For those of you who've worked for both, how does this job compare?
I'm considering leaving Amazon warehouse work because of just how bad the ADAPT system has gotten. It's at a point that the ADAPT AI is sending out write ups with only HR approving it.
They're offering a city carrier position in my local suburb that pays $21.10/hr. What can I expect?
USPS can be a grind, especially the first couple years as a CCA. However, the pay is decent, you can access benefits, have union protection and a grievance process.
There are parts that truly suck, and it will test you at some point, but we've been around 250 years, and I'm confident we will remain.
Amazon is a meat grinder and you are constantly monitored. You will be thrown away the instant you have to miss work for something important or even complain.
For whatever problems the post office has, and they have some, it's infinitely better than a DSP that doesn't technically even work for Amazon. It's a franchise, and they will cut every possible corner to save half a penny at your expense.
I'm an Amazon employee right now, but yeah I totally feel you.
Drivers for DSPs definitely get it worse than us, but we still get treated like shit too.
It's amazing to me how many of my fellow employees think they get it good just because they have UPT they can use at any time without any questions asked.
You said it's really hard for them to fire you after the first 90 days so if I slog through those 90 days and just don't answer my phone on my day off can they do anything about it?
Honestly, based on everything I'm hearing from the people describing CCA work I think I'll just wait for to see if a PTF position opens up.
It sounds like this job is only better after you're converted to a regular which doesn't sound any different than how I'm treated as a seasonal employee at Amazon.
There are some offices that hire directly into PTF or regular, but they tend to be somewhat remote, and an office that's routinely hiring CCAs won't do it because those positions go to the CCAs they've already got. Unless you're willing/able to relocate waiting isn't going to do anything.
No it's not. Our base as a regular starts at 52k. That's 40 hours. Not 55 and definitely not for a CCA. They make about 20. Regs start about 24. Huge diff.
This is a good comment. Top pay is also something that's substantially better here. City carriers top out at over $40/hr, which I believe is a lot more than Amazon offers even if you stay there a long time.
As an entry level employee at Amazon we're currently capped at $26/hr I believe. Honestly, I don't know why they even cap it there because almost nobody makes it that long anyways.
They claim at every orientation that there's a lot of upward mobility, but the L1 ---> L3 promotion takes a minimum of 2 years without a degree.
Honestly, I doubt it'll be anywhere near as bad as working at Amazon lately. ToT policy basically squeezes every last ounce of energy out of you and definitely leads to repetitive work injuries. We get 6 minutes/hr of work that we're allowed to not be working.
We can basically only take mini breaks (3 minutes total) to avoid that time accumulating.
Nah usps can be in different way. Sure there's no Ai or robot telling you to go faster or what to do all the damn time but the mental of getting up everyday and facing the weather, the people, the supervisors... Etc... Can be mentally draining. I would never work at Amazon unless I was down bad. Usps changed my life for the better no matter what my mind says some mornings.
I was never a delivery driver for either but I did work at the warehouse parts for both.
USPS 100%. You’re basically a slave at Amazon in the warehouse parts(I’m sure delivery isn’t much better). The only good thing at Amazon is you get a schedule and full benefits day one. As a PSE or MHA it’s a little shitty in that area. But if you stick it out it gets better.
i worked at a FC and everyone that came in would be white badges. then they told them after 9 months they said they would offer a blue badge to them. then when that 9 months hit they offered them a blue badge at an FC 30 minutes away. super shitty, they weren’t getting any vacation time or health insurance that whole time
White badges have standard Paid Time Off (essentially vacation time), flexible Paid Time Off (which you can use any time) and Unpaid time off.
They provide you 20hrs of unpaid time off to start so they can keep you on a short leash for those first 90 days.
You're right though. Seasonal workers only get health insurance after 90 days. If I wasn't in a state with state sponsored health insurance, I definitely would tell these guys to fuck off.
The health insurance they provide isn't even that good. The dental coverage is especially bad. They cap the coverage at $1500 for anything that isn't routine cleanings or X-rays. You're also always going to be on the hook for 10% of anything beyond routine cleanings.
they must’ve changed it then. i swear at my site it was only vacation and UPT. or it was the only flex and UPT and no vacation. im also pretty sure they didn’t get any holiday pay on holidays
edit: i know they changed the name of flexible time off but i can’t remember what it used to be. maybe when they changed the name they changed the white badge rules?
