Postal Service Mail Carrier Salary in Chicago, IL
Postal Service Mail Carriers in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area earn a median $63,750 a year — 5% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $50,392 take-home, or $4,199 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median postal service mail carrier salary in Chicago, IL. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$5,470
- Social Security (6.2%)$3,953
- Medicare (1.45%)$924
- Illinois income tax$3,011
- Take-home pay$50,392
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 →
Postal Service Mail Carrier pay by experience in Chicago, IL
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $44,160 | $21.23 | $35,621 | $2,968 |
| 25th percentile | $52,190 | $25.09 | $41,676 | $3,473 |
| Median (50th) | $63,750 | $30.65 | $50,392 | $4,199 |
| 75th percentile | $81,040 | $38.96 | $61,975 | $5,165 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $81,040 | $38.96 | $61,975 | $5,165 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Illinois resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $63,750 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 postal service mail carrier's $50,392 take-home pay has the buying power of $48,644 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Postal Service Mail Carrier jobs are about as common in Chicago, IL as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 1.08).
Best-paying cities for postal service mail carriers, adjusted for cost of living
Chicago, IL ranks #11 of 25 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kansas City, MO | $61,010 | $49,271 | $53,242 |
| 2 | Cleveland, OH | $60,260 | $49,724 | $52,941 |
| 3 | Houston, TX | $62,070 | $52,053 | $52,777 |
| 4 | St. Louis, MO | $62,070 | $50,073 | $52,660 |
| 5 | Tampa, FL | $62,070 | $52,053 | $51,594 |
| 6 | Pittsburgh, PA | $59,880 | $48,455 | $51,183 |
| 7 | Phoenix, AZ | $64,250 | $52,407 | $50,725 |
| 8 | Charlotte, NC | $61,010 | $49,276 | $50,618 |
| 11 | Chicago, IL | $63,750 | $50,392 | $48,644 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 25 metros →
About the job: postal service mail carriers
Sort and deliver mail for the United States Postal Service (USPS). Deliver mail on established route by vehicle or on foot.
- Typical education
- No formal educational credential
- Work experience
- None required
- On-the-job training
- Short-term on-the-job training
- Job outlook, 2025–35
- -0.3% (slower than average)
Source: BLS Standard Occupational Classification and Employment Projections, 2025–35.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a postal service mail carrier make in Chicago, IL?
The median postal service mail carrier salary in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area is $63,750 a year, or about $30.65 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $52,190 and $81,040.
What is a postal service mail carrier’s take-home pay in Chicago, IL?
On the median $63,750 salary, a single filer living in Illinois takes home about $50,392 a year ($4,199 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $3,011 in Illinois taxes in 2026.
Is Chicago, IL a good place to work as a postal service mail carrier?
Pay here is 5% above the national median of $60,550. Local prices are 3.6% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $48,644 would in a typical U.S. city. Chicago, IL ranks #11 of 25 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a postal service mail carrier 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) — 37% of a median postal service mail carrier’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
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