Postmasters and Mail Superintendents earn a median of $96,660 per year ($46.47/hr) (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Employment is projected to fall 0.3% through 2035, with about 900 openings a year (BLS EP, 2025–2035). Typical entry-level education: High school diploma or equivalent.
- SOC 11-9131
- Management
- Last updated October 9, 2026
At a glance
Postmaster in four numbers
- Median pay
- $96,660a year, or $46.47/hrBLS OEWS, May 2025Lowest 10% $85KTop 10% $112K
US median, all jobs: $50,980
- Projected growth
- -0.3%DecliningBLS EP, 2025–2035This career−0.3%All jobs+3.5%
Projected employment change, 2025–2035 Item Value This career −0.3% All jobs +3.5% - Openings a year
- 90013,300 jobs todayBLS EP, 2025–2035
- Jobs in 202513.3K
- Projected 203513.2K
Employment, 2025–2035 Item Value Jobs in 2025 13.3K Projected 2035 13.2K - Typical education
- High schoolneeded to enterBLS EP, 2025–2035; mix: O*NET
- High school62.1%
- Certificate6.7%
- Some college11.1%
- Associate's6.7%
- Bachelor's13.4%
Highest education held by postmasters and mail superintendents Segment Value High school 62.1% Certificate 6.7% Some college 11.1% Associate's 6.7% Bachelor's 13.4%
Also advertised as: Delivery Supervisor, Distribution Operation Supervisor (SDO), Distribution Operations Manager, Distribution Operations Supervisor, Mail Delivery Supervisor, Postal Supervisor.
Pay
How much do Postmasters and Mail Superintendents make?
Every postmaster in the US, by percentile of annual wage
Median
$96,660
Middle half earn $90,650 to $102,960
- 10th
- $85,090
- 25th
- $90,650
- 75th
- $102,960
- 90th
- $111,740
All US occupations: $50,980
| Percentile | Value |
|---|---|
| 10th | $85,090 |
| 25th | $90,650 |
| Median | $96,660 |
| 75th | $102,960 |
| 90th | $111,740 |
| All US occupations | $50,980 |
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025
- Median annual wage
- $96,660
- Median hourly wage
- $46.47/hr
- Mean annual wage
- $97,360
- People employed
- 13,810
Versus all US occupations
At $96,660, Postmasters and Mail Superintendents earn 90% above the $50,980 median across all US occupations, a difference of $45,680 a year.
Versus management occupations
Inside the Management group, where the middle occupation pays $126,060, this is 23% below the group median.
Pay range
The top 10% earn $111,740 or more while the bottom 10% earn $85,090, a gap of 1.3×. That is a narrow spread, so experience and employer move pay less than in most occupations.
Rank in the bank
This median pays more than 70% of the 1,741 occupations in the NueCareer career bank.
Cost of living
Florida posts the highest raw median ($102,880), but once local prices are taken into account Arkansas leads at $112,587 in national-average dollars.
Pay by state
Which states pay Postmasters and Mail Superintendents the most?
State medians come from the same OEWS release as the national figures. The cost-of-living column divides each state median by that state's BEA Regional Price Parity, restating pay in national-average dollars so a high-cost state and a low-cost one can be compared directly.
| State | Median | COL-adjusted | Employed |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1Florida | $102,880 | $99,484 | 350 |
| 2Puerto Rico | $101,580 | N/A | 90 |
| 3California | $101,150 | $91,357 | 800 |
| 4New Jersey | $101,100 | $92,919 | 440 |
| 5Rhode Island | $99,900 | $97,673 | 40 |
| 6Tennessee | $99,170 | $107,946 | 260 |
| 7Hawaii | $99,070 | $90,104 | 60 |
| 8Arizona | $99,050 | $98,384 | 150 |
| 9South Carolina | $98,940 | $105,537 | 210 |
| 10Indiana | $98,680 | $105,733 | 290 |
Job outlook
Is Postmaster a growing career?
Employment change over 2025–2035, against every US occupation
Declining. -0.3% projected growth vs 3.5% for all occupations.
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Postmasters and Mail Superintendents | −0.3% |
| All US occupations | +3.5% |
Source: BLS EP, 2025–2035
Declining
BLS projects employment of Postmasters and Mail Superintendents to change -0.3% over 2025–2035, while total US employment is projected to rise 3.5%. That is 0 more jobs.
