Mail Clerks and Mail Machine Operators, Except Postal Service Salary in Chicago, IL
Mail Clerks and Mail Machine Operators, Except Postal Service in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area earn a median $38,570 a year — 2% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $31,407 take-home, or $2,617 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median mail clerks and mail machine operators, except postal service salary in Chicago, IL. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$2,448
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,391
- Medicare (1.45%)$559
- Illinois income tax$1,764
- Take-home pay$31,407
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 4.95% state
The Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro spans Illinois, Indiana. Pick the state you live in — state income tax follows your residence.
Got an offer somewhere else? Compare it with this one after taxes and rent →
Mail Clerks and Mail Machine Operators, Except Postal Service pay by experience in Chicago, IL
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $34,580 | $16.63 | $28,398 | $2,367 |
| 25th percentile | $35,790 | $17.21 | $29,310 | $2,443 |
| Median (50th) | $38,570 | $18.54 | $31,407 | $2,617 |
| 75th percentile | $46,130 | $22.18 | $37,107 | $3,092 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $51,040 | $24.54 | $40,809 | $3,401 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Illinois resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $38,570 buys in Chicago, IL
Prices in Chicago, IL are 3.6% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.12× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median mail clerks and mail machine operators, except postal service's $31,407 take-home pay has the buying power of $30,317 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Chicago, IL has 1.5× the national concentration of mail clerks and mail machine operators, except postal service jobs — a strong local market for this occupation.
Best-paying cities for mail clerks and mail machine operators, except postal service, adjusted for cost of living
Chicago, IL ranks #2 of 2 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | New York, NY | $44,220 | $35,920 | $31,911 |
| 2 | Chicago, IL | $38,570 | $31,407 | $30,317 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 2 metros →
About the job: mail clerks and mail machine operators, except postal service
Prepare incoming and outgoing mail for distribution. Time-stamp, open, read, sort, and route incoming mail; and address, seal, stamp, fold, stuff, and affix postage to outgoing mail or packages. Duties may also include keeping necessary records and completed forms.
- Typical education
- High school diploma or equivalent
- Work experience
- None required
- On-the-job training
- Short-term on-the-job training
- Job outlook, 2025–35
- -7.2% (declining)
Source: BLS Standard Occupational Classification and Employment Projections, 2025–35.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a mail clerks and mail machine operators, except postal service make in Chicago, IL?
The median mail clerks and mail machine operators, except postal service salary in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area is $38,570 a year, or about $18.54 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $35,790 and $46,130.
What is a mail clerks and mail machine operators, except postal service’s take-home pay in Chicago, IL?
On the median $38,570 salary, a single filer living in Illinois takes home about $31,407 a year ($2,617 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $1,764 in Illinois taxes in 2026.
Is Chicago, IL a good place to work as a mail clerks and mail machine operators, except postal service?
Pay here is 2% below the national median of $39,280. Local prices are 3.6% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $30,317 would in a typical U.S. city. Chicago, IL ranks #2 of 2 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a mail clerks and mail machine operators, except postal service afford rent in Chicago, IL?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Chicago, IL is $1,534 a month ($1,743 for two bedrooms) — 59% of a median mail clerks and mail machine operators, except postal service’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Chicago, IL
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- Payroll and Timekeeping Clerk — $62,920
- Production, Planning, and Expediting Clerks — $59,900
- Cargo and Freight Agent — $59,850
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