Post Office Jobs
Page updated 1/23/2017
The U. S. Postal Service (USPS) employs over 617,000 workers in 300 job categories for positions at 33,000 post offices, branches, stations, and community post offices throughout the United States. Thousands of post office jobs are available each year to backfill for retirements, transfers, deaths and employees who choose to leave the Postal Service. The Postal Service also hires many temporary workers during peak mail periods.
There are jobs available for traditional mail carrier and clerk positions plus administrative, clerical, and office services at central facilities. There are also technical and professionals occupations available and you will find links to job vacancy listings for all occupations on this site.
Post Office job vacancies are advertised internally by the United States Postal Service and not by the Office of Personnel Management. In 1971, the US Postal Service became independent. Pay scales are determined by the Postal Pay Act and are not a part of the General Pay Schedule. The average pay and benefits for career bargaining unit employees today is exceeds $75,000 a year even while the private sector suffered through one of the most extensive recessions in modern history.
473 Postal Exam & Application Process
The Postal Service recruits through their eCareer online recruiting service. All Post Office job vacancies are listed on their service. Entrance tests including the 473 / 473E Postal Exam are still required for most jobs; however, you now apply online for post office job vacancies and complete an initial assessment when you apply. Applicants take proctored 473 Postal Exams and other related post office exams at designated testing facilities on computers instead of lengthy written tests. This site, along with our Post Office Jobs study guide, features the Postal Service’s recruiting programs.
The Postal Service uses the USPS exam titled Test 473 for Major Entry-Level Jobs. The exam is also referred to as the 473 Battery Exam. This new exam replaced the 470 Battery Exam and covers:
| Test Unit | Number of Questions | Time Allowed | Covered Subjects |
| Part A Address Checking |
60 | 11 minutes | Determine if two addresses are identical |
| Part B Forms Completion |
30 | 15 minutes | information identification for completing forms correctly |
| Part C Section 1 – Coding |
36 | 6 minutes | Use the proper code to assign to addresses |
| Part C Section 2 – Memory |
36 | 7 minutes | Memorize assigned codes for addresses ranges |
| Part D Inventory of Personal Experience and Characteristics |
236 | 90 minutes | Experience and characteristics which are job-related |
A complete Postal Career Success Kit is available for $39.99. Postal Career Success Kit includes Hiring Guides and Comprehensive practice post office practice exams are available to prepare for the forms checking, address checking, memory and coding Parts A through C of the new exam.