Mail Clerks and Mail Machine Operators, Except Postal Service
Office and Administrative Support Occupations- O*NET-SOC code
- 43-9051.00
Prepare incoming and outgoing mail for distribution. Time-stamp, open, read, sort, and route incoming mail; and address, seal, stamp, fold, stuff, and affix postage to outgoing mail or packages. Duties may also include keeping necessary records and completed forms.
- Data source: BLSPublished: 2026-08
Moderate· relative
LowFour relative bandsVery highGroup-level value
Scale, basis and source
Four relative bands (Low / Moderate / High / Very high)
831 detailed occupations in the BLS Employment Projections table. Assigned per National Employment Matrix (NEM) code, so occupations sharing a NEM code carry the same band
- Data source: AnthropicPublished: 2026-03
0.000
0.000Range of values carried here0.745Scale, basis and source
Observed exposure index, 0–1 as published
Mapped onto O*NET tasks
Published per SOC 2018 occupation; every O*NET occupation with the same SOC 2018 code carries this value
- Data source: ILOPublished: 2025
0.41
0.09Range of values carried here0.70Group-level value
Scale, basis and source
Generative AI exposure index, 0–1 as published
Published per ISCO-08 unit group. Linked to this occupation, wholly or in part, by applying U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics crosswalks (ISCO-08 to 2010 SOC, 2010 SOC to 2018 SOC) as published
What kind of figure this source publishes
The BLS category is a relative rank, not an absolute level, and it is not a first-hand measurement: it groups an occupation's percentile ranks across several published studies into four bands. It is not an employment or wage forecast, not a probability of adoption, and it does not separate automation from augmentation.
Task-level exposure
Show 28 hidden tasks29 rated tasks · 10 tasks with β ≥ 0.5 (34.5%)
β = direct exposure (E1) + 0.5 × exposure when tools are available (E2), per the source repository's definition.
- Source unit: O*NET 27.2 tasks → O*NET 31.0 occupation code
- All rated tasks are in the O*NET 31.0 task list.
- Source
- OpenAI "GPTs are GPTs" exposure rubric
- Release
- gh-main-0471612
- License
- MIT License, Copyright (c) 2024 OpenAI
| Task (O*NET 20.1) | APIRaw / share % |
|---|---|
Operate computer-controlled keyboards or voice recognition equipment to direct items according to established routing schemes.43-9051.00 | 0.0029100.0 |
Values in this tab are predicted labels, not observations. Eloundou et al. (2023) published two rating regimes — human raters and GPT-4 — and the β shown here is derived from the GPT-4 rater basis alone; the same task can take a different value under the other regime. The unit and the meaning differ from the observed shares (%) in the other tabs, so do not place them on the same axis.
| Task (O*NET 27.2) | βE1 + 0.5 × E2 |
|---|---|
Read production orders to determine types and sizes of items scheduled for printing and mailing.O*NET Task ID 13273 | 1.0 |
Stamp dates and times of receipt of incoming mail.O*NET Task ID 13279 | 1.0 |
Operate computer-controlled keyboards or voice recognition equipment to direct items according to established routing schemes.O*NET Task ID 13280 | 1.0 |
Answer inquiries regarding shipping or mailing policies.O*NET Task ID 13284 | 1.0 |
Verify that items are addressed correctly, marked with the proper postage, and in suitable condition for processing.O*NET Task ID 13261 | 0.5 |
Weigh packages or letters to determine postage needed, using weighing scales and rate charts.O*NET Task ID 13265 | 0.5 |
Determine manner in which mail is to be sent, and prepare it for delivery to mailing facilities.O*NET Task ID 13266 | 0.5 |
Mail merchandise samples or promotional literature in response to requests.O*NET Task ID 13274 | 0.5 |
Contact delivery or courier services to arrange delivery of letters and parcels.O*NET Task ID 13277 | 0.5 |
Sell mail products, and accept payment for products and mailing charges.O*NET Task ID 13286 | 0.5 |
β = E1 + 0.5 × E2 · E1 = tasks where direct LLM access alone cuts time by at least 50%, E2 = tasks where software built on top of an LLM cuts time by at least 50%. Values take only 0 / 0.5 / 1.0.
