Employees of the United States Postal Service work hard for their money – especially the mail carriers, who face down blazing hot sun, blustery cold snow, and torrential downpours.
However, have you ever wondered what these USPS employees get in return? Do they get discounts on stamps, postage, and services, or do they have to pay the same rates as the rest of us? Let’s take a look at that answer!
Do USPS Employees Get Discounts?
Employees of the United States Postal Service don’t receive discounts on stamps, postage, or other Postal Service-related services in [currentyear]. However, as federally adjacent employees, they do receive an excellent benefits package, including competitive wages and healthcare, as well as any number of discounts on mobile phone packages, gyms, and even universities.
To learn more about the perks and benefits of working for USPS, as well as the full breadth of discounts employees receive, along with other facts, keep reading!
What Are the Perks of Working for USPS?
There are a lot of perks for USPS employees, starting with the competitive wages/salaries.
USPS pays well above minimum wage for even entry-level positions; the average salary at USPS is $63,000 per year, according to PayScale.
Carriers start around $38,000 per year (about $18/hr), while Postmasters can make upwards of $95,000 per year.
(Did you know that the Postmaster-General, the top USPS position, is the second-highest-paid position in the U.S. government? They make $291,650 per year.)
Additionally, most Postal Service employees are eligible for OT, paid at 1.5 times their regular pay and Sunday premium pay.
As well, there is also the excellent healthcare package. USPS participates in the Federal Health Benefits Program.
This means that the Postal Service shoulders most of the burden of costs, and employee premium contributions are mostly untaxed.
There is also a Thrift Savings Plan, Life Insurance, Flexible Spending Accounts, and a generous leave program.
Full-time employees can rack up 13 days of vacation leave in their first three years, followed by 20 days, and then 26 days after 15 years of service.
As well, these same employees are eligible for up to 13 days of sick leave per year, too!
Additionally, there are also 10 Postal holidays per year, including New Year’s Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Columbus Day, Thanksgiving, Christmas, and others.
Finally, there is retirement; USPS participates in the federal retirement program. This means a pension and disability coverage upon the end of their service with USPS.
There are also many commercial discounts USPS employees can receive, including the following:
- Gym memberships
- AARP memberships
- HP products
- Maintenance, repair and operating supplies
- Pet insurance
- Identity theft protection
- Mobile phones and plans with AT&T, T-Mobile, U.S. Cellular, and Verizon
USPS is also partnered with many online universities, including Capella, DeVry, Liberty, and Purdue University Global.
These schools offer discounts, like 20 percent off tuition, for USPS employees.
Do Postal Workers Get Discounts On Shipping?
USPS employees do not receive discounts on shipping fees through the Postal Service.
There are also no discounts on stamps, postage, or services – everyone must pay full price.
Do USPS Employees Get Discounts On Rental Cars?
According to RentalPerks.com, USPS employees do get discounts on rental cars, including up to 25 percent off at Avis, Hertz, and Budget.
As well, the discounts don’t stop there; employees can also get eight percent off select hotels through Hotels.com/Expedia.com.
Does USPS Pay for Gym Memberships?
USPS doesn’t pay for gym membership for its employees, but employees do get access to discounts to 24 Hour Fitness.
This discount includes a month-to-month membership with a $29.99 initiation fee and $35.99 in dues per month for the All-Club Sport level.
Employees pay just $45.99 per month for All Club Super Sport and $83.99 per month for the All Club Ultra Sport level.
There are many other tiers as well, including differentiation for employees who live in New York, New Jersey, Maryland, Virginia, Hawaii, and San Francisco.
(You can see all the different tiers of membership and their costs here.)
Does USPS Pay for College?
USPS doesn’t pay for college, but employees of the Postal Service can access a discount on tuition for dozens of online universities.
Take, for example, the discount at the Purdue University Global school.
Postal employees and their immediate family have access to 20 percent off tuition for undergraduate degree and certificate programs.
Additionally, they can get 14 percent off tuition for graduate degree programs and 10 percent off Concord Law School programs.
At DeVry University, employees and their immediate families can access 25 percent off tuition, plus waive the application fee and transfer credits.
These are two of many different universities offering discounts; check out the whole list here.
How Long Do You Have to Work for USPS to Get a Pension?
In order to qualify for the federal retirement plan and pension, the USPS employee must have “five years of creditable civilian service and 20 years of service.”
That pension can vary in amount per month after retirement, depending on the person’s age and how long they worked for USPS.
For example, HelpAdvisor calculates that someone who retired in 2020 with 25 years of work would see between $1,308 and $1,335.
Can You Retire From USPS After 20 Years?
You can retire from the USPS after 20 years if you’re at least 60 years of age if you choose the Optional retirement. If you choose Early Out retirement, you can retire after 20 years at age 50.
To learn more, you can also read our posts on whether or not USPS hires part-time employees, the USPS hiring process, and the USPS mail handler assistant.
Conclusion
USPS employees don’t receive discounts on stamps, postage, or other Postal-related services. But their pay, which is highly competitive, their healthcare benefits, and the many other discounts for which they’re eligible nonetheless make USPS a highly desirable place to work.
Also, the Federal Employee Retirement System, which with USPS participates, makes the Postal Service a highly desirable place to retire from, too.
