their scores. Additional points are added to the score of veterans who were honorably discharged. When a vacancy occurs, one of the top three applicants is chosen. The rest of the names remain on the list until their eligibility expires, which is usually two years. Workers may start by working part time and then move into full-time jobs. Experienced workers can sometimes become postmasters and mail superintendents.

Job listings

Listed below are links to job categories from the National Labor Exchange that relate to this career. Once you get a list of jobs, you can view information about individual jobs and find out how to apply. If your job search finds too many openings, or if you wish to search for jobs outside of Washington, you will need to refine your search.

• Postmasters and Mail Superintendents 

To get a listing of current jobs from the WorkSource system, go to the WorkSource website .

Wages

Wages vary by the worker's level of experience and number of years on the job.

Postmasters and mail superintendents who work full time generally receive benefits. Typical benefits include sick leave, paid vacation, health insurance, and a retirement plan.

Employment and outlook

Washington outlook

The table below provides information about the number of workers in this career in various regions. It also provides information about the expected growth rate and future job openings.

National employment

Major employers:

• US Postal Service

National outlook

Demand for this occupation is declining significantly. The number of new post offices and postal processing centers is growing slowly. The amount of mail sent via the US Postal Service is continuing to decrease. This is due to the increasing use of electronic mail and automated bill pay. Automated mail sorting is also reducing the number of employees who need to be supervised.

Despite the decline in jobs, openings will occur as current workers leave the occupation.

Other resources

American Postal Workers Union 
1300 L Street NW
Washington, DC 20005
202.842.4200

National Association of Postal Supervisors 
1727 King Street, Suite 400
Alexandria, VA 22314
703.836.9660

References

Career cluster

• Government and Public Administration

Career path

• Enterprising (Business Communications)

O*Net  occupation

• Postmasters and Mail Superintendents (11-9131.00) 

O*Net job zone 

• Job Zone 2 - Some preparation needed. Some previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience may be helpful in these occupations, but usually is not needed.

DOT occupations

• Postmaster (188.167-066) 
• Sectional Center Manager, Postal Service (188.167-086) 

Holland occupational cluster

• Enterprising/Conventional/Social

COPSystem

• Business Professional