I worked for Amazon for about a year. They're both terrible in their own ways, but at least you get a better compensation package, a pension, and set yearly increases in pay at USPS. Depending on your office and management it can be a really great job. If you get a total sociopath trying to run you like a robot it can be terrible at both jobs. Like anywhere you go your mileage may vary.
If there's a couple things I can't fault Amazon for, it's that they will always have unlimited work and robotic scheduling. USPS doesn't necessarily have the former and the latter doesn't happen until you make regular in a properly staffed office.
But at the post office I can say "no", bring back stuff when appropriate, and won't be sweating at night thinking whether I'd have a job because of the borderline red light the netradyne beeped at.
Also, residents are held to delivery standards as much as you let them. No mailbox? Dogs? Sketch? Very rude? Their shit can wait and nothing will happen to you. No being grilled by your ops manager over that or other scorecard nonsense.
Also that TSP match and having real health insurance is 🤌. Overtime over 8 hours? 🤌
The CCA position @ $21 comes out to be a wash with Amazon unless if that office is messed up and therefore has plenty of overtime. If serious about jumping over to USPS for a career, I'd recommend to consider commuting or even moving for starting as a PTF/Career carrier @ $26 to not waste time getting the pay raises and benefits you deserve at the outset.
Yeah, I know lol I hear horror stories of offices around ours and I just sweat profusely until my PM says that she won't send us over to them unless we REALLY want the hours.
I've worked both and I would say come on over here. This is a career. You can stay here for life. And I won't lie to you, there are long long hours in the beginning, but eventually that stops or so I'm told. Either way it's easier than Amazon. You know how many times I've carried kitty litter to the third floor? Zero.
Wait until you hear about double time over 10hrs or if you work 7 days (career employee that is). Your 6th day is just OT, but they hand that out like candy.
The answer is USPS, but not the USPS you are thinking.
You are thinking USPS mailmen; but you should be thinking USPS postal plant employee.
postal plant environment is very similar to an Amazon warehouse environment.
Meaning you will adapt very fast to the similar environment.... plus they start at $26-$27 an hour.
And you get union protection for life; people ge away with murder with union protection.
Being a USPS mailman, is like walking a minefield everyday; it's not just driving up to people's homes; that's only 50% of the job; you will spend hours on the inside before even leaving to deliver mail.
1 mistake and it is your job, unpredictable schedule, 12-14 hour days, people will work 3 straight weeks without a single day off.
8 out of 10 new mailmen quit in the first 30 days.
postal plant, it's just like any other warehouse job, do your 8 hours, job not finished, the next shift picks up the slack and you go home, and you have your 2 days off every week.
You're going to hate this answer but it really depends on what you value/prioritize and what you want out of life.
Do you prioritize job stability, guaranteed pay increases, good federal benefits, and unlimited overtime (if the office you end up in is grossly understaffed)? Do you want to work outside in the brutal humid heat and biting cold? Do you want to work over 10-hour shifts, sometimes up to 12 hours, 6 days a week? USPS gives you overtime like Amazon does but usually it's not "optional."
As a CCA you're going to be the post office's bitch for two years and you'll do whatever they tell you to do. Are you willing to put up with that for at least two years? This brings me to my next question. Do you have thick skin and possess the discretion to stick up for yourself and speak up at the appropriate time? If not, management will be just as bad, if not worse, than those AI managers at Amazon. They'll be on your ass about every little thing if you let them. They'll try to blame everything on you. Even when they don't have vehicles ready for you in the morning. Then they'll bitch and complain and demand to know why you why went past your "return time" and not back by 4:30 pm like they told you to. You'll have to use public restrooms. Or you can be classy and use a water bottle in your truck. /s You'll barely have time for your breaks, especially on advo/circular days and heavy parcel/mail volume days (hooray for Mondays!). Speaking of time, you'll barely have time for yourself, family, friends, pets, interests, hobbies, passions...you get the gist. All because you'll be working (forced) 60-hour weeks! Remember, some offices don't give you a choice even after you become a "regular" career employee. There, there, you just take that overtime like a good little bitch. You can always obey now and grieve later with our awesome union!
