Postal Service Mail Carrier salary in Illinois
Postal Service Mail Carriers in Illinois earn a median of $62,070 a year ($29.84 an hour), based on BLS data for 14,730 workers.
Pay ranges from $43,120 for the lowest-paid 10% to $81,040 for the top 10%. That is 3% higher than the national median of $60,550. Illinois ranks 5th of 51 states for postal service mail carriers pay, one of the best-paying states for this job. There are 2.4 postal service mail carriers per 1,000 jobs here — close to the national average. The average (mean) salary is $63,500, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for postal service mail carriers in Illinois
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $43,120 | $20.73 |
| 25th percentile | $51,110 | $24.57 |
| Median | $62,070 | $29.84 |
| 75th percentile | $81,040 | $38.96 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $81,040 | $38.96 |
| Average (mean) | $63,500 | $30.53 |
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 | $5,172.50 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $2,586.25 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $2,387.31 |
| Weekly | $1,193.65 |
| Hourly | $29.84 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Postal Service Mail Carrier salary in cities in Illinois
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | $63,750 | 10,320 |
| Bloomington, IL | $62,960 | 180 |
| Cape Girardeau, MO-IL | $62,330 | 130 |
| St. Louis, MO-IL | $62,070 | 3,450 |
| Champaign-Urbana, IL | $59,990 | 250 |
| Decatur, IL | $59,880 | 120 |
| Paducah, KY-IL | $59,880 | 120 |
| Peoria, IL | $59,880 | 430 |
| Springfield, IL | $59,880 | 280 |
| Rockford, IL | $59,010 | 420 |
| Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL | $57,700 | 460 |
| Kankakee, IL | $57,030 | 120 |
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 |
Related jobs in Illinois
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Shipping, Receiving, and Inventory Clerks | $46,760 | $22.48 |
| Production, Planning, and Expediting Clerks | $57,880 | $27.83 |
| Cargo and Freight Agents | $59,750 | $28.72 |
| Postal Service Mail Sorters, Processors, and Processing Machine Operators | $58,300 | $28.03 |
| Public Safety Telecommunicator | $61,260 | $29.45 |
| Postal Service Clerk | $61,710 | $29.67 |
| Weighers, Measurers, Checkers, and Samplers, Recordkeeping | $48,680 | $23.40 |
| Couriers and Messengers | $39,100 | $18.80 |
| Meter Readers, Utilities | $60,690 | $29.18 |
| Dispatchers, Except Police, Fire, and Ambulance | $57,240 | $27.52 |
| Customer Service Representative | $46,130 | $22.18 |
| Office Clerks, General | $45,730 | $21.99 |
| Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive | $48,310 | $23.23 |
| Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks | $49,560 | $23.83 |
More: Office and Administrative Support Occupations · all salaries in Illinois
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 Illinois?
The median salary for postal service mail carriers in Illinois is $62,070 a year, or $29.84 an hour. Pay ranges from $43,120 for the lowest-paid 10% to $81,040 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid postal service mail carriers make in Illinois?
The top 10% of postal service mail carriers in Illinois 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 Illinois?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $43,120 a year, and a quarter of postal service mail carriers earn $51,110 or less.
How many postal service mail carriers work in Illinois?
About 14,730 postal service mail carriers are employed in Illinois, not counting the self-employed.