Approximately 40,000 postal workers are hired each year to backfill for retirements, transfers, deaths and employees who choose to leave the Postal Service. Vacancies are advertised internally by the USPS and not by the Office of Personnel Management. In 1971, the Postal Service became independent. Pay scales are determined by the Postal Pay Act and are not a part of the General Pay Schedule. The PS pay scale is the largest pay system in the USPS and is predominately for bargaining unit employees.
Postal employees receive the same benefits provided to federal employees.
Military time counts toward benefits. If you have three years of military service, you begin with four weeks paid vacation and three years toward retirement. The medical plan is an employee-employer contribution system and includes HMO and Blue Cross and Blue Shield programs. There are hundreds of plans to choose from. One of the primary benefits of Postal Service employment is the satisfaction you experience from working in a challenging and rewarding position.