Data sources & licenses — O*NET®, Anthropic Economic Index, Eloundou et al. (2023): see full notices on the Credits page
All O*NET 31.0 task statements (29)
All O*NET 31.0 task statements for this occupation (English, as published; task type core or supplemental). Exposure values are not listed here; they are in the table above, next to each task statement as worded in the O*NET version each source used.
| Task (O*NET 31.0) | Type |
|---|---|
| Seal or open envelopes, by hand or by using machines. | Core |
| Affix postage to packages or letters by hand, or stamp materials, using postage meters. | Core |
| Verify that items are addressed correctly, marked with the proper postage, and in suitable condition for processing. | Core |
| Place incoming or outgoing letters or packages into sacks or bins based on destination or type, and place identifying tags on sacks or bins. | Core |
| Clear jams in sortation equipment. | Core |
| Sort and route incoming mail, and collect outgoing mail, using carts as necessary. | Core |
| Weigh packages or letters to determine postage needed, using weighing scales and rate charts. | Core |
| Determine manner in which mail is to be sent, and prepare it for delivery to mailing facilities. | Core |
| Lift and unload containers of mail or parcels onto equipment for transportation to sortation stations. | Core |
| Fold letters or circulars and insert them in envelopes. | Core |
| Add ink, fill paste reservoirs, and change machine ribbons when necessary. | Core |
| Inspect mail machine output for defects and determine how to eliminate causes of any defects. | Core |
| Remove containers of sorted mail or parcels and transfer them to designated areas according to established procedures. | Core |
| Contact delivery or courier services to arrange delivery of letters and parcels. | Core |
| Accept and check containers of mail or parcels from large volume mailers, couriers, and contractors. | Core |
| Release packages or letters to customers upon presentation of written notices or other identification. | Core |
| Answer inquiries regarding shipping or mailing policies. | Core |
| Wrap packages or bundles by hand, or by using tying machines. | Supplemental |
| Remove from machines printed materials, such as labeled articles, postmarked envelopes or tape, and folded sheets. | Supplemental |
| Start machines that automatically feed plates, stencils, or tapes through mechanisms, and observe machine operations to detect any malfunctions. | Supplemental |
| Read production orders to determine types and sizes of items scheduled for printing and mailing. | Supplemental |
| Mail merchandise samples or promotional literature in response to requests. | Supplemental |
| Insert material for printing or addressing into loading racks on machines, select type or die sizes, and position plates, stencils, or tapes in machine magazines. | Supplemental |
| Stamp dates and times of receipt of incoming mail. | Supplemental |
| Operate computer-controlled keyboards or voice recognition equipment to direct items according to established routing schemes. | Supplemental |
| Adjust guides, rollers, loose card inserters, weighing machines, and tying arms, using rules and hand tools. | Supplemental |
| Use equipment, such as forklifts and automated "trains," to move containers of mail. | Supplemental |
| Sell mail products, and accept payment for products and mailing charges. | Supplemental |
| Operate embossing machines or typewriters to make corrections, additions, and changes to address plates. | Supplemental |
1.01/ 3· Robot exposure index
Scale, basis and source
Each physical task is graded 0–3 by the setting in which robots that have been deployed, sold or demonstrated could do it (0 none · 1 purpose-built robot settings such as a fenced machine cell or a bottling line · 2 structured facilities such as a hospital pharmacy or a container port · 3 unstructured settings such as a private home or a construction site), and the grades are averaged by share of working time
Physical tasks among this occupation's O*NET 29.3 tasks
Anthropic estimated the grades and time shares with Claude Opus 5 using web search, as of 2026.
The robot exposure index is a different measure from the AI exposure figures on this site and cannot be added to or compared with them. It does not measure actual adoption or cost, and 0 also covers occupations with no physical tasks.
