Best programs to become a postmaster
You do not need a college degree to become a postmaster. BLS lists a high school diploma or equivalent as the typical entry-level education. It also expects less than 5 years of related work experience. The field of study that leads most directly to this job is Public Administration (IPEDS completions).
1 college program at 431 schools trains postmasters and mail superintendents, graduating 13,652 people a year (IPEDS completions). 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.
Best programs to study to become a postmaster
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 program | 600 | Public Administration | 80% | — | 78% |
| 2 | Columbia University in the City of New York New York, NY Private not-for-profit · 1 feeder program | 349 | Public Administration | 96% | $15,315 | 4% |
| 3 | Liberty University Lynchburg, VA Private not-for-profit · 1 feeder program | 295 | Public Administration | 65% | $28,911 | 99% |
| 4 | Harvard University Cambridge, MA Private not-for-profit · 1 feeder program | 235 | Public Administration | 98% | $15,013 | 4% |
| 5 | Grand Canyon University Phoenix, AZ Private not-for-profit · 1 feeder program | 233 | Public Administration | 43% | $21,535 | 79% |
| 6 | Syracuse University Syracuse, NY Private not-for-profit · 1 feeder program | 232 | Public Administration | 84% | $28,851 | 46% |
| 7 | University of Phoenix - Arizona Phoenix, AZ Private for-profit · 1 feeder program | 218 | Public Administration | 21% | $15,478 | — |
| 8 | New York University New York, NY Private not-for-profit · 1 feeder program | 214 | Public Administration | 88% | $29,023 | 9% |
| 9 | Walden University Minneapolis, MN Private for-profit · 1 feeder program | 209 | Public Administration | — | — | — |
| 10 | California State University - Northridge Northridge, CA Public · 1 feeder program | 181 | Public Administration | 57% | — | 93% |
| 11 | Ohio State University - Main Campus Columbus, OH Public · 1 feeder program | 177 | Public Administration | 88% | — | 61% |
| 12 | Columbia Southern University Orange Beach, AL Private for-profit · 1 feeder program | 165 | Public Administration | 33% | $15,554 | — |
| 13 | CUNY John Jay College of Criminal Justice New York, NY Public · 1 feeder program | 162 | Public Administration | 56% | — | 57% |
| 14 | University of Central Florida Orlando, FL Public · 1 feeder program | 154 | Public Administration | 78% | — | 40% |
| 15 | Texas A&M University - College Station College Station, TX Public · 1 feeder program | 138 | Public Administration | 84% | — | 57% |
| 16 | University of Pennsylvania Philadelphia, PA Private not-for-profit · 1 feeder program | 138 | Public Administration | 97% | $22,055 | 5% |
| 17 | Western Carolina University Cullowhee, NC Public · 1 feeder program | 134 | Public Administration | 60% | — | 82% |
| 18 | University of Washington - Seattle Campus Seattle, WA Public · 1 feeder program | 132 | Public Administration | 85% | — | 39% |
| 19 | American University Washington, DC Private not-for-profit · 1 feeder program | 126 | Public Administration | 75% | $30,225 | 62% |
| 20 | Florida International University Miami, FL Public · 1 feeder program | 126 | Public Administration | 74% | — | 55% |
| 21 | Cornell University Ithaca, NY Private not-for-profit · 1 feeder program | 116 | Public Administration | 95% | $17,613 | 9% |
| 22 | The University of Texas at Arlington Arlington, TX Public · 1 feeder program | 115 | Public Administration | 54% | — | 80% |
| 23 | California State University - Dominguez Hills Carson, CA Public · 1 feeder program | 114 | Public Administration | 43% | — | 93% |
| 24 | CUNY Bernard M Baruch College New York, NY Public · 1 feeder program | 114 | Public Administration | 72% | — | 48% |
| 25 | National University San Diego, CA Private not-for-profit · 1 feeder program | 111 | Public Administration | 43% | $31,817 | — |
| 26 | University of Southern California Los Angeles, CA Private not-for-profit · 1 feeder program | 110 | Public Administration | 92% | $26,873 | 10% |