Annual openings
About 900 openings are projected each year, 6.8% of the 13,300 jobs that existed in 2025. Most come from workers leaving the occupation, not from growth alone.
Getting in
How to become a Postmaster
- 1
Typical entry-level education
High school diploma or equivalent
- 2
Work experience in a related occupation
Less than 5 years
- 3
Typical on-the-job training
Moderate-term on-the-job training
- 4
Preparation needed (O*NET job zone)
Little or no preparation
BLS Employment Projections, 2025–2035; job zone from O*NET 31.0 Database.
What education people in the job have
O*NET incumbent survey: the highest level of education reported by people already working as postmasters and mail superintendents.
- High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED)62.1%
- Bachelor's Degree13.4%
- Some College Courses11.1%
- Post-Secondary Certificate6.7%
- Associate's Degree or other 2-year degree6.7%
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED) | 62.1% |
| Bachelor's Degree | 13.4% |
| Some College Courses | 11.1% |
| Post-Secondary Certificate | 6.7% |
| Associate's Degree or other 2-year degree | 6.7% |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
The work
What does a Postmaster do?
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.
Day-to-day tasks
- Monitor employees' work schedules and attendance for payroll purposes.
- Prepare employee work schedules.
- Negotiate labor disputes.
- Organize and supervise activities, such as the processing of incoming and outgoing mail.
- Resolve customer complaints.
- Hire and train employees, and evaluate their performance.
- Direct and coordinate operational, management, and supportive services of one or a number of postal facilities.
- Prepare and submit detailed and summary reports of post office activities to designated supervisors.
O*NET core tasks, ordered by reported importance.
Working conditions and hours
Where the work happens
Indoors, climate-controlled
NeverEvery dayIndoors, in a climate-controlled space, every day.
Outdoors in all weather
NeverEvery day
Physical demands
Sitting
NeverAlmost all the timeStanding
NeverAlmost all the timeBending or twisting
NeverAlmost all the time
Working with people
Contact with other people
NoneConstantConstant contact with other people.
Face-to-face discussions
NeverEvery dayFace-to-face discussions every day.
Dealing with the public
Not importantExtremely importantDealing with customers or the public is very important.
Pressure and stakes
Strict deadlines
NeverEvery dayMeeting strict deadlines at least weekly.
Conflict situations
NeverEvery dayHandling conflict situations at least monthly.
Cost of a mistake
Not seriousExtremely serious
Autonomy
Freedom to decide
NoneA lot
Conditions: O*NET Work Context survey. Each item has its own scale, so each dot is read against the two answers that end its own line.
Core skills
O*NET importance, 1 to 5
- Reading Comprehension4.0
- Active Listening4.0
- Speaking4.0
- Critical Thinking3.8
- Monitoring3.8
- Learning Strategies3.4
- Writing3.3
- Active Learning3.3
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Reading Comprehension | 4.0 |
| Active Listening | 4.0 |
| Speaking | 4.0 |
| Critical Thinking | 3.8 |
| Monitoring | 3.8 |
| Learning Strategies | 3.4 |
| Writing | 3.3 |
| Active Learning | 3.3 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
Transferable skills
O*NET importance, 1 to 5
- Social Perceptiveness4.0
- Coordination4.0
- Time Management4.0
- Management of Personnel Resources3.9
- Negotiation3.6
- Service Orientation3.4
- Persuasion3.3
- Instructing3.3
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Social Perceptiveness | 4.0 |
| Coordination | 4.0 |
| Time Management | 4.0 |
| Management of Personnel Resources | 3.9 |
| Negotiation | 3.6 |
| Service Orientation | 3.4 |
| Persuasion | 3.3 |
| Instructing | 3.3 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
Tools and software
- Electronic mail software · in demand
- Enterprise resource planning ERP software · in demand
- Office suite software · in demand
- Operating system software · in demand
- Presentation software · in demand
- Spreadsheet software · in demand
- Word processing software · in demand
- Data base user interface and query software
- Facilities management software
- Human resources software
- Internet browser software
- Map creation software
“In demand” marks an O*NET Employer-Based Hot Technology, software named in real job postings for this occupation.
Personality fit
What personality type suits a Postmaster?
