Best degree programs for Postmasters and Mail Superintendents, ranked by enrollment
1 college programs and 431 schools train Postmasters and Mail Superintendents. Compare graduates per year, cost and pay, $96,660 median wage, 13,810 U.S. jobs. Federal data.
1 college programs at 431 schools train postmasters and mail superintendents, graduating 13,652 people a year (IPEDS completions). The largest is Public Administration. The job pays a median of $96,660 (BLS OEWS May 2025).
About postmasters and mail superintendents
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.
Fields of study that lead to this job
Grouped at the 4-digit CIP level, the tier our program pages are built on. Numbers are graduates per year.
1 degree programs that lead to this job
Ranked by graduates per year (IPEDS completions). Graduate earnings and debt are College Scorecard figures for people who finished the program, reported at the 4-digit CIP level, so specializations within one field share a figure. That is a different measurement from the occupation-wide wages further down this page.
| # | Program | Graduates / yr | Share of pipeline | Schools | Grad earnings (1 yr) | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | CIP 44.0401 | 13,652 | 100.0% | 431 | $45,374 | $26,000 |
Top 50 schools by graduates into this job
Counting every feeder program a school offers, not just its largest one.
| # | School | Graduates / yr | Top feeder program | Grad rate | Net price | Acceptance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Indiana University - Bloomington Bloomington, IN Public · 1 feeder programs | 600 | Public Administration | 80% | — | 78% |
| 2 | Columbia University in the City of New York New York, NY Private not-for-profit · 1 feeder programs | 349 | Public Administration | 96% | $15,315 | 4% |
| 3 | Liberty University Lynchburg, VA Private not-for-profit · 1 feeder programs | 295 | Public Administration | 65% | $28,911 | 99% |
| 4 | Harvard University Cambridge, MA Private not-for-profit · 1 feeder programs | 235 | Public Administration | 98% | $15,013 | 4% |
| 5 | Grand Canyon University Phoenix, AZ Private not-for-profit · 1 feeder programs | 233 | Public Administration | 43% | $21,535 | 79% |
| 6 | Syracuse University Syracuse, NY Private not-for-profit · 1 feeder programs | 232 | Public Administration | 84% | $28,851 | 46% |
| 7 | University of Phoenix - Arizona Phoenix, AZ Private for-profit · 1 feeder programs | 218 | Public Administration | 21% | $15,478 | — |
| 8 | New York University New York, NY Private not-for-profit · 1 feeder programs | 214 | Public Administration | 88% | $29,023 | 9% |
| 9 | Walden University Minneapolis, MN Private for-profit · 1 feeder programs | 209 | Public Administration | — | — | — |
| 10 | California State University - Northridge Northridge, CA Public · 1 feeder programs | 181 | Public Administration | 57% | — | 93% |
| 11 | Ohio State University - Main Campus Columbus, OH Public · 1 feeder programs | 177 | Public Administration | 88% | — | 61% |
| 12 | Columbia Southern University Orange Beach, AL Private for-profit · 1 feeder programs | 165 | Public Administration | 33% | $15,554 | — |
| 13 | CUNY John Jay College of Criminal Justice New York, NY Public · 1 feeder programs | 162 | Public Administration | 56% | — | 57% |
| 14 | University of Central Florida Orlando, FL Public · 1 feeder programs | 154 | Public Administration | 78% | — | 40% |
| 15 | Texas A&M University - College Station College Station, TX Public · 1 feeder programs | 138 | Public Administration | 84% | — | 57% |
| 16 | University of Pennsylvania Philadelphia, PA Private not-for-profit · 1 feeder programs | 138 | Public Administration | 97% | $22,055 | 5% |
| 17 | Western Carolina University Cullowhee, NC Public · 1 feeder programs | 134 | Public Administration | 60% | — | 82% |
| 18 | University of Washington - Seattle Campus Seattle, WA Public · 1 feeder programs | 132 | Public Administration | 85% | — | 39% |
| 19 | American University Washington, DC Private not-for-profit · 1 feeder programs | 126 | Public Administration | 75% | $30,225 | 62% |
| 20 | Florida International University Miami, FL Public · 1 feeder programs | 126 | Public Administration | 74% | — | 55% |