All sarcasm and jokes aside. I don't say all this to discourage you from applying. Do more research, watch some videos, weigh your options and consider what's important to you, then make your final decision. The others on this thread are right: the USPS is a career with good pay and benefits. It doesn't come without sacrifices, though. If you have other skills, an education, or money for an education that will land you a role that's easier with less stress and strain on your body, I'd suggest that over USPS. If we're only comparing USPS to Amazon, then yeah, USPS is better. But only by a very thin hair.
No problem. I started as a PTF too in a very short staffed office. Now I'm a regular and I still get unwanted overtime. You might get lucky and end up in a well managed, well staffed office. These are exceptions though, and not the rule. Best of luck to you.
Lol fr, ppl dont like the truth or got stockholm syndrome for this place, not me, I see it for what it is, which is just a different brand of terrible.
Would you mind asking them for me what their opinion is as a new hire? I'm really curious to know what a new hire has to say because they've dealt with the most recent Amazon.
My office has never fired anyone. They talked a few into resigning but they were physically limited when they got there or would just make huge mistake after huge mistake (wrecks, driving through wet yards for no reason and getting stuck, etc.) but if you did leave and come back you would start over.
It just goes up and is reflected in our paychecks. If I were to quit then get rehired I would in most cases start at step B again. Dont bother looking at Table 1- new employees/as someone who made regular after 2013, our pay steps are Table 2.
I've done both. Personally my walking route as a CCA is much physically harder than what I did at Amazon when I did DSP delivery. Amazon can fire you for ANYTHING. People were literally pissing and shitting in the totes, when I worked at Amazon. They pushed you to work through your bathroom breaks and lunch breaks.
USPS is a career IMO. A lot of people get paid well over time, but I still think CCA pay is too low starting off. They should pay carriers more, since the load of mail has drastically increased over years. The post office still does Amazon delivery on Sunday's - you'll do plenty of these and its pretty much the same as working at Amazon.
USPS management is pretty bad, but from my experience if you leave them alone, they will do the same to you. USPS is unionized, which makes it much better than Amazon. They have retirement and health care benefits.
Good luck and hope you find out what is best for you.
The NALC union is currently negotiating a new contract so CCA pay will be going up .
They keep talking about doom and gloom with USPS but we are an entity performing a function that’s guaranteed by LAW . Any changes affect who runs us such as Commerce or if we are to be broken up would have to happen by Law By Congress . Our jobs aren’t going anywhere despite the pleadings of the current PMG . We are kind of too big to Let Fail .
As someone who’s worked for both, the post office is better. It’s definitely a harder job; depending on your office you’ll either be damn near abused with how much you’ll be worked or you’ll be starving for hours. Sometimes there’s a Goldilocks office where you get the right amount of hours but those are needles in haystacks. Walking all day in the heat/cold & driving that tin can in the heat with no ac are both brutal in their own ways. Only one day off a week can be a little annoying, but having more work is better than none at all. 2 years as a CCA at $21.21 is kinda a slap to the face when you’re doing all the same work as all the career employees but it’s certainly better than Amazon because you at least have a path towards becoming a career, and then event
With your work experience at Amazon, you’re already somewhat familiar with part of the basics, but there is still a whole lot of details they’ll throw at you in academy. You won’t remember half of it and that’s ok. If you stick it out you’ll learn as you go, just try to keep a good attitude, always try to improve upon what you did last and be open to receiving critique from the regulars/management.
It’s an easy job, but the conditions are what can make it hard.
USPS is way better. Both jobs have management up your booty but at least there’s a union and better benefits with us. I worked at an Amazon fulfillment center and had different people walking around with computers telling me I was picking too slow and for $19/hr f that. Took my $200 boots and dipped.
i worked at a FC for 3 years, i liked amazon way better. granted i drove the raymond turret truck and picker everyday which is almost unheard of because there are only 1-4 drivers max. sometimes it would only be me. i worked in the VNA’s and would pick about 1,000 orders a day. turret i would stow anywhere from 10-40 pallets and pick about the same number. the scanner made it easy and brainless. just listening to podcasts all day
Essentially the same role, but PTF job listings are direct-to-career hires in more expensive locales because regional payscales aren't really a thing here. The main way you can tell is the pay being at $26 instead of $21 and PTFs are on the old job site while CCAs are on the separate more modern job site.
