Postal Support Employee

What is a PSE?

A Postal Support Employee (PSE) is a non-career position at USPS. There are actually two types of PSE, and they're very different jobs:

PSE Sales & Services/Distribution Associate

This is the retail window clerk. You work at the post office counter selling stamps, shipping packages, helping customers with services, and sorting mail. It's customer-facing — you're the person people see when they walk into the post office.

PSE Mail Processing Clerk

This is a behind-the-scenes role at mail processing plants. You sort mail using automated equipment or manual methods. No customer interaction — you're in a plant environment working with machines and mail. Plants run 24/7, so expect overnight shifts.

Pay and Benefits

• Starting pay: ~$19.62/hour (verify current rate on USPS website, rates are updated periodically)
• Overtime: Available, especially during peak season (holidays). Time and a half after 8 hours/day or 40 hours/week.
• Benefits: Non-career initially — limited benefits. Health insurance available after a qualifying period. Full benefits (retirement, TSP, comprehensive health) come after conversion to career.

Schedule

• No set schedule — on-call, similar to CCA
• Can include nights, weekends, and holidays
• Mail Processing PSEs often work overnight shifts since plants run 24/7. Most new hires start on Tour 1 (overnight, ~11 PM – 7:30 AM) or Tour 3 (evening, ~3 PM – 11:30 PM).
• Sales & Services PSEs work during post office retail hours, but hours can still vary

Vehicle Requirements

No personal vehicle needed for the job itself. You work at a post office or processing plant — no driving routes.

Where to Apply

This is important — the two PSE types are on different application websites:

• PSE Sales & Services: jobs.usps.com
• PSE Mail Processing: USPS eCareer Portal

If you're looking for PSE Mail Processing and can't find it on jobs.usps.com — that's why. It's on the other site.

Assessment Exam

• PSE Sales & Services: VEA 476
• PSE Mail Processing: VEA 475
• Same format as the CCA assessment — situational judgment, personality-based, multiple choice
• Scored 0-100, passing is 70+
• Taken online from home
• Can retake after a waiting period if you don't pass

Conversion to Career

• Approximately ~2 years to convert to career (varies by office and staffing needs)
• Converts to career clerk position
• Career = full benefits, set schedule, retirement, TSP, much stronger job security

Probation

First 90 days are probation. Same rules as every other non-career position:

• Don't call out unless it's a genuine emergency
• Be on time every day
• Follow instructions and be reliable
• You can be let go without cause during this period — don't give them a reason

Pros and Cons

Pros

• No personal vehicle needed
• Indoor work (especially Mail Processing)
• Sales & Services gives customer service experience and variety
• Path to career clerk position with full benefits
• Less physically demanding than carrying mail routes (no walking 10+ miles a day)

Cons

• Unpredictable schedule, especially early on
• Mail Processing shifts are often overnight — tough on your sleep schedule
• Sorting work can be repetitive
• Non-career pay and benefits initially
• Sales & Services means dealing with frustrated customers at times

Tips from Experience

• If you want to avoid customer interaction, go for Mail Processing. If you like working with people, go for Sales & Services.
• Mail Processing PSEs often get more hours because plants run around the clock
• The assessment is the same format for both — study the same way you would for CCA
• Conversion time varies a lot by location — ask around at your local office if you can
• Once you convert to career clerk, the schedule and benefits are solid