Tier of each physical task
Robot environment tiers (E0–E3)
E0 noneDetails
Rated not doable by robots that have been deployed, sold or demonstrated, even in a purpose-built setting
E1 purpose-built robot settingsDetails
Rated doable in a setting built around the machine, such as a fenced machine cell or a bottling line
E2 structured facilitiesDetails
Rated doable in a human work facility that an institution keeps to a working standard, such as a hospital pharmacy or a container port
E3 unstructured settingsDetails
Rated doable in a setting that no institution keeps to a working standard, such as a private home or a construction site
Only tasks classified as physical are listed; other tasks have no tier in the source.
| Task (O*NET 29.3) | Robot environment tier |
|---|---|
| Seal or open envelopes, by hand or by using machines. | E1 purpose-built robot settings |
| Affix postage to packages or letters by hand, or stamp materials, using postage meters. | E1 purpose-built robot settings |
| Verify that items are addressed correctly, marked with the proper postage, and in suitable condition for processing. | E1 purpose-built robot settings |
| Sort and route incoming mail, and collect outgoing mail, using carts as necessary. | E1 purpose-built robot settings |
| Determine manner in which mail is to be sent, and prepare it for delivery to mailing facilities. | E1 purpose-built robot settings |
| Wrap packages or bundles by hand, or by using tying machines. | E1 purpose-built robot settings |
| Remove containers of sorted mail or parcels and transfer them to designated areas according to established procedures. | E2 structured facilities |
| Accept and check containers of mail or parcels from large volume mailers, couriers, and contractors. | E1 purpose-built robot settings |
| Place incoming or outgoing letters or packages into sacks or bins based on destination or type, and place identifying tags on sacks or bins. | E1 purpose-built robot settings |
| Clear jams in sortation equipment. | E0 none |
| Weigh packages or letters to determine postage needed, using weighing scales and rate charts. | E1 purpose-built robot settings |
| Lift and unload containers of mail or parcels onto equipment for transportation to sortation stations. | E2 structured facilities |
| Fold letters or circulars and insert them in envelopes. | E1 purpose-built robot settings |
| Remove from machines printed materials, such as labeled articles, postmarked envelopes or tape, and folded sheets. | E2 structured facilities |
| Add ink, fill paste reservoirs, and change machine ribbons when necessary. | E1 purpose-built robot settings |
| Start machines that automatically feed plates, stencils, or tapes through mechanisms, and observe machine operations to detect any malfunctions. | E1 purpose-built robot settings |
| Mail merchandise samples or promotional literature in response to requests. | E1 purpose-built robot settings |
| Inspect mail machine output for defects and determine how to eliminate causes of any defects. | E1 purpose-built robot settings |
| Stamp dates and times of receipt of incoming mail. | E1 purpose-built robot settings |
| Adjust guides, rollers, loose card inserters, weighing machines, and tying arms, using rules and hand tools. | E1 purpose-built robot settings |
| Release packages or letters to customers upon presentation of written notices or other identification. | E1 purpose-built robot settings |
| Sell mail products, and accept payment for products and mailing charges. | E2 structured facilities |
Occupation information
Employment outlook (BLS)
- Employment, 2025
- 58K
- Projected employment, 2035
- 54K
- Change (2025–35)
- -7.2%
- Median annual wage, 2025
- $39,280
- Typical education needed for entry
- High school diploma or equivalent
Korea classification links (KSCO)
Links from the current release of the Korea Occupation Direct Crosswalk v1.1, made by AI Changing Work. Relation values are read from the O*NET-SOC occupation side.
| KSCO code | KSCO title | Relation | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| 37299 | 그 외 사무 지원 종사원 | This occupation is narrower | confirmed |
Relation and status definitions(kr-direct v1.1)
ILO occupational description
AI Changing Work links the ISCO-08 unit groups below to this occupation by applying the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics crosswalks (2018 SOC to 2010 SOC, 2010 SOC to ISCO-08) as published, without case-by-case selection; each link may be whole or partial.
- ISCO-08 4412Mail Carriers and Sorting Clerks
The definition, tasks and examples below are the ILO's description of that unit group, not of this occupation.
Mail carriers and sorting clerks perform sorting, recording, delivery and other duties in connection with mail services from post offices or related organizations, as well as from or within an establishment.
Tasks
- (a) performing mail-handling duties in public post offices or privately owned delivery establishments;
- (b) sorting and delivering mail to private houses and businesses;
- (c) providing delivery confirmation records when requested by the client;
- (d) sorting and keeping simple records of incoming and outgoing correspondence and dispatching outgoing mail in various establishments;
Example occupations
Mail clerk · Post carrier · Postman/woman
Sources: ILO ISCO-08 — details: Credits
ESCO occupational vocabulary
Each entry below is matched to this occupation in the published ESCO-O*NET Crosswalk (version 1, 2022). The match types are that crosswalk's; the wording is AI Changing Work's.