| 21 | Cornell University Ithaca, NY Private not-for-profit · 1 feeder programs | 116 | Public Administration | 95% | $17,613 | 9% |
| 22 | The University of Texas at Arlington Arlington, TX Public · 1 feeder programs | 115 | Public Administration | 54% | — | 80% |
| 23 | California State University - Dominguez Hills Carson, CA Public · 1 feeder programs | 114 | Public Administration | 43% | — | 93% |
| 24 | CUNY Bernard M Baruch College New York, NY Public · 1 feeder programs | 114 | Public Administration | 72% | — | 48% |
| 25 | National University San Diego, CA Private not-for-profit · 1 feeder programs | 111 | Public Administration | 43% | $31,817 | — |
| 26 | University of Southern California Los Angeles, CA Private not-for-profit · 1 feeder programs | 110 | Public Administration | 92% | $26,873 | 10% |
| 27 | Rutgers University - Newark Newark, NJ Public · 1 feeder programs | 106 | Public Administration | 64% | — | 71% |
| 28 | Florida State University Tallahassee, FL Public · 1 feeder programs | 105 | Public Administration | 86% | — | 24% |
| 29 | University of Hawaii - West Oahu Kapolei, HI Public · 1 feeder programs | 105 | Public Administration | 50% | — | 95% |
| 30 | California State University - Long Beach Long Beach, CA Public · 1 feeder programs | 100 | Public Administration | 69% | — | 46% |
| 31 | George Mason University Fairfax, VA Public · 1 feeder programs | 98 | Public Administration | 68% | — | 87% |
| 32 | California State University - San Bernardino San Bernardino, CA Public · 1 feeder programs | 88 | Public Administration | 55% | — | 94% |
| 33 | University of Oregon Eugene, OR Public · 1 feeder programs | 87 | Public Administration | 72% | — | 88% |
| 34 | Indiana University - Indianapolis Indianapolis, IN Public · 1 feeder programs | 85 | Public Administration | 54% | — | 76% |
| 35 | University of Georgia Athens, GA Public · 1 feeder programs | 85 | Public Administration | 90% | — | 38% |
| 36 | University of Colorado Denver/Anschutz Medical Campus Denver, CO Public · 1 feeder programs | 83 | Public Administration | 46% | — | 75% |
| 37 | Northeastern University Boston, MA Private not-for-profit · 1 feeder programs | 82 | Public Administration | 91% | $18,925 | 5% |
| 38 | Barry University Miami, FL Private not-for-profit · 1 feeder programs | 80 | Public Administration | 38% | $24,719 | 77% |
| 39 | Florida Atlantic University Boca Raton, FL Public · 1 feeder programs | 79 | Public Administration | 63% | — | 66% |
| 40 | University of Missouri - Columbia Columbia, MO Public · 1 feeder programs | 75 | Public Administration | 75% | — | 78% |
| 41 | The University of Texas at Dallas Richardson, TX Public · 1 feeder programs | 73 | Public Administration | 76% | — | 65% |
| 42 | The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley Edinburg, TX Public · 1 feeder programs | 73 | Public Administration | 51% | — | 94% |
| 43 | Tarleton State University Stephenville, TX Public · 1 feeder programs | 72 | Public Administration | 48% | — | 90% |
| 44 | University of Maryland Global Campus Adelphi, MD Public · 1 feeder programs | 70 | Public Administration | 33% | — | — |
| 45 | American Public University System Charles Town, WV Private for-profit · 1 feeder programs | 68 | Public Administration | 57% | $10,199 | — |
| 46 | Johns Hopkins University Baltimore, MD Private not-for-profit · 1 feeder programs | 68 | Public Administration | 94% | $11,888 | 6% |
| 47 | Northwestern University Evanston, IL Private not-for-profit · 1 feeder programs | 67 | Public Administration | 95% | $14,799 | 8% |
| 48 | Park University Parkville, MO Private not-for-profit · 1 feeder programs | 67 | Public Administration | 38% | $16,013 | — |
| 49 | Brigham Young University Provo, UT Private not-for-profit · 1 feeder programs | 66 | Public Administration | 81% | $13,712 | 68% |
| 50 | University of Rhode Island Kingston, RI Public · 1 feeder programs | 66 | Public Administration | 73% | — | 72% |
What postmasters and mail superintendents earn
What people already working in this job earn (BLS OEWS May 2025). Not graduate earnings.
Top-paying states
Top-paying metro areas
Job outlook
Bureau of Labor Statistics Employment Projections, 2024 to 2034.
