Career Paths From Postal Service Mail Sorters, Processors, and Processing Machine Operators

Possible next moves, computed from skill overlap, O*NET occupational relatedness, preparation level, education, and pay — not a record of people who actually made these moves.

Mail Clerks and Mail Machine Operators, Except Postal ServiceLateral Move92% skill match
Postal Service Mail Sorters, Processors, and Processing Machine Operators and Mail Clerks and Mail Machine Operators, Except Postal Service share a similar Transferable Skills profile (92% match). Mail Clerks and Mail Machine Operators, Except Postal Service sits at a similar preparation level, so this would be more of a lateral move. Median salary is about 33% lower.
Current median salary
$58,470
Target median salary
$39,280
Current Job Zone
2
Target Job Zone
2
Couriers and MessengersLateral Move89.1% skill match
Postal Service Mail Sorters, Processors, and Processing Machine Operators and Couriers and Messengers share a similar Transferable Skills profile (89% match). Couriers and Messengers sits at a similar preparation level, so this would be more of a lateral move. Median salary is about 33% lower.
Current median salary
$58,470
Target median salary
$39,200
Current Job Zone
2
Target Job Zone
2
Railroad Conductors and YardmastersCareer Change91.7% skill match
Postal Service Mail Sorters, Processors, and Processing Machine Operators and Railroad Conductors and Yardmasters share a similar Transferable Skills profile (92% match). Railroad Conductors and Yardmasters is in a different occupational field, but draws on much of the same underlying skill set. Median salary is about 33% higher.
Current median salary
$58,470
Target median salary
$78,000
Current Job Zone
2
Target Job Zone
2
Locomotive EngineersCareer Change89.9% skill match
Postal Service Mail Sorters, Processors, and Processing Machine Operators and Locomotive Engineers share a similar Transferable Skills profile (90% match). Locomotive Engineers is in a different occupational field, but draws on much of the same underlying skill set. Median salary is about 39% higher.
Current median salary
$58,470
Target median salary
$81,410
Current Job Zone
2
Target Job Zone
2
Railroad Brake, Signal, and Switch Operators and Locomotive FirersCareer Change92.7% skill match
Postal Service Mail Sorters, Processors, and Processing Machine Operators and Railroad Brake, Signal, and Switch Operators and Locomotive Firers share a similar Transferable Skills profile (93% match). Railroad Brake, Signal, and Switch Operators and Locomotive Firers is in a different occupational field, but draws on much of the same underlying skill set. Median salary is about 18% higher.
Current median salary
$58,470
Target median salary
$68,840
Current Job Zone
2
Target Job Zone
2
Bridge and Lock TendersCareer Change92.4% skill match
Postal Service Mail Sorters, Processors, and Processing Machine Operators and Bridge and Lock Tenders share a similar Transferable Skills profile (92% match). Bridge and Lock Tenders is in a different occupational field, but draws on much of the same underlying skill set.
Current median salary
$58,470
Target median salary
$57,700
Current Job Zone
2
Target Job Zone
2
PaperhangersCareer Change93.5% skill match
Postal Service Mail Sorters, Processors, and Processing Machine Operators and Paperhangers share a similar Transferable Skills profile (94% match). Paperhangers is in a different occupational field, but draws on much of the same underlying skill set. Median salary is about 11% lower.
Current median salary
$58,470
Target median salary
$52,140
Current Job Zone
2
Target Job Zone
2
Food BatchmakersCareer Change93.3% skill match
Postal Service Mail Sorters, Processors, and Processing Machine Operators and Food Batchmakers share a similar Transferable Skills profile (93% match). Food Batchmakers is in a different occupational field, but draws on much of the same underlying skill set. Median salary is about 28% lower.
Current median salary
$58,470
Target median salary
$42,290
Current Job Zone
2
Target Job Zone
2
Power Distributors and DispatchersCareer Change90.9% skill match
Postal Service Mail Sorters, Processors, and Processing Machine Operators and Power Distributors and Dispatchers share a similar Transferable Skills profile (91% match). Power Distributors and Dispatchers is in a different occupational field, but draws on much of the same underlying skill set. Job Zone is higher (3 vs 2). Median salary is about 83% higher.
Current median salary
$58,470
Target median salary
$106,730
Current Job Zone
2
Target Job Zone
3
Bus Drivers, SchoolCareer Change93% skill match
Postal Service Mail Sorters, Processors, and Processing Machine Operators and Bus Drivers, School share a similar Transferable Skills profile (93% match). Bus Drivers, School is in a different occupational field, but draws on much of the same underlying skill set. Median salary is about 18% lower.
Current median salary
$58,470
Target median salary
$47,920
Current Job Zone
2
Target Job Zone
2
Slaughterers and Meat PackersCareer Change91.6% skill match
Postal Service Mail Sorters, Processors, and Processing Machine Operators and Slaughterers and Meat Packers share a similar Transferable Skills profile (92% match). Slaughterers and Meat Packers is in a different occupational field, but draws on much of the same underlying skill set. Median salary is about 31% lower.
Current median salary
$58,470
Target median salary
$40,130
Current Job Zone
2
Target Job Zone
2
Commercial PilotsCareer Change91% skill match
Postal Service Mail Sorters, Processors, and Processing Machine Operators and Commercial Pilots share a similar Transferable Skills profile (91% match). Commercial Pilots is in a different occupational field, but draws on much of the same underlying skill set. Job Zone is higher (3 vs 2). Median salary is about 111% higher.
Current median salary
$58,470
Target median salary
$123,220
Current Job Zone
2
Target Job Zone
3
Parking Enforcement WorkersCareer Change91.7% skill match
Postal Service Mail Sorters, Processors, and Processing Machine Operators and Parking Enforcement Workers share a similar Transferable Skills profile (92% match). Parking Enforcement Workers is in a different occupational field, but draws on much of the same underlying skill set. Median salary is about 20% lower.
Current median salary
$58,470
Target median salary
$46,730
Current Job Zone
2
Target Job Zone
2
Furnace, Kiln, Oven, Drier, and Kettle Operators and TendersCareer Change89.3% skill match
Postal Service Mail Sorters, Processors, and Processing Machine Operators and Furnace, Kiln, Oven, Drier, and Kettle Operators and Tenders share a similar Transferable Skills profile (89% match). Furnace, Kiln, Oven, Drier, and Kettle Operators and Tenders is in a different occupational field, but draws on much of the same underlying skill set. Median salary is about 18% lower.
Current median salary
$58,470
Target median salary
$48,040
Current Job Zone
2
Target Job Zone
2
Food Cooking Machine Operators and TendersCareer Change94% skill match
Postal Service Mail Sorters, Processors, and Processing Machine Operators and Food Cooking Machine Operators and Tenders share a similar Transferable Skills profile (94% match). Food Cooking Machine Operators and Tenders is in a different occupational field, but draws on much of the same underlying skill set. Median salary is about 29% lower.
Current median salary
$58,470
Target median salary
$41,590
Current Job Zone
2
Target Job Zone
2

Computed from O*NET Transferable Skills, occupational relatedness and Job Zone data, plus BLS wage and projections data. Categories (Advancement / Lateral Move / Career Change) are derived algorithmically, not self-reported career histories.