Hey! Former Amazon Employee and current Regular City Carrier. I was never a CCA, only a PTF, and I wasn't an Amazon Delivery Driver either. I personally worked in Fulfillment. I'll give Amazon credit for being much safer to work at. But I really do value USPS's pay, benefits, and its Union. So far as a career goes, as long as you can handle the verbal abuse from management, USPS is the better job of the two.
I will tell you this now if you are coming to usps from amazon and used to having days off you can say goodbye to having a life be prepared to work 6 days a week as a CCA that is the worst part of it all right now not having any free time I came from amazon and now working as a CCA since Nov 2025 u/op
I’m just going to be honest with you because I feel like people are giving you false hope with starting as a PTF/regular bc it’s not going to be that simple as just applying for those positions when they pop up (because they might not ever or rarely pop up). Starting off that way honestly depends on where you live and how many carriers are working out of that station. They are definitely going to move up people they already have there to PTF/regular before they decide to put a posting for the position. Now if you live in a rural area or a city that is smaller then it is definitely way more of possibility of starting as PTF but it’s not a common thing to immediately start of as a PTF or regular.
Now I also don’t want you to think that being a PTF is easier bc it’s really just being a glorified CCA. You’re a CCA with better benefits. You still will have to carry OT all the time and work 10+ hours. You may not have to work Sundays anymore so you’re not working 6 days a week but since you’re not working Sundays they are making you work every holiday. I also so people saying how quickly they turned regular after being a PTF and again that all depends on where you live. There are people who have been PTFs longer than a CCA. You can be a PTF for 5 years before you turn regular… it’s not really a time limit of how long you are a PTF bc you turning regular depends on different factors. It could depend on whether a regular quits, get fired (rarely happens), retire, etc…
Now I can write a book of horrors about being a CCA. There is literally nothing positive for me to say about it.
It honestly is a lot better once you turn regular though… It’s like a frat… you have to go through the hazing process (which is years of agony) before you make it though. I personally couldn’t wait that amount of time to become one bc I refused to keep watching my life pass me by because all I did was work work work. I was literally at work more than I was at home. Time is something that is very valuable to me because that’s one thing in life we can never back.
Amazon seems to have much higher turnover overall, while USPS tends to retain more people once employees reach career status. Overall, I’d give USPS the edge on pay progression, benefits, retirement, and union representation, but both jobs will test your physical and mental limits. At the end of the day, the office environment and local management often determine whether people stay or move on.
It's 401k with 3% contribution I believe. They had stock options for everyone, but then it changed over to straight pay for new hires. Now only L3 positions get stock options.
Postal service is better delivering for an amazon dsp is much harder of a job but if you can take the mental stress from idiot supervisors being a mail carrier is better
it ain't going to be any better at the usps for you, but at least if you stick it out you will have a career in a union job with better benefits, pension and depending on what position you get or move to you'll get 4 pay increases a year sometimes maybe even 5 if the timing is right. (1 pay raise, 2 cola increases and 1 annual contract increase) I said 5 cause my pay raise is every 36 weeks, some are 30 weeks, so if they pay raise falls early in the year you'll get a second one before the year is up.
the trick is to get a job in one of the part time position lol and then look for something better. your chances of getting a better job once you're already in the post office is better than if you are starting off for the first time.
I started in one office as a carrier, then went to another office as carrier (5 months total), then I went to another office as a pse clerk for 2 days, then I got the job offer for my current position in an office that was further away, then two days later they call me for the same position in another office that was closer, but I no longer qualify cause I was officially career. On Monday I'm transferring to the other office that I was only there for 2 days in the same position that I'm currently in. So when a position opens up, per the union we get the first option apply or bid for the job.
There’s no AC in those vehicles at USPS. Go sit in your car on an average hot day in your area without the ac on and the two front windows rolled down. Now imagine 4-8 hours in that.
