Mail Clerks and Mail Machine Operators, Except Postal Service

Mail Clerks and Mail Machine Operators, Except Postal Service score 22 out of 100, which is moderate exposure to AI. That ranks #624 of 923 US occupations, where #1 is the most exposed. Of the 29 tasks in this job, AI could speed up 4 on its own and 6 more with extra software built on top of it. None of its tasks showed up in real AI use in April–May 2026.

22/ 100

Moderate

Rank: #624of 923 jobs
US workers: 55,230BLS, May 2025
Median pay: $39,280a year
In real AI use: 0 of 29tasks, April–May 2026

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Task by task

Each task this job involves, as listed by O*NET, rated on whether a large language model like GPT-4 could cut the time it takes by at least half at the same quality. Tasks marked Seen in real AI use appeared in conversations with Claude in April–May 2026 (Anthropic Economic Index).

AI can speed this up on its own: 4 (14%)
AI can speed this up with extra software: 6 (21%)
Little or no AI speed-up: 19 (66%)

Operate computer-controlled keyboards or voice recognition equipment to direct items according to established routing schemes.AI can speed this up on its own · supplemental task
Answer inquiries regarding shipping or mailing policies.AI can speed this up on its own · supplemental task
Read production orders to determine types and sizes of items scheduled for printing and mailing.AI can speed this up on its own · supplemental task
Stamp dates and times of receipt of incoming mail.AI can speed this up on its own · supplemental task
Verify that items are addressed correctly, marked with the proper postage, and in suitable condition for processing.AI can speed this up with extra software · core task
Determine manner in which mail is to be sent, and prepare it for delivery to mailing facilities.AI can speed this up with extra software · core task
Weigh packages or letters to determine postage needed, using weighing scales and rate charts.AI can speed this up with extra software · supplemental task
Contact delivery or courier services to arrange delivery of letters and parcels.AI can speed this up with extra software · supplemental task
Mail merchandise samples or promotional literature in response to requests.AI can speed this up with extra software · supplemental task
Sell mail products, and accept payment for products and mailing charges.AI can speed this up with extra software · supplemental task
Wrap packages or bundles by hand, or by using tying machines.Little or no AI speed-up · core task
Remove containers of sorted mail or parcels and transfer them to designated areas according to established procedures.Little or no AI speed-up · core task
Sort and route incoming mail, and collect outgoing mail, using carts as necessary.Little or no AI speed-up · core task
Affix postage to packages or letters by hand, or stamp materials, using postage meters.Little or no AI speed-up · core task
Accept and check containers of mail or parcels from large volume mailers, couriers, and contractors.Little or no AI speed-up · core task
Seal or open envelopes, by hand or by using machines.Little or no AI speed-up · core task
Operate embossing machines or typewriters to make corrections, additions, and changes to address plates.Little or no AI speed-up · supplemental task
Inspect mail machine output for defects and determine how to eliminate causes of any defects.Little or no AI speed-up · supplemental task
Remove from machines printed materials, such as labeled articles, postmarked envelopes or tape, and folded sheets.Little or no AI speed-up · supplemental task
Release packages or letters to customers upon presentation of written notices or other identification.Little or no AI speed-up · supplemental task
Lift and unload containers of mail or parcels onto equipment for transportation to sortation stations.Little or no AI speed-up · supplemental task
Place incoming or outgoing letters or packages into sacks or bins based on destination or type, and place identifying tags on sacks or bins.Little or no AI speed-up · supplemental task
Clear jams in sortation equipment.Little or no AI speed-up · supplemental task
Adjust guides, rollers, loose card inserters, weighing machines, and tying arms, using rules and hand tools.Little or no AI speed-up · supplemental task
Start machines that automatically feed plates, stencils, or tapes through mechanisms, and observe machine operations to detect any malfunctions.Little or no AI speed-up · supplemental task
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.Little or no AI speed-up · supplemental task
Add ink, fill paste reservoirs, and change machine ribbons when necessary.Little or no AI speed-up · supplemental task
Use equipment, such as forklifts and automated "trains," to move containers of mail.Little or no AI speed-up · supplemental task
Fold letters or circulars and insert them in envelopes.Little or no AI speed-up · supplemental task

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Questions about mail clerks and mail machine operators, except postal service and AI

Will AI replace mail clerks and mail machine operators, except postal service?

Unlikely. Most of the work is hard for today's AI to speed up. Mail Clerks and Mail Machine Operators, Except Postal Service score 22 out of 100 (moderate exposure), #624 of 923 US jobs. AI could speed up 10 of the job's 29 tasks, 4 of them on its own, while 19 see little or no speed-up. Exposure means the work is likely to change, not that the job will disappear.

Which mail clerks and mail machine operators, except postal service tasks can AI do?

The most exposed tasks include "Operate computer-controlled keyboards or voice recognition equipment to direct items according to established routing schemes"; "Answer inquiries regarding shipping or mailing policies"; "Read production orders to determine types and sizes of items scheduled for printing and mailing".

Which mail clerks and mail machine operators, except postal service tasks are hardest for AI?

Tasks with little or no AI speed-up include "Wrap packages or bundles by hand, or by using tying machines"; "Remove containers of sorted mail or parcels and transfer them to designated areas according to established procedures"; "Sort and route incoming mail, and collect outgoing mail, using carts as necessary".

Are people already using AI for this work?

Not much yet. None of the job's tasks showed up in real conversations with Claude in April–May 2026, according to the Anthropic Economic Index.

How many people work as mail clerks and mail machine operators, except postal service, and what do they earn?

About 55,230 people in the US, with median pay of $39,280 a year (BLS, May 2025).

How to read this score. Exposure measures how much of the work AI could speed up, not whether the job will disappear. A highly exposed job can change shape, with people spending less time on routine tasks and more on the rest. The score counts tasks AI can speed up on its own in full, and tasks that need extra software at half weight.

The ratings come from published research based on GPT-4 (2023). To show what's happening now, each task is also checked against the latest Anthropic Economic Index, which records which tasks people actually use AI for. That data is refreshed automatically when Anthropic publishes a new release. Read the full method.