- mail clerkESCO 4412.1Same scope
Mail clerks perform mail handling, sorting, recording and other duties in connection with mail services from post offices or related organisations. They keep records of the incoming and outgoing packages and letters in the establishment.
Source: European Commission, DG EMPL — ESCO API 2026-08-08 (bridge v1.2.1)
License: CC BY 4.0 (EU Reuse Notice)
ESCO reuse terms and the modification notice are in Credits.
France classification links (ROME)
AI Changing Work's links between this occupation and ROME 4.0 job profiles, judged with AI models. Relations are read from this occupation's side. Links marked “provisional” were adopted on the judgments of two judges from the same model family (Claude) alone, or by an operator rule applied to their judgments, so they rest on weaker evidence than confirmed links.
| ROME code | ROME title (French) | Relation |
|---|---|---|
| M1618 | Agent / Agente de liaison courrier | Same scope |
| E1304 | Agent / Agente de façonnage et routage | Related, not a match |
Source: France Travail — Répertoire Opérationnel des Métiers et des Emplois (ROME 4.0), version 61, last updated 15 June 2026 (https://www.data.gouv.fr/datasets/repertoire-operationnel-des-metiers-et-des-emplois-rome). Licence Ouverte 2.0.
ROME codes and titles are reproduced unchanged; the links to O*NET-SOC occupations are AI Changing Work's own judgment and are not a France Travail correspondence.
(AI Changing Work link release: fr-direct v1)
Spain classification links (CNO-11)
AI Changing Work's links between this occupation and CNO-11 occupations, judged with AI models. Relations are read from this occupation's side.
| CNO-11 code | CNO-11 title (Spanish) | Relation |
|---|---|---|
| 4221 | Empleados de servicios de correos (excepto empleados de mostrador) | This occupation is narrowerprovisional |
| 4309 | Empleados administrativos sin tareas de atención al público no clasificados bajo otros epígrafes | Related, not a matchprovisional |
Source: Instituto Nacional de Estadística (INE), National Classification of Occupations 2011 (CNO-11, Royal Decree 1591/2010) — www.ine.es · Licensed CC BY 4.0. CNO-11 codes and Spanish titles are reproduced unchanged; the links to O*NET occupations are AI Changing Work's own judgment and are not an INE correspondence.
(AI Changing Work link release: es-direct v1)
Germany classification links (KldB)
AI Changing Work's links between this occupation and KldB occupations, judged with AI models. Relations are read from this occupation's side.
| KldB code | KldB title (German) | Relation |
|---|---|---|
| 51321 | Berufe für Post- und Zustelldienste - Helfer-/Anlerntätigkeiten | This occupation is narrower |
| 73201 | Berufe in der öffentlichen Verwaltung (ohne Spezialisierung) - Helfer-/Anlerntätigkeiten | Related, not a matchprovisional |
| 73231 | Berufe in der Steuerverwaltung - Helfer-/Anlerntätigkeiten | Related, not a matchprovisional |
Source: © Statistik der Bundesagentur für Arbeit — Klassifikation der Berufe 2010 – überarbeitete Fassung 2020, https://statistik.arbeitsagentur.de. KldB codes and titles are reproduced unchanged; the links to O*NET occupations are AI Changing Work's own mapping (eigene Zuordnung) and are not a Bundesagentur für Arbeit correspondence.
(AI Changing Work link release: de-direct v1)
Japan classification links (JSCO)
AI Changing Work's links between this occupation and JSCO occupations, judged with AI models. Relations are read from this occupation's side.
| JSCO code | JSCO title (Japanese) | Relation |
|---|---|---|
| 251 | 庶務事務員 | Related, not a match |
Source: Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications (MIC), Japan Standard Occupational Classification (Dec. 2009, MIC Notification No. 555). JSCO codes and Japanese titles are reproduced unchanged; the links to O*NET occupations are AI Changing Work's own judgment and are not a MIC correspondence.
(AI Changing Work link release: jp-direct v1)
Sources, licenses and AI Changing Work's modification and translation notices for this page: Credits & sources