But, unless you are hired with educational degrees and recomendations, you will most likely remain in an entry level position thoughout your entire career. Step increases in salary over a 15 year period ensure you can continue with a living wage, but that is all. The stability and benefits of the position are a trade off to potential meaningful earning in comparison to the same time spent in other careers. There are no more salary increases after 15 years. Your remaining annual earnings the rest of your career is a flat line, with only the added benefit of more vacation time. Perhaps the reason is the work can be intermitently physical demanding and damaging, even in the clerk craft, causing mucule strain and joint injury far more common in postal workers. Early retirement seems to be encouraged often with "early out" incentives. The work can be mundane and repetitive. The opportunity from the lower ranks to rise to a supervisor position is competitive,
fierce, and often cut throat. Some workers will go to any lengths to be taken under the wing of an existing manager in order to be sponsored into the management program. And some managers will take advantage of their all too willing subordinates for their own personal motives.
