🟢 Status: OPEN — Open Continuous | Nationwide — Mail Processing & Distribution Facilities | Source: about.usps.com/careers
USPS Electronic Technician Jobs 2026 — United States Postal Service | $34.07/hr | Highest-Paying USPS Hourly Role
The United States Postal Service is hiring Electronic Technicians (ETs) at mail processing and distribution facilities across the country — and at $34.07 per hour, this is the single highest-paying hourly position in the entire USPS workforce. Electronic Technicians maintain and repair the sophisticated automated sorting systems that process over 425 million pieces of mail daily, including Delivery Barcode Sorters (DBCS), Flat Sequencing Systems (FSS), Automated Package Processing Systems (APPS), and Optical Character Reader/Barcode Sorters (OCR/BCS).
This position is ideal for candidates with electronics, electrical, or electromechanical training — whether from a vocational program, community college, or military service. No four-year degree is required. Electronic Technicians are among the most in-demand skilled workers at USPS, with strong job security, full federal benefits, and a clear career ladder leading to Lead Electronic Technician and Maintenance Manager roles.
Job Overview
| Field | Details |
|---|---|
| Job Title | Electronic Technician (ET) |
| Agency | United States Postal Service (USPS) |
| Department | Maintenance — Mail Processing & Distribution Centers |
| Location | Washington, DC (USPS HQ) — Positions Available Across All 50 States |
| Work Schedule | Full-Time; rotating shifts including nights, weekends, holidays |
| Appointment Type | Career (permanent federal employment) |
| Pay | $34.07 per hour |
| Annual Salary (est.) | $70,865–$89,000/yr |
| Shift Differential | Additional pay for evening and night shifts |
| Opening Date | Open Continuous |
| Closing Date | Open Continuous — Apply Anytime |
| Who May Apply | U.S. Citizens and Permanent Residents |
| Education/Training | Electronics/electrical training or equivalent military experience required |
| Drug Test | Required |
| Background Check | Required |
| Apply | Search “Electronic Technician” at USPS careers portal |
| Apply Now | Click Here to Apply |
About the Role
Electronic Technicians work inside USPS Processing and Distribution Centers (P&DCs) — some of the most highly automated facilities in the country. Your core mission is keeping the multi-million-dollar automated sorting machinery running at full capacity, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. When a Delivery Barcode Sorter goes down, hundreds of thousands of mail pieces stop moving. ETs diagnose faults rapidly, replace components, recalibrate systems, and restore full operation — often under pressure with tight time windows.
Day-to-day work includes preventive maintenance (PM) cycles on conveyors, sensors, barcode scanners, servo motors, and programmable logic controllers (PLCs); responding to equipment breakdowns; reading and interpreting complex electrical schematics; and documenting all work in the Computerized Maintenance Management System (CMMS). ETs work alongside Maintenance Mechanics and often mentor lower-level staff, making leadership skills an asset.