O*NET Occupational Interests (RIASEC), scored 1 to 7
| Axis | Postmaster |
|---|---|
| Realistic | 2 |
| Investigative | 1 |
| Artistic | 1 |
| Social | 3 |
| Enterprising | 6 |
| Conventional | 6 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
What the work is built around
Day to day this is work built around leading, persuading, selling and making decisions, combined with organising, following procedures and working precisely with data.
- Enterprising6.0
- Conventional5.7
- Social3.4
- Realistic2.1
- Investigative1.3
- Artistic1.2
Closest MBTI types
NueCareer fit scores: cosine similarity between each MBTI type's interest vector and this occupation's O*NET interest profile. Not a BLS or O*NET figure; the method is documented on our methodology page.
Explore further
Careers related to Postmaster
O*NET related occupations
- Office and Administrative Support
- Management
Transportation, Storage, and Distribution Manager
$107,230median a year
Most earn $65K to $195K
+6.1%High school - Office and Administrative Support
First-Line Supervisor of Office and Administrative Support Workers
$69,500median a year
Most earn $46K to $105K
+0.1%High school - Management
- Management
- Office and Administrative Support
Postal Service Mail Sorter, Processor, and Processing Machine Operator
$58,470median a year
Most earn $46K to $75K
−5.3%No formal credential
- First-Line Supervisor of Helpers, Laborers, and Material Movers, Hand · $62,840 median
- First-Line Supervisor of Material-Moving Machine and Vehicle Operators · $62,840 median
More management careers
Median annual pay, with postmasters and mail superintendents highlighted
- IT Manager$175,140
- Marketing Manager$166,790
- Financial Manager$166,570
- Human Resources Manager$149,280
- Sales Manager$148,270
- Construction Manager$114,990
- Supply Chain Manager$107,230
- Postmaster$96,660
- Property, Real Estate, and Community Association Manager$69,990
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| IT Manager | $175,140 |
| Marketing Manager | $166,790 |
| Financial Manager | $166,570 |
| Human Resources Manager | $149,280 |
| Sales Manager | $148,270 |
| Construction Manager | $114,990 |
| Supply Chain Manager | $107,230 |
| Postmaster | $96,660 |
| Property, Real Estate, and Community Association Manager | $69,990 |
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025
Questions
Postmaster: frequently asked questions
How much do Postmasters and Mail Superintendents make?
Postmasters and Mail Superintendents earn a median of $96,660 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025). That is 90% above the $50,980 median for all US occupations. That works out at $46.47/hr. The middle half earn between $90,650 and $102,960. The top 10% earn $111,740 or more.
Do you need a degree to become a Postmaster?
No. A bachelor's degree is not the norm: BLS reports a high school diploma or equivalent as the typical entry-level education for Postmasters and Mail Superintendents. BLS also lists moderate-term on-the-job training as typical on-the-job training. Employers typically expect less than 5 years of related work experience first. In O*NET's survey of people already doing the job, 62.1% hold high school diploma or the equivalent (such as a ged).
Is Postmaster a growing career?
No. BLS projects employment to fall 0.3% over 2025–2035, a loss of 0 jobs (BLS EP, 2025–2035). BLS still projects about 900 openings a year, mostly from workers retiring or moving to other work.
What does a Postmaster do?
Plan, direct, or coordinate operational, administrative, management, and support services of a U.S. A core O*NET task: monitor employees' work schedules and attendance for payroll purposes. Employers most often ask for Electronic mail software, Enterprise resource planning ERP software, Office suite software.
Which states pay Postmasters and Mail Superintendents the most?
The highest state medians for Postmasters and Mail Superintendents are Florida ($102,880), Puerto Rico ($101,580), California ($101,150) (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Adjusted for local prices using BEA Regional Price Parities, Arkansas moves to the top at $112,587.
What personality type suits a Postmaster?
O*NET scores Postmasters and Mail Superintendents highest on the Enterprising, Conventional and Social interest areas, so the work mixes leading, persuading, selling and making decisions with organising, following procedures and working precisely with data. On NueCareer's MBTI-to-interest mapping the closest types are ESFJ, ESTJ. Personality is a fit signal, not a gate. The free NueCareer quiz scores your own profile against all 1,731 careers in the bank.