Rural carriers use personal vehicles and receive a mileage reimbursement alongside regular pay. Rural route length can exceed 150 miles, and can include hundreds of individual mailboxes.

How are rural mail carriers paid?

The base rate of pay for these rural carriers equals the base annual rate of a 40 hour evaluated route plus overtime at one and one-half times the base hourly rate for all assigned hours (equivalent miles) in excess of 2080 hours (2184 miles) a year.

What is a rural carrier USPS?

Rural letter carriers are United States Postal Service and Canada Post employees who deliver mail in what are traditionally considered rural and suburban areas of the United States and Canada. Before Rural Free Delivery (RFD), rural Americans and Canadians were required to go to a post office to get their mail.

Do rural mail carriers get benefits?

RCA’s do not receive health benefits, but they elect to pay for their own health benefits after one year of employment. Once you become a Regular Rural Carrier, then you will begin receiving health benefits, annual, sick leave and can contribute to the Thrift Savings Plan. Rural Carriers are not paid an hourly wage.

What’s the difference between rural carrier and city carrier?

Rural Carriers usually spend about 2-3 hours in the office casing their mail and 4-5 hours out on the street. City Carriers for the most part, do not drive a vehicle to deliver their mail. They may drive a postal vehicle to carry their mail and then do what is called a “Park and Loop”.

Do rural carriers get uniforms?

Postal Service policy states that rural carriers must present a neat, clean, and professional appearance reflecting a positive postal image, but does not require rural carriers to wear uniforms like their city counterparts.

How long is rural carrier training?

The standard training program for rural carriers consists of a minimum of 24 hours ( 3 days ) of class room instruction using simulation, followed by a minimum of 24 hours of on-the-job training ( OJT ), which may be conducted in increments of less than 8 hours but not less than 2 hours per day.

How many days in a row can an RCA work?

As an RCA, you can work 365 days in a row, 366 on leap years. There is nothing in the contract about how many days in a row you can work. Districts can come up with their own rules about how many days in a row, but they aren’t really enforceable.

What is the difference between city carrier and rural carrier?

How long do rural carrier associates work?

Depending upon the size of the facility and the number of full-time Rural Carriers based there, an RCA might work anywhere from only one or two days a week up to over 40 hours a week.

What is it like to be a rural carrier associate?

A rural carrier associate specializes in picking up and delivering mail or parcels within a particular rural area. Manage problems, conduct RCA investigations and deliver completed documentation. Arrange mail in delivery sequence, operate llv, used scanner to collect cod and lift packages over 50 pounds.

What should an RCA wear?

In general, you are supposed to wear closed toed leather shoes that protect your entire foot. Aside from that, as @oi-veh stated, common sense should prevail. Personally, as a man, I wear knee length khaki shorts and a short sleeved t-shirt on warmer days (60 degrees or higher).

Rural carriers use personal vehicles and receive a mileage reimbursement alongside regular pay. Rural route length can exceed 150 miles, and can include hundreds of individual mailboxes. The salary schedule for a mailman is based on a combination of miles driven, mailboxes serviced and vehicle exits.

How do rural mail carriers get paid?

How many hours do rural mail carriers work?

There are other rules that might change this for you (12 hour days, 40 hour weeks) but generally, that’s how it works. Once your training ends, you’ll get paid whatever the route you deliver pays. This is why you might see rural carriers come in early (or stay late) to case grocery ads.

How many miles can a rural post office carrier drive?

In some cities/towns, the rural carrier can drive as much as 100 miles per day. You will have to drive on the right hand side of the vehicle, so you would need an appropriate car.

What’s the difference between a city carrier and a rural carrier?

You carry your mail in a mail sack that can weigh up to 40 pounds, it’s always nice to get to that last neighborhood, the mailbag is much lighter. Being a City Carrier, you also will be working in all types of weather; snow, ice, hot, humid, etc.

How to find a rural post office carrier job?

For more information on rural mail carrier and city post office jobs, including the latest postal pay scales, visit The information provided may not cover all aspects of unique or special circumstances, federal and postal regulations, and programs are subject to change. Our articles and replies are time sensitive.

Do you get paid hourly as a rural carrier?

Sometimes, it can take a long time to become a regular rural carrier. Once you become a Regular Rural Carrier, then you will begin receiving health benefits, annual, sick leave and can contribute to the Thrift Savings Plan. Rural Carriers are not paid an hourly wage.