“The ET role at USPS gave me the most technically challenging and rewarding work of my career — and the pay and benefits are unbeatable without a degree.” — USPS Electronic Technician, Illinois
Key Duties & Responsibilities
- Maintain and repair automated mail sorting systems including DBCS, FSS, APPS, and OCR/BCS equipment
- Troubleshoot electronic, electrical, pneumatic, and mechanical faults using schematics and diagnostic tools
- Perform scheduled preventive maintenance on PLCs, servo systems, conveyors, and sensors
- Calibrate and test barcode scanners, cameras, and optical character recognition systems
- Read and interpret complex electrical schematics, wiring diagrams, and technical manuals
- Document all maintenance actions, parts usage, and labor time in the CMMS system
- Train and provide technical guidance to Maintenance Mechanic staff
- Order and manage spare parts inventory to minimize equipment downtime
- Respond to emergency equipment breakdowns and restore operations as quickly as possible
- Comply with all OSHA electrical safety standards and USPS lockout/tagout (LOTO) procedures
Qualifications & Requirements
Minimum Qualifications
| Field | Details |
|---|---|
| Age | 18 years or older |
| Citizenship | U.S. Citizen or Permanent Resident |
| Education/Training | Electronics or electrical training required — vocational/tech school, community college associate degree, or equivalent military electronics MOS |
| Experience | Electronics repair or maintenance experience preferred |
| Skills | Ability to read electrical schematics and circuit diagrams; PLC familiarity a plus |
| Physical | Ability to lift up to 70 lbs; work in confined spaces, on ladders, and at heights |
| Shift Flexibility | Must be available for rotating shifts including nights and weekends |
| Drug Test | Required |
| Background Check | Required |
Qualifying Military Electronics Backgrounds
- Army: 35 series (Intelligence Electronic Warfare), 94 series (Electronic Systems Maintainer), 25 series (Signal)
- Navy: ET (Electronics Technician), FC (Fire Control), IC (Interior Communications) ratings
- Air Force: 2E series (Communications/Electronics), 3E series (Civil Engineer — Electrical)
- Marines: 0600 series (Communications), 6000 series (Aviation Electronics)
Salary & Benefits
| Field | Details |
|---|---|
| Base Pay | $34.07/hr |
| Annual Salary (est.) | $70,865–$89,000/yr |
| Shift Differential | Evening/night differential adds $1–$2/hr |
| Health Insurance | FEHB (~70% premium covered by USPS) |
| Dental & Vision | FEDVIP |
| Retirement | FERS pension (defined benefit + Social Security + TSP) |
| TSP (401k) | 5% government matching |
| Paid Annual Leave | 26 days/year after 15 years of service |
| Sick Leave | 13 days/year |
| Federal Holidays | 11 paid federal holidays |
| Paid Parental Leave | 12 weeks |
| Life Insurance | FEGLI |
| Union | American Postal Workers Union (APWU) — Maintenance Craft |
| Career Path | Electronic Technician → Lead Electronic Technician → Maintenance Manager |
How to Apply
- Visit the USPS careers portal at wp1-ext.usps.gov/sap/bc/webdynpro/sap/hrrcf_a_unreg_job_search
- Search “Electronic Technician” or “ET” and enter your city or state
- Create a USPS career profile and submit your application with training and experience details
- Complete the Electronic Technician entrance exam (skills assessment) — tests electronic theory, troubleshooting, and schematics reading
- Attend a panel interview at the facility
- Pass pre-employment drug test and background investigation
- Receive your career job offer and report to your assigned Processing & Distribution Center
⚠️ Important: The ET entrance exam is technical — study basic electronics theory, circuit reading, and troubleshooting before your exam date. Candidates with military electronics backgrounds or vocational certifications typically score highest. Apply directly at the USPS careers portal — not USAJOBS.gov.
Veterans Preference
Electronic Technician is one of the USPS roles where military experience is the most directly transferable. Veterans who served as Army 35N/94E/25U, Navy ET/FC/IC, Air Force 2E1/3E0, or Marine 0600/6000 series have the technical foundation to excel in the ET entrance exam and on the job. Submit your DD-214 to receive veterans hiring preference. USPS is one of the largest employers of veterans in the federal government, and the Maintenance Craft has a strong tradition of military hiring.
About the United States Postal Service (USPS)
The United States Postal Service processes over 425 million pieces of mail and 60 million packages daily through a nationwide network of Processing and Distribution Centers equipped with billions of dollars of automated sorting technology. With 630,000+ employees and a $40 billion Delivering for America modernization plan underway, USPS is expanding and upgrading its processing infrastructure — including new Automated Delivery Units (ADUs) and next-generation sorting equipment. This investment creates sustained long-term demand for skilled Electronic Technicians who can maintain cutting-edge postal automation systems.
FederalJobsAlert.us is an independent job notification website. This listing is sourced from about.usps.com for informational purposes only. Always verify the latest details and apply directly at the USPS careers portal. We are not affiliated with USPS, the United States Postal Service, or any U.S. government agency.
Sources
- USPS Electronic Technician — Careers Page
- USPS Maintenance Craft — APWU
- USPS Delivering for America Plan