To become a mail carrier you don't need a formal qualification, but you must pass a written postal exam. You also need to be at least 18, or 16 with a high school diploma, be a US citizen or permanent resident, and pass a criminal background check, a medical assessment and a drug screening. Carriers who drive need a driver's licence, a safe driving record and a road test.
Mail carriers deliver mail to homes and businesses in cities, towns and rural areas. Most follow set routes, on foot, by vehicle or a mix of both, and they're out in every kind of weather.
Everything below comes from the US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Outlook Handbook profile for postal service workers, which I read as of October 2026. For the current openings and exam booking, check with the post office or mail processing center where you want to work.
Mail carrier pay and jobs at a glance
| Measure | BLS figure |
|---|---|
| Typical entry education | No formal educational credential |
| Median pay, postal service mail carriers (May 2025) | $60,550 a year |
| Median pay, all postal service workers (May 2025) | $59,880 a year |
| Lowest 10% of postal workers earned less than | $42,390 |
| Highest 10% of postal workers earned more than | $81,040 |
| Mail carrier jobs in 2025 | 316,400 |
| Openings each year, all postal service workers | About 32,200 |
Those are May 2025 medians, as published as of October 2026. The postal service employs 100% of these workers, so there's only one employer to apply to.
How to become a mail carrier, step by step
- Check you're eligible. You must be at least 18, or 16 with a high school diploma, and a US citizen or permanent resident.
- Apply and sit the exam. BLS says the written exam covers four areas: address cross comparison, forms completion, memory and coding, and personal characteristics and experience.
- Clear the checks. Expect a criminal background check, a medical assessment and a drug screening. You may also be asked to show you can lift and handle heavy mail sacks.
- Pass the road test. If you'll drive, you need a driver's licence and a safe driving record, and mail carriers must pass a road test before driving on the job.
- Learn on the job. BLS says training usually lasts a few weeks, and new carriers may work alongside an experienced carrier.
The exam, explained
The four parts of the exam test practical skills you'll use every day. Address cross comparison checks how quickly and accurately you can spot differences between addresses. Forms completion tests whether you can fill in postal forms correctly. Memory and coding checks how well you remember delivery routes and rules.
The last part, personal characteristics and experience, asks about how you work and behave. There's no trick to it, so answer honestly and consistently.
BLS doesn't list a pass mark or a study course, so the best preparation is practice. Time yourself comparing pairs of addresses, read forms carefully before you fill them in, and test your recall of short lists. The post office or mail processing center where you apply can tell you more about the current exam.
What the job is really like
BLS is clear that mail usually goes out 6 days a week, so many carriers work Saturdays, and some work Sundays. Most work full time, and some work more than 40 hours a week.
Carriers face hot and cold weather and wet or icy roads and sidewalks. BLS says the work isn't especially dangerous, but repetitive lifting and bending can cause strain injuries over time. You'll also collect signatures for registered, certified and insured mail, and some carriers collect postage due.
Skills that help
BLS lists six qualities for postal workers:
- Customer service, because you'll deal with the public on your route.
- Attention to detail, so mail is sorted and delivered accurately.
- Physical stamina to stand or walk for long periods.
- Physical strength to lift and carry heavy mail bags and parcels.
- Time management to handle several tasks at once.
- Visual ability, because you'll need to pass a state vision test for your driver's licence.
Is it a good job to get into?
The outlook is steady rather than growing. BLS projects mail carrier jobs to stay roughly flat, at 316,400 in 2025 and 315,500 in 2035, while the wider group of postal workers declines 1%. That still means about 32,200 openings a year, because people retire or move to other jobs.
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So you're not chasing a shrinking handful of roles. You're applying to a large employer that hires every year. The things that'll make you stand out are a clean background, a good driving record and a solid exam score, and those are mostly in your hands.
Other postal jobs
Carriers are one of three main postal roles. Postal service clerks work at the counter selling stamps and other products. Mail sorters and processors prepare mail at post offices and processing centers, loading and unloading trucks. Clerks had the highest median of the three in May 2025, at $62,130.
Related careers
If driving is the part you enjoy, my guide on how to become a truck driver covers the commercial licence route. And if you like the idea of a regular route with the public, becoming a bus driver is another option to compare.
My verdict
Becoming a mail carrier is one of the most open routes into a steady job with a BLS median of $60,550: no degree, a practical exam and a few weeks of training. The trade-offs are weekend work, all-weather routes and a lot of walking and lifting. If that suits you, check your eligibility, prepare for the four-part exam and keep your driving record clean.
Frequently asked questions
Do you need a high school diploma to be a mail carrier?
Not always. BLS says no formal credential is typically required, although you must be 18, or 16 with a high school diploma, and most postal workers have one.
What is on the postal exam?
BLS says it covers address cross comparison, forms completion, memory and coding, and personal characteristics and experience.
How much do mail carriers make?
BLS reported a median of $60,550 a year for postal service mail carriers in May 2025, as of October 2026.
How long is mail carrier training?
BLS says newly hired postal workers get on-the-job training that usually lasts a few weeks, and new carriers may work alongside an experienced carrier.
Do mail carriers work weekends?
Often. BLS says mail is usually delivered 6 days a week, so many carriers work Saturdays and some work Sundays.