| 27 | Rutgers University - Newark Newark, NJ Public · 1 feeder program | 106 | Public Administration | 64% | — | 71% |
| 28 | Florida State University Tallahassee, FL Public · 1 feeder program | 105 | Public Administration | 86% | — | 24% |
| 29 | University of Hawaii - West Oahu Kapolei, HI Public · 1 feeder program | 105 | Public Administration | 50% | — | 95% |
| 30 | California State University - Long Beach Long Beach, CA Public · 1 feeder program | 100 | Public Administration | 69% | — | 46% |
| 31 | George Mason University Fairfax, VA Public · 1 feeder program | 98 | Public Administration | 68% | — | 87% |
| 32 | California State University - San Bernardino San Bernardino, CA Public · 1 feeder program | 88 | Public Administration | 55% | — | 94% |
| 33 | University of Oregon Eugene, OR Public · 1 feeder program | 87 | Public Administration | 72% | — | 88% |
| 34 | Indiana University - Indianapolis Indianapolis, IN Public · 1 feeder program | 85 | Public Administration | 54% | — | 76% |
| 35 | University of Georgia Athens, GA Public · 1 feeder program | 85 | Public Administration | 90% | — | 38% |
| 36 | University of Colorado Denver/Anschutz Medical Campus Denver, CO Public · 1 feeder program | 83 | Public Administration | 46% | — | 75% |
| 37 | Northeastern University Boston, MA Private not-for-profit · 1 feeder program | 82 | Public Administration | 91% | $18,925 | 5% |
| 38 | Barry University Miami, FL Private not-for-profit · 1 feeder program | 80 | Public Administration | 38% | $24,719 | 77% |
| 39 | Florida Atlantic University Boca Raton, FL Public · 1 feeder program | 79 | Public Administration | 63% | — | 66% |
| 40 | University of Missouri - Columbia Columbia, MO Public · 1 feeder program | 75 | Public Administration | 75% | — | 78% |
| 41 | The University of Texas at Dallas Richardson, TX Public · 1 feeder program | 73 | Public Administration | 76% | — | 65% |
| 42 | The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley Edinburg, TX Public · 1 feeder program | 73 | Public Administration | 51% | — | 94% |
| 43 | Tarleton State University Stephenville, TX Public · 1 feeder program | 72 | Public Administration | 48% | — | 90% |
| 44 | University of Maryland Global Campus Adelphi, MD Public · 1 feeder program | 70 | Public Administration | 33% | — | — |
| 45 | American Public University System Charles Town, WV Private for-profit · 1 feeder program | 68 | Public Administration | 57% | $10,199 | — |
| 46 | Johns Hopkins University Baltimore, MD Private not-for-profit · 1 feeder program | 68 | Public Administration | 94% | $11,888 | 6% |
| 47 | Northwestern University Evanston, IL Private not-for-profit · 1 feeder program | 67 | Public Administration | 95% | $14,799 | 8% |
| 48 | Park University Parkville, MO Private not-for-profit · 1 feeder program | 67 | Public Administration | 38% | $16,013 | — |
| 49 | Brigham Young University Provo, UT Private not-for-profit · 1 feeder program | 66 | Public Administration | 81% | $13,712 | 68% |
| 50 | University of Rhode Island Kingston, RI Public · 1 feeder program | 66 | Public Administration | 73% | — | 72% |
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.
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 knowledge
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
How to get in
How to become a postmaster
- 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?+
You do not need a college degree to become a postmaster. BLS lists a high school diploma or equivalent as the typical entry-level education. It also expects less than 5 years of related work experience. The field of study that leads most directly to this job is Public Administration (IPEDS completions).
Which college majors lead to becoming a postmaster?+
The field of study that leads most directly to this job is Public Administration (IPEDS completions). In all, the NCES CIP-to-SOC crosswalk maps 1 program to this job, which graduates 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 program 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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