Postmasters and Mail Superintendents: Career Profile
Plan, direct, or coordinate operational, administrative, management, and support services of a U.S. post office; or coordinate activities of workers engaged in postal and related work in assigned post office.
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What Do Postmasters and Mail Superintendents Perform?
The day-to-day responsibilities of postmasters and mail superintendents cover:
- Monitor employees' work schedules and attendance for payroll purposes.
- Organize and supervise activities, such as the processing of incoming and outgoing mail.
- Resolve customer complaints.
- Prepare employee work schedules.
- Direct and coordinate operational, management, and supportive services of one or a number of postal facilities.
- Hire and train employees, and evaluate their performance.
- Prepare and submit detailed and summary reports of post office activities to designated supervisors.
- Negotiate labor disputes.
What Postmasters and Mail Superintendents Need to Know
Successful postmasters and mail superintendents draw on a mix of skills and domain knowledge.
Top Skills
The competencies most important for this role, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:
Core Knowledge
Related Job Titles
This career also goes by job titles like:
- Delivery Supervisor
- Distribution Operation Supervisor (SDO)
- Distribution Operations Manager
- Distribution Operations Supervisor
- Mail Delivery Supervisor
- Mail Superintendent
- Order to Delivery Supervisor
- Postal Service Sectional Center Manager
Job Outlook
There are about 66,829 postmasters and mail superintendents working in the United States today. Demand is forecast to grow by +11.1% over the projection horizon.
Postmasters and Mail Superintendents Pay
| Statistic | Value |
|---|---|
| Annual median | $75,454 |
| Hourly median | $36.28 |
| 10th percentile | $54,441 |
| 25th percentile | $64,948 |
| 75th percentile | $85,960 |
| 90th percentile | $96,467 |
Pay can vary substantially based on experience, location, and industry.
How Much Do Postmasters and Mail Superintendents Make in Different U.S. States?
| State | Annual median salary |
|---|---|
| Florida | $98,990 |
| Rhode Island | $98,720 |
| Puerto Rico | $97,500 |
| California | $97,050 |
| New Jersey | $96,900 |
| Tennessee | $95,470 |
| Kentucky | $94,870 |
| Utah | $94,720 |
| Delaware | $94,550 |
| South Carolina | $94,520 |
| Arizona | $94,410 |
| Connecticut | $94,370 |
| Georgia | $94,120 |
| Indiana | $94,060 |
| Texas | $94,060 |
| Michigan | $93,940 |
| Arkansas | $93,930 |
| Hawaii | $93,910 |
| Ohio | $93,230 |
| New York | $93,230 |
| Massachusetts | $93,230 |
| Pennsylvania | $93,100 |
| Wisconsin | $93,080 |
| West Virginia | $92,900 |
| Louisiana | $92,870 |
| North Carolina | $92,780 |
| Oklahoma | $92,450 |
| Alabama | $92,120 |
| Missouri | $91,750 |
| Washington | $91,370 |
| Illinois | $91,370 |
| Mississippi | $91,310 |
| Maryland | $91,150 |
| Virginia | $90,520 |
| Maine | $90,250 |
| New Hampshire | $90,080 |
| Nebraska | $89,710 |
| Iowa | $89,670 |
| Minnesota | $89,670 |
| Kansas | $89,610 |
| Oregon | $89,520 |
| Colorado | $89,480 |
| Idaho | $88,780 |
| South Dakota | $88,730 |
| New Mexico | $87,980 |
| North Dakota | $87,980 |
| Vermont | $87,150 |
| Nevada | $86,320 |
| Montana | $85,320 |
| Wyoming | $82,620 |
| Alaska | $57,490 |
Where Postmasters and Mail Superintendents Earn the Most
Pay for postmasters and mail superintendents shift depending on where you work. Top regions by median wage:
| Region | Median annual wage | Share of U.S. jobs | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|
| Other U.S. Territories | $97,500 | 0.6% | 0.97 |
| Southeast | $93,752 | 23.9% | 1.18 |
| Middle Atlantic | $93,693 | 16.8% | 1.17 |
| Southwest | $93,146 | 9.8% | 0.95 |
| Great Lakes | $93,020 | 15.0% | 1.07 |
| New England | $91,853 | 7.4% | 2.11 |
| Far Western US | $90,436 | 11.4% | 1.21 |
| Plains States | $89,933 | 10.1% | 1.56 |
Top Metro Areas
| Metro area | State | Median annual wage | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | CA | $108,240 | 130 |
| Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL | FL | $106,490 | 40 |
| Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ | AZ | $103,830 | 40 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | CA | $101,670 | 40 |
| Grand Rapids-Wyoming-Kentwood, MI | MI | $100,860 | 40 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | WA | $100,460 | 60 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | CA | $100,210 | 80 |
| San Antonio-New Braunfels, TX | TX | $100,190 | 40 |
Top Industries Employing Postmasters and Mail Superintendents
The bulk of postmasters and mail superintendents are found across these industries:
| Industry | Employment | Median annual wage |
|---|---|---|
| Transportation and Warehousing | 13,810 | $92,730 |
Below are examples of industries where postmasters and mail superintendents work:
Software Postmasters and Mail Superintendents Use
- Spreadsheet software: Microsoft Excel (hot technology)
- Office suite software: Microsoft Office software (hot technology)
- Electronic mail software: Microsoft Outlook (hot technology)
- Presentation software: Microsoft PowerPoint (hot technology)
- Operating system software: Microsoft Windows (hot technology)
- Word processing software: Microsoft Word (hot technology)
- Enterprise resource planning ERP software: SAP software (hot technology)
What the Workplace Is Like
The on-the-job environment of postmasters and mail superintendents is shaped by the following characteristics:
- Contact With Others
- Face-to-Face Discussions with Individuals and Within Teams
- Time Pressure
- Telephone Conversations
Getting Started in This Career
Most postmasters and mail superintendents positions require a high school diploma or equivalent as the typical entry-level education. This occupation sits in Some Preparation Needed (Job Zone 2), signaling the level of preparation typically expected.
Related Careers
Similar Occupations
- Transportation, Storage, and Distribution Managers (Primary-Short)
- Logisticians (Supplemental)
- Management Analysts (Supplemental)
- First-Line Supervisors of Non-Retail Sales Workers (Primary-Long)
- First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support Workers (Primary-Short)
- Customer Service Representatives (Supplemental)
- Order Clerks (Supplemental)
- Dispatchers, Except Police, Fire, and Ambulance (Supplemental)
Where to Study
Aspiring postmasters and mail superintendents typically earn programs in:
Public Administration and Social Service Professions
1 programs across 1 majors
Sources
Statistics shown above are sourced from the following authoritative sources:
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics — Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) for employment and wage data by state and industry.
- BLS Employment Projections for total employment and growth forecasts.
- O*NET (Occupational Information Network) for skills, knowledge, tasks, work activities, work context, technology, and education-zone data.
SOC code: 11-9131.00 (Postmasters and Mail Superintendents).