Where the jobs are, state by state
Pick a state for in-state pay, the schools there, and the programs they run.
| State | Median pay | Jobs | Concentration | Schools | Graduates / yr |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| New York | $97,640 | 830 | 0.97× | 23 | 1,554 |
| California | $101,150 | 800 | 0.49× | 39 | 1,321 |
| Texas | $97,550 | 820 | 0.65× | 34 | 964 |
| Indiana | $98,680 | 290 | 1.02× | 14 | 808 |
| Florida | $102,880 | 350 | 0.40× | 18 | 759 |
| Virginia | $94,790 | 370 | 1.02× | 11 | 628 |
| Arizona | $99,050 | 150 | 0.53× | 8 | 626 |
| Massachusetts | $96,870 | 330 | 1.03× | 12 | 565 |
| North Carolina | $96,410 | 480 | 1.10× | 16 | 495 |
| Pennsylvania | $97,530 | 800 | 1.48× | 16 | 411 |
| Ohio | $97,680 | 510 | 1.03× | 14 | 393 |
| Alabama | $95,740 | 280 | 1.47× | 12 | 379 |
| Georgia | $97,050 | 340 | 0.79× | 16 | 377 |
| Minnesota | $92,410 | 320 | 1.24× | 7 | 295 |
| Illinois | $94,970 | 510 | 0.94× | 13 | 289 |
| Missouri | $95,680 | 300 | 1.14× | 11 | 271 |
| New Jersey | $101,100 | 440 | 1.15× | 9 | 264 |
| Michigan | $97,790 | 450 | 1.16× | 12 | 238 |
| Washington | $95,430 | 280 | 0.90× | 5 | 205 |
| Maryland | $94,890 | 230 | 0.94× | 8 | 203 |
| Tennessee | $99,170 | 260 | 0.90× | 11 | 177 |
| Utahmoderate | $98,570 | 110 | 0.69× | 4 | 166 |
| Kentucky | $98,570 | 240 | 1.37× | 8 | 165 |
| Oregon | $93,180 | 220 | 1.25× | 5 | 135 |
| Colorado | $93,000 | 200 | 0.77× | 5 | 131 |
| Connecticut | $97,880 | 160 | 1.08× | 7 | 129 |
| Hawaiimoderate | $99,070 | 60 | 1.08× | 3 | 128 |
| Kansasmoderate | $93,080 | 190 | 1.52× | 4 | 112 |
| Iowa | $93,160 | 260 | 1.87× | 7 | 110 |
| Arkansas | $97,880 | 180 | 1.53× | 8 | 104 |
| Louisiana | $96,550 | 250 | 1.44× | 6 | 103 |
| West Virginiamoderate | $96,260 | 180 | 2.81× | 3 | 89 |
| Rhode Islandmoderate | $99,900 | 40 | 0.83× | 4 | 87 |
| Mississippi | $95,270 | 190 | 1.80× | 5 | 78 |
| South Carolina | $98,940 | 210 | 1.04× | 6 | 67 |
| Nebraskalimited | $94,040 | 150 | 1.63× | 2 | 64 |
| Idahomoderate | $92,820 | 130 | 1.68× | 3 | 63 |
| Oklahomamoderate | $96,080 | 240 | 1.58× | 3 | 58 |
| Montanamoderate | $88,920 | 170 | 3.81× | 3 | 55 |
| Wisconsin | $96,810 | 340 | 1.29× | 7 | 53 |
| Nevadalimited | $89,770 | 70 | 0.49× | 2 | 52 |
| Delawaremoderate | $98,550 | 40 | 0.98× | 3 | 40 |
| New Mexicomoderate | $91,500 | 140 | 1.86× | 4 | 31 |
| South Dakotalimited | $91,540 | 100 | 2.54× | 1 | 30 |
| North Dakotalimited | $91,040 | 90 | 2.33× | 1 | 26 |
| Vermontmoderate | $89,890 | 120 | 4.37× | 3 | 26 |
| Alaskalimited | $59,340 | 170 | 5.78× | 2 | 19 |
| Wyominglimited | $88,040 | 80 | 3.37× | 1 | 17 |
| New Hampshirelimited | $92,980 | 160 | 2.70× | 2 | 11 |
| Mainelimited | $93,000 | 180 | 3.15× | 1 | 6 |
Skills and tools
From O*NET, the U.S. Department of Labor's occupational database. Importance is a 1 to 5 scale.
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.
