Postmasters and Mail Superintendents
Machines can already do 28% of this job's tasks. By 2035 that rises to 48%. The job changes before it disappears.
Share of the work machines can do
Worldwide baseline, 2026 to 2050
Postmasters and Mail Superintendents in 2026: the short answer
- Today: machines can do 28% of this job's tasks, and AI use is already seen in 0% of them.
- Forecast: machines can do half of its tasks by 2036, and 48% by 2035, according to the 311 Strategic Intelligence Unit.
- Size: 13,810 people do this job in the United States, on a median pay of $96,660 a year.
- Contact with people: it scores 85% for contact with people.
- Also called: Delivery Supervisor, Distribution Operation Supervisor (SDO), Distribution Operations Manager, Distribution Operations Supervisor.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Organize and supervise activities, such as the processing of incoming and outgoing mail | 23% | 10% to 27% | |
| Direct and coordinate operational, management, and supportive services of one or a number of postal facilities | 21% | 10% to 27% | |
| Hire and train employees, and evaluate their performance | 9% | 27% to 51% | |
| Prepare and submit detailed and summary reports of post office activities to designated supervisors | 9% | 70% to 95% | |
| Monitor employees' work schedules and attendance for payroll purposes | 8% | 25% to 50% | |
| Resolve customer complaints | 8% | 84% to 87% | |
| Prepare employee work schedules | 7% | 25% to 50% | |
| Negotiate labor disputes | 3% | 10% to 27% |
The skills this job runs on
The skills postmasters and mail superintendents use most, most used first.
Safer jobs nearby
Jobs with a similar skill shape where machines can do less of the work by 2035.
- Chefs and Head Cooks43% of tasks by 2035 · US median $62,470
- First-Line Supervisors of Correctional Officers40% of tasks by 2035 · US median $77,970
- Fish and Game Wardens39% of tasks by 2035 · US median $74,060
- Anesthesiologists41% of tasks by 2035 · US median $391,490
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Questions
When will machines do half of the tasks of Postmasters and Mail Superintendents?
Machines can do half of its tasks by 2036. That is the worldwide baseline from the 311 Workforce Starburst, before adjusting for country.
Will AI take the job of postmasters and mail superintendents?
Machines can do 28% of the tasks of postmasters and mail superintendents today and 48% 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 11-9131.00 (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). Postmasters and Mail Superintendents: the outlook to 2050. 311 Workforce Starburst. https://www.311institute.com/jobs/postmasters-and-mail-superintendents/