Postal Service Mail Sorters, Processors, and Processing Machine Operators salary in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN
Postal Service Mail Sorters, Processors, and Processing Machine Operators in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area earn a median of $58,300 a year ($28.03 an hour), based on BLS data for 4,920 workers.
Pay ranges from $42,600 for the lowest-paid 10% to $75,280 for the top 10%. That is about the same as the national median of $58,470. Pay here is about the same as the Illinois statewide median of $58,300. There are 1.1 postal service mail sorters, processors, and processing machine operators per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 1.6× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $59,210, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for postal service mail sorters, processors, and processing machine operators in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $42,600 | $20.48 |
| 25th percentile | $48,880 | $23.50 |
| Median | $58,300 | $28.03 |
| 75th percentile | $75,030 | $36.07 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $75,280 | $36.19 |
| Average (mean) | $59,210 | $28.46 |
Half of postal service mail sorters, processors, and processing machine operators 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 | $4,858.33 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $2,429.17 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $2,242.31 |
| Weekly | $1,121.15 |
| Hourly | $28.03 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Postal Service Mail Sorters, Processors, and Processing Machine Operators salary in other metro areas nearby
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Evansville, IN | $60,530 | 130 |
| Peoria, IL | $60,530 | 80 |
| Champaign-Urbana, IL | $59,490 | 180 |
| South Bend-Mishawaka, IN-MI | $58,780 | 80 |
| Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL | $58,470 | 100 |
| Fort Wayne, IN | $58,470 | 110 |
| Springfield, IL | $58,470 | 140 |
| Muncie, IN | $58,390 | 30 |
| Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN | $57,890 | 1,180 |
| Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN | $56,390 | 670 |
| St. Louis, MO-IL | $56,390 | 1,410 |
| Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood, IN | $47,170 | 2,080 |
Highest-paying states for postal service mail sorters, processors, and processing machine operators
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| District of Columbia | $66,750 |
| South Dakota | $61,570 |
| Iowa | $60,530 |
| New Jersey | $60,530 |
| Wyoming | $60,530 |
| North Dakota | $59,840 |
| Minnesota | $59,740 |
| California | $59,490 |
| Hawaii | $59,490 |
| Maine | $59,490 |
See Postal Service Mail Sorters, Processors, and Processing Machine Operators 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 |
| Postal Service Mail Carrier | $63,750 | $30.65 |
| Production, Planning, and Expediting Clerks | $59,900 | $28.80 |
| Cargo and Freight Agents | $59,850 | $28.77 |
| 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 43-5053. 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 sorters, processors, and processing machine operators make in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN?
The median salary for postal service mail sorters, processors, and processing machine operators in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area is $58,300 a year, or $28.03 an hour. Pay ranges from $42,600 for the lowest-paid 10% to $75,280 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid postal service mail sorters, processors, and processing machine operators make in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN?
The top 10% of postal service mail sorters, processors, and processing machine operators in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area earn at least $75,280 a year. The top 25% earn $75,030 or more.
What is the starting pay for postal service mail sorters, processors, and processing machine operators in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $42,600 a year, and a quarter of postal service mail sorters, processors, and processing machine operators earn $48,880 or less.
How many postal service mail sorters, processors, and processing machine operators work in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN?
About 4,920 postal service mail sorters, processors, and processing machine operators are employed in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area, not counting the self-employed.