Mail Clerks and Mail Machine Operators, Except Postal Service salary in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN
Mail Clerks and Mail Machine Operators, Except Postal Service in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area earn a median of $38,570 a year ($18.54 an hour), based on BLS data for 2,380 workers.
Pay ranges from $34,580 for the lowest-paid 10% to $51,040 for the top 10%. That is 2% lower than the national median of $39,280. Pay here is 1% higher than the Illinois statewide median of $38,190. There are 0.53 mail clerks and mail machine operators, except postal service per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 1.5× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $41,400, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for mail clerks and mail machine operators, except postal service in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $34,580 | $16.63 |
| 25th percentile | $35,790 | $17.21 |
| Median | $38,570 | $18.54 |
| 75th percentile | $46,130 | $22.18 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $51,040 | $24.54 |
| Average (mean) | $41,400 | $19.91 |
Half of mail clerks and mail machine operators, except postal service 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 | $3,214.17 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,607.08 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,483.46 |
| Weekly | $741.73 |
| Hourly | $18.54 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $38,570 salary, see how much house you can afford in Illinois at today's mortgage rates, or work out a payment with the mortgage calculator.
Mail Clerks and Mail Machine Operators, Except Postal Service salary in other metro areas nearby
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood, IN | $41,800 | 700 |
| Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN | $39,990 | 240 |
| Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN | $39,580 | 530 |
| Fort Wayne, IN | $38,540 | 80 |
| St. Louis, MO-IL | $38,010 | 720 |
| Evansville, IN | $37,900 | 40 |
| Bloomington, IL | $37,290 | 50 |
| Peoria, IL | $36,920 | 80 |
| South Bend-Mishawaka, IN-MI | $36,630 | 30 |
| Springfield, IL | $35,820 | 110 |
| Champaign-Urbana, IL | $35,460 | 80 |
| Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL | $32,140 | 80 |
Highest-paying states for mail clerks and mail machine operators, except postal service
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| District of Columbia | $49,240 |
| Massachusetts | $48,860 |
| Washington | $46,380 |
| Vermont | $45,380 |
| Utah | $45,150 |
| Minnesota | $44,840 |
| Maine | $44,780 |
| California | $44,410 |
| Connecticut | $43,970 |
| New Jersey | $43,700 |
See Mail Clerks and Mail Machine Operators, Except Postal Service pay in every state or the Illinois statewide figures.
Related jobs in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Office Clerks, General | $46,330 | $22.28 |
| Insurance Claims and Policy Processing Clerks | $51,280 | $24.65 |
| Data Entry Keyer | $44,650 | $21.47 |
| Office and Administrative Support Workers, All Other | $46,860 | $22.53 |
| Office Machine Operators, Except Computer | $44,370 | $21.33 |
| Word Processors and Typists | $52,370 | $25.18 |
| Proofreaders and Copy Markers | $51,970 | $24.98 |
| Desktop Publisher | $58,130 | $27.95 |
| Customer Service Representative | $47,100 | $22.65 |
| Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive | $50,440 | $24.25 |
| Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks | $51,440 | $24.73 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support Workers | $71,730 | $34.49 |
| Receptionists and Information Clerks | $38,060 | $18.30 |
| Shipping, Receiving, and Inventory Clerks | $47,740 | $22.95 |
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 43-9051. 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 mail clerks and mail machine operators, except postal service make in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN?
The median salary for mail clerks and mail machine operators, except postal service in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area is $38,570 a year, or $18.54 an hour. Pay ranges from $34,580 for the lowest-paid 10% to $51,040 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid mail clerks and mail machine operators, except postal service make in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN?
The top 10% of mail clerks and mail machine operators, except postal service in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area earn at least $51,040 a year. The top 25% earn $46,130 or more.
What is the starting pay for mail clerks and mail machine operators, except postal service in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $34,580 a year, and a quarter of mail clerks and mail machine operators, except postal service earn $35,790 or less.
How many mail clerks and mail machine operators, except postal service work in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN?
About 2,380 mail clerks and mail machine operators, except postal service are employed in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area, not counting the self-employed.