Skills
- Reading Comprehension4.0
- Active Listening4.0
- Speaking4.0
- Critical Thinking3.8
- Monitoring3.8
- Learning Strategies3.4
- Writing3.3
- Active Learning3.3
Knowledge areas
- Administration and Management4.4
- Public Safety and Security4.2
- English Language4.1
- Production and Processing4.0
- Customer and Personal Service4.0
- Education and Training3.7
Abilities
- Oral Comprehension4.0
- Written Comprehension4.0
- Oral Expression4.0
- Speech Recognition3.9
- Deductive Reasoning3.9
- Speech Clarity3.9
Core activities
- Getting Information4.5
- Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates4.5
- Resolving Conflicts and Negotiating with Others4.4
- Making Decisions and Solving Problems4.4
- Working with Computers4.3
- Scheduling Work and Activities4.2
Tools and technology
hotmarks an O*NET hot technologyHow to get in
How to become a Postmaster
Job zone 2 of 5 · SVP Below 6.0- Typical entry education
- High school diploma or equivalent
- Work experience needed
- Less than 5 years
- On-the-job training
- Moderate-term on-the-job training
Usually requires a high school diploma or GED, though some occupations may not.
Some occupations may need little or no previous experience; others require several months to a year of experience. For example, landscaping and groundskeeping workers might require very little training or previous experience, while agricultural equipment operators can benefit from on-the job training.
Ranges from a few days to one year of on-the-job training.
Every major mapped to this job
The official federal mapping behind the rankings above.
All 1 majors mapped to Postmasters and Mail Superintendents1 of them graduated someone in the latest IPEDS year. NCES CIP 2020 → SOC 2018 crosswalk.+
- 44.0401Public Administration
Related careers
Jobs O*NET identifies as close to this one, with their own pay and outlook.
Common questions
What degree do you need to become a Postmaster?+
High school diploma or equivalent is the typical entry-level education BLS reports for this occupation. The most common program people actually graduate from is Public Administration, which awarded 13,652 degrees in 2024-25, 100.0% of everyone graduating from a program that feeds this career.
Which college majors lead to becoming a Postmaster?+
The NCES CIP-to-SOC crosswalk maps 1 programs to this occupation. The largest are Public Administration. Together they graduate about 13,652 people a year.
How much do postmasters and mail superintendents earn?+
The median is $96,660 a year (BLS OEWS May 2025). The middle range runs from $85,090 at the 10th percentile to $111,740 at the 90th. This is pay for people already working in the occupation, not the same thing as graduate earnings one year after finishing a degree.
Is demand for postmasters and mail superintendents growing?+
BLS projects a -3.5% change in employment between 2024 and 2034, decline, with roughly 900 openings a year nationally once retirements and job changes are counted.
How many schools offer programs for this career?+
431 institutions reported graduates from at least one of the 1 programs that feed this occupation in IPEDS 2024-25. Rankings on this page use graduates per year, because the federal data publishes no enrollment count by program.
What other job titles do postmasters and mail superintendents work under?+
Employers advertise this work under many names. O*NET records Postmaster, Remote Encoding Center Manager, Distribution Operations Manager, Distribution Operation Supervisor (SDO) among the most commonly reported, all mapping to SOC 11-9131.
About the data on this page
Rankings use IPEDS completions 2024-25, degrees awarded per year. That is the closest federal measure of how many people a program puts into a career, because no federal dataset publishes enrollment by program. Wages and employment come from BLS OEWS May 2025, growth and openings from BLS Employment Projections 2024-34, and which majors lead to which jobs from the NCES CIP 2020 to SOC 2018 crosswalk. Occupation descriptions, tasks, skills and tools are O*NET 30.3 (CC BY 4.0, U.S. Department of Labor/ETA).
BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics
May 2025Wages, employment counts, location quotients and metro breakdowns.
BLS Employment Projections
2024–34Projected growth, annual openings and typical entry-level education.
IPEDS Completions
2024-25 (provisional)Graduates per year by program and institution — the ranking metric.
College Scorecard, Field of Study
2020-21 cohortsMedian graduate earnings one year after completion, and median debt.
Census Post-Secondary Employment Outcomes
latest availableGraduate earnings 1/5/10 years out, where the state participates.
NCES CIP 2020 and the CIP-to-SOC 2018 crosswalk
CIP 2020 / SOC 2018Which college programs officially lead to this occupation.
O*NET Database 30.3
30.3Tasks, skills, knowledge, tools, job zone and alternate job titles.
Official source →CC BY 4.0, U.S. Department of Labor / ETA
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