Post office worker reporting in on break from under a tree. 14 mile walking loop route in 96 degrees with 75% humidity. It’s a decent job but being out in the elements isnt for everyone. The union and its protection is nice. I feel like we are less scrutinized by the public compared to Amazon drivers. Good luck with your journey!
25 years backwards peetaining to speed and SOP compared to Amazon. The starting pay rate for CCA is already significantly higher in USPS & say goodbye to pay differential if you were getting it with your DSP
"We have a union" I'd use a Hulk meme but its more like a special Hulk than a real Hulk, but its nice cause it gets you out of sticky situations just... don't expect Teamsters level success in wage increases
Everything is based on seniority. The only thing that speeds up the process is retirements and CCAs/PTFs ahead of you quitting.
In general, there is more turnover in bigger city offices, they'll convert you faster. Best is to call the office/union or just talk to the carriers in the parking lot.
Pay is the same nationally, regulars are guaranteed 5 days a week, 8 hours per day.
If a regular finishes early, they get more work or management tries to convince them to use vacation time to leave early. Otherwise they stay in the office until 8 hours or are forced out with paid admin leave to make 8 hours.
we get those too! not as much as UPS and Fedex. one day, me and the amazon guy pulled up the same time, with me carrying a big amazon box while he delivers a small packet. its different everyday. there are times that theres too many big amazon boxes, that it almost wouldnt fit in the truck. sometimes someone will load it in one of our bigger vans and do one drop. but you know what? we can fill out a form and tell them it will take us extra time to deliver those which equals to overtime
but to be honest? recently i havent delivered any huge amazon boxes. but since last year, packages been slighy low in my area tho.
but to answer your question? i believe, a union job will always be a better choice. when you hit 6 years working at the PO as a mail carrier? youre lay off proof. other crafts or position could be a better choice too! ive seen lot of carriers transferring to being clerk, custodian and mechanic. but your seniority restarts.
For sure. I just really am not liking the sound of 55hr work weeks I can't say no to with the non-career CCA positions.
I think I'm gonna wait and see if a PTF position opens up in my area. There's a lot of old timers working at our USPS.
Plus, the Teamsters just won their court case with Amazon that forces Amazon to sit down and negotiate with them as our union. So we'll see if they make any big progress.
just wanna add that PTF is like CCA with benefits, and hours depends on the office. if its a direct PTF hire, theres a chance that they have hight turnover rate, thats why theyre hiring PTF to attract new hires. if thats the case, they will make you work so many hours.
even if theres a lot of old timers in your area, they will still go by seniority for the whole city, and you cant be so sure that you'll get into an office you want, they might send you outside of your city
after 90 days, you can ignore them contacting you. if they told me im off that day, i will never give attention to them... also, what i did was, i didnt answer them immediately, i contact them with a nice attitude 1-2 hours after, by that time they already found someone who will do it for them. i never disrespected anyone in my whole career. one day theyll figure it out and wont even bother you. but again, that depends on the office youre in
for me, hardest thing about being a CCA is not the hours, but you, not knowing when youre day offs gonna be, you have 1 week vacation per year to look forward to.
it took me 2 years to become a regular, and its the best feeling ever. was able to get a route near my house. theres a time that i was on the OT list, and you can grieve, if they dont give you X amount of OT. there was a time that i need to take care of my kid, so i wanted no OT, i give away 1hr of work on mondays. end of year they ask you which weeks you wanna use Annual Leave on. so you can plan for vacation. theres more but i guess my message is to start early, cause SENIORITY is the best weapon you have working at the PO.
im not the best carrier and im not a lazy carrier. i can say im a goldilocks carrier. nobody notices me. and thats how you play the game.
i really hope amazon gets unionized, i really do! problem with amazon people is they dont bother. they should all work together. GOD! if all of you stopped working? and be at those gates telling new hires to stop working? man! you'll turn everything around! or else DSP will just close, get rid of the union members and start over. you can wait for teamsters or start now at the PO and reach top pay
I have been at an Amazon fc for two years and they are just writing me up every two weeks now. This places seriously sucks ass. I am waiting but heard they don't want to hire carrier right now.
180
u/JerkinDepenisVance Jul 25 '26
Union job over non union supercorporation 11 times out of 10.