Postal Service Mail Carrier salary in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN
Postal Service Mail Carriers in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area earn a median of $63,750 a year ($30.65 an hour), based on BLS data for 10,320 workers.
Pay ranges from $44,160 for the lowest-paid 10% to $81,040 for the top 10%. That is 5% higher than the national median of $60,550. Pay here is 3% higher than the Illinois statewide median of $62,070. There are 2.3 postal service mail carriers per 1,000 jobs here — close to the national average. The average (mean) salary is $64,740, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for postal service mail carriers in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $44,160 | $21.23 |
| 25th percentile | $52,190 | $25.09 |
| Median | $63,750 | $30.65 |
| 75th percentile | $81,040 | $38.96 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $81,040 | $38.96 |
| Average (mean) | $64,740 | $31.13 |
Half of postal service mail carriers earn more than the median and half earn less. Percentiles show the spread: 10% earn less than the 10th percentile, and 10% earn more than the 90th.
Median paycheck, before taxes
| Pay period | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $5,312.50 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $2,656.25 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $2,451.92 |
| Weekly | $1,225.96 |
| Hourly | $30.65 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $63,750 salary, see how much house you can afford in Illinois at today's mortgage rates, or work out a payment with the mortgage calculator.
Postal Service Mail Carrier salary in other metro areas nearby
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Bloomington, IN | $64,250 | 190 |
| Bloomington, IL | $62,960 | 180 |
| Cape Girardeau, MO-IL | $62,330 | 130 |
| Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN | $62,070 | 2,140 |
| Evansville, IN | $62,070 | 300 |
| Fort Wayne, IN | $62,070 | 440 |
| Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood, IN | $62,070 | 1,980 |
| Lafayette-West Lafayette, IN | $62,070 | 190 |
| St. Louis, MO-IL | $62,070 | 3,450 |
| South Bend-Mishawaka, IN-MI | $62,070 | 320 |
| Columbus, IN | $60,550 | 90 |
| Michigan City-La Porte, IN | $60,550 | 110 |
| Terre Haute, IN | $60,270 | 180 |
| Champaign-Urbana, IL | $59,990 | 250 |
| Decatur, IL | $59,880 | 120 |
| Kokomo, IN | $59,880 | 100 |
| Muncie, IN | $59,880 | 130 |
| Paducah, KY-IL | $59,880 | 120 |
| Peoria, IL | $59,880 | 430 |
| Springfield, IL | $59,880 | 280 |
| Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN | $59,010 | 1,440 |
| Rockford, IL | $59,010 | 420 |
| Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL | $57,700 | 460 |
| Kankakee, IL | $57,030 | 120 |
| Elkhart-Goshen, IN | $55,490 | 170 |
Highest-paying states for postal service mail carriers
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| District of Columbia | $64,250 |
| Rhode Island | $63,610 |
| Arizona | $62,390 |
| California | $62,090 |
| Illinois | $62,070 |
| Maryland | $62,070 |
| Massachusetts | $62,070 |
| Nevada | $62,070 |
| New York | $62,070 |
| Virginia | $62,070 |
See Postal Service Mail Carrier pay in every state or the Illinois statewide figures.
Related jobs in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Shipping, Receiving, and Inventory Clerks | $47,740 | $22.95 |
| Production, Planning, and Expediting Clerks | $59,900 | $28.80 |
| Cargo and Freight Agents | $59,850 | $28.77 |
| Postal Service Mail Sorters, Processors, and Processing Machine Operators | $58,300 | $28.03 |
| Public Safety Telecommunicator | $66,980 | $32.20 |
| Postal Service Clerk | $63,670 | $30.61 |
| Weighers, Measurers, Checkers, and Samplers, Recordkeeping | $52,480 | $25.23 |
| Couriers and Messengers | $41,130 | $19.77 |
| Meter Readers, Utilities | $80,180 | $38.55 |
| Dispatchers, Except Police, Fire, and Ambulance | $58,900 | $28.32 |
| Customer Service Representative | $47,100 | $22.65 |
| Office Clerks, General | $46,330 | $22.28 |
| Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive | $50,440 | $24.25 |
| Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks | $51,440 | $24.73 |
More: Office and Administrative Support Occupations · all salaries in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 43-5052. Wages include base pay, tips, commissions and shift pay, but not overtime, bonuses or benefits, and exclude the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a postal service mail carrier make in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN?
The median salary for postal service mail carriers in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area is $63,750 a year, or $30.65 an hour. Pay ranges from $44,160 for the lowest-paid 10% to $81,040 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid postal service mail carriers make in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN?
The top 10% of postal service mail carriers in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area earn at least $81,040 a year. The top 25% earn $81,040 or more.
What is the starting pay for postal service mail carriers in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $44,160 a year, and a quarter of postal service mail carriers earn $52,190 or less.
How many postal service mail carriers work in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN?
About 10,320 postal service mail carriers are employed in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area, not counting the self-employed.