Wages increase with the amount of time carriers have been in their position. Some routes may also pay higher wages than others.
Most mail carriers belong to one of two unions. Carriers receive a variety of benefits, such as sick leave, paid vacation, health insurance, and a retirement plan.
Postal service mail carriers (SOC 43-5052)
| Location |
Pay Period | |
||
| 25% |
Median |
75% |
||
| Illinois | Hourly | $25.15 | $30.55 | $39.88 |
| Yearly | $52,319 | $63,539 | $82,958 | |
| Champaign Area | Hourly | $24.09 | $29.19 | $35.93 |
| Yearly | $50,100 | $60,726 | $74,736 | |
| Charleston-Effingham-Centralia Area | Hourly | $20.86 | $26.60 | $34.87 |
| Yearly | $43,393 | $55,338 | $72,521 | |
| Cook County | Hourly | $26.24 | $31.62 | $39.88 |
| Yearly | $54,571 | $65,771 | $82,954 | |
| Decatur Area | Hourly | $25.16 | $29.04 | $35.60 |
| Yearly | $52,336 | $60,406 | $74,054 | |
| Dekalb-Elgin-Aurora Area | Hourly | $25.85 | $31.62 | $39.88 |
| Yearly | $53,763 | $65,771 | $82,954 | |
| Du Page County | Hourly | $26.24 | $30.55 | $39.88 |
| Yearly | $54,571 | $63,536 | $82,954 | |
| Edwardsville Area | Hourly | $24.09 | $29.71 | $38.69 |
| Yearly | $50,100 | $61,801 | $80,484 | |
| Jacksonville-Carlinville-Litchfield Area | Hourly | $21.73 | $27.78 | $37.17 |
| Yearly | $45,203 | $57,787 | $77,312 | |
| Kankakee-Morris-Pontiac Area | Hourly | $21.22 | $28.07 | $36.11 |
| Yearly | $44,138 | $58,384 | $75,118 | |
| Lake County | Hourly | $25.85 | $29.47 | $39.88 |
| Yearly | $53,763 | $61,300 | $82,954 | |
| McHenry County | Hourly | $24.09 | $31.61 | $39.86 |
| Yearly | $50,100 | $65,740 | $82,912 | |
| Mt Vernon-Marion-Carbondale Area | Hourly | $21.22 | $28.40 | $38.39 |
| Yearly | $44,138 | $59,064 | $79,846 | |
| Northwest Illinois Area | Hourly | $21.22 | $28.90 | $37.01 |
| Yearly | $44,138 | $60,097 | $76,971 | |
| Peoria-Bloomington Area | Hourly | $24.33 | $29.52 | $38.08 |
| Yearly | $50,622 | $61,406 | $79,207 | |
| Quincy-Macomb-Galesburg Area | Hourly | $21.73 | $27.88 | $35.55 |
| Yearly | $45,203 | $58,000 | $73,947 | |
| Rock Island-Moline Area | Hourly | $24.09 | $28.17 | $38.97 |
| Yearly | $50,100 | $58,607 | $81,060 | |
| Rockford Area | Hourly | $24.09 | $29.47 | $38.08 |
| Yearly | $50,100 | $61,300 | $79,207 | |
| Shawnee National Forest Area | Hourly | $20.86 | $26.28 | $36.25 |
| Yearly | $43,393 | $54,657 | $75,396 | |
| Springfield Area | Hourly | $21.73 | $29.47 | $35.93 |
| Yearly | $45,203 | $61,300 | $74,736 | |
| St Louis-Belleville Area | Hourly | $24.09 | $28.40 | $35.93 |
| Yearly | $50,100 | $59,064 | $74,736 | |
| Vermilion County | Hourly | $21.73 | $26.79 | $37.17 |
| Yearly | $45,203 | $55,722 | $77,312 | |
| Will County | Hourly | $24.09 | $30.56 | $39.86 |
| Yearly | $50,100 | $63,557 | $82,912 | |
| United States | Hourly | $23.53 | $29.11 | $38.94 |
| Yearly | $48,940 | $60,550 | $81,000 | |