Mail Clerks and Mail Machine Operators, Except Postal Service
Machines can already do 24% of this job's tasks. By 2035 that rises to 63%. The job changes before it disappears.
Share of the work machines can do
Worldwide baseline, 2026 to 2050
Mail Clerks and Mail Machine Operators, Except Postal Service in 2026: the short answer
- Today: machines can do 24% of this job's tasks, and AI use is already seen in 0% of them.
- Forecast: machines can do half of its tasks by 2033, and 63% by 2035, according to the 311 Strategic Intelligence Unit.
- Size: 55,230 people do this job in the United States, on a median pay of $39,280 a year.
- Contact with people: it scores 79% for contact with people.
- Also called: Insert Operator, Inserter Operator, Mail Clerk, Mail Handler.
Updated by the 311 Strategic Intelligence Unit. These are worldwide baseline figures; the Workforce Starburst shows them for your country. Go deeper: How ready am I? or an executive briefing.
How the work changes, task by task
The tasks that take up most of the day, with the share of each that machines can do in 2026 (dark) and 2035 (pink). Worldwide baseline.
| Task | Share of the day | Machines can do | 2026 to 2035 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sort and route incoming mail, and collect outgoing mail, using carts as necessary | 17% | 20% to 60% | |
| Affix postage to packages or letters by hand, or stamp materials, using postage meters | 6% | 20% to 60% | |
| Lift and unload containers of mail or parcels onto equipment for transportation to sortation stations | 5% | 30% to 75% | |
| Verify that items are addressed correctly, marked with the proper postage, and in suitable condition for processing | 5% | 20% to 60% | |
| Release packages or letters to customers upon presentation of written notices or other identification | 5% | 20% to 60% | |
| Remove containers of sorted mail or parcels and transfer them to designated areas according to established procedures | 5% | 30% to 75% | |
| Determine manner in which mail is to be sent, and prepare it for delivery to mailing facilities | 5% | 20% to 60% | |
| Accept and check containers of mail or parcels from large volume mailers, couriers, and contractors | 5% | 20% to 60% |
The skills this job runs on
The skills mail clerks and mail machine operators, except postal service use most, most used first.
Safer jobs nearby
Jobs with a similar skill shape where machines can do less of the work by 2035.
- Cleaners of Vehicles and Equipment58% of tasks by 2035 · US median $35,830
- Laundry and Dry-Cleaning Workers54% of tasks by 2035 · US median $34,890
- Postal Service Mail Sorters, Processors, and Processing Machine Operators62% of tasks by 2035 · US median $58,470
- Painters, Construction and Maintenance54% of tasks by 2035 · US median $49,400
What should you do about it?
Open this job in the Workforce Starburst to see it for your country, then use these to act on it.
Watch This Job
Get told when the outlook for this job changes.
Free planSkills to learn next
The skills that make this job, or the next one, last longer.
In the StarburstCheck your readiness
Ten quick questions on how ready you are.
FreeAsk Vantage
Ask what this job means for you and get a sourced answer.
Free to askFutures Academy courses
Courses matched to your gaps.
Coming soonPay trend
Where pay for this job is heading.
Coming soonTeam plan
Every role in your team, side by side, with a plan for each.
Pro and CorporateShared workspace
Work through it with your team, with notes and decisions kept.
Pro and Corporate
Questions
When will machines do half of the tasks of Mail Clerks and Mail Machine Operators, Except Postal Service?
Machines can do half of its tasks by 2033. That is the worldwide baseline from the 311 Workforce Starburst, before adjusting for country.
Will AI take the job of mail clerks and mail machine operators, except postal service?
Machines can do 24% of the tasks of mail clerks and mail machine operators, except postal service today and 63% by 2035. The job changes before it disappears: the routine tasks move first.
Sources and citing
Tasks and their share of the day: O*NET 31.0, occupation 43-9051.00 (US Department of Labor, CC BY 4.0). Pay and jobs: US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. AI use today: Anthropic Economic Index (CC BY). Scoring and forecast: the 311 Strategic Intelligence Unit; after 2035 the figures extend each trend, with lower confidence. Foresight, not advice.
Cite as: 311 Institute (2026). Mail Clerks and Mail Machine Operators, Except Postal Service: the outlook to 2050. 311 Workforce Starburst. https://www.311institute.com/jobs/mail-clerks-and-mail-machine-operators-except-postal-service/