Management
Postmasters and Mail Superintendents
Also called: Delivery Supervisor, Distribution Operation Supervisor (SDO), Distribution Operations Manager, Distribution Operations Supervisor
US median pay
$96,660
per year, 2025
Job growth 2025–35
-0.3%
declining
Openings a year (US)
900
13,300 employed
Typical entry education
High school diploma or equivalent
Preparation 2/5 · Some preparation
What this job is
Plan, direct, or coordinate operational, administrative, management, and support services of a U.S. post office; or coordinate activities of workers engaged in postal and related work in assigned post office.
What they do day to day
- Monitor employees' work schedules and attendance for payroll purposes.
- Organize and supervise activities, such as the processing of incoming and outgoing mail.
- Resolve customer complaints.
- Prepare employee work schedules.
- Direct and coordinate operational, management, and supportive services of one or a number of postal facilities.
- Hire and train employees, and evaluate their performance.
- Prepare and submit detailed and summary reports of post office activities to designated supervisors.
- Negotiate labor disputes.
- Select and train postmasters and managers of associate postal units.
- Inform the public of available services, and of postal laws and regulations.
Skills and knowledge that matter most
Skills
- Time Management4.0/5
- Social Perceptiveness4.0/5
- Coordination4.0/5
- Management of Personnel Resources3.9/5
- Negotiation3.6/5
- Service Orientation3.4/5
- Persuasion3.2/5
- Judgment and Decision Making3.2/5
Knowledge
- Administration and Management4.4/5
- Public Safety and Security4.2/5
- English Language4.1/5
- Production and Processing4.0/5
- Customer and Personal Service4.0/5
- Education and Training3.7/5
Importance rated by people working in the job (1 = not important, 5 = extremely important).
Education and preparation
Preparation level 2 of 5 — Some preparation. Usually a high school diploma; some previous work experience or training helps.
Typical entry education (BLS): High school diploma or equivalent, plus less than 5 years of related work experience.
Highest education of people in this job:
- High school diploma62%
- Bachelor's degree13%
- Some college11%
Who this job suits
Mostly Enterprising
Leading, persuading and starting things
Conventional
Organising data, details and procedures
Social
Helping, teaching and caring for people
Based on the Holland (RIASEC) interest profile for this occupation.