The Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood, IN metropolitan statistical area, as BLS defines it.
Pay data · metro area
Average Salary in Indianapolis, IN (2026)
The average salary in the Indianapolis metro area is $65,180 a year and the median is $49,340: 3% below the US median and 3% above Indiana's (BLS, May 2025). At national-average prices the median is worth $51,560, 172nd of 387 metro areas.
- Average (mean) salary
- $65,180US $69,770
- Median salary
- $49,340US $50,980
- Median hourly
- $23.72BLS OEWS, May 2025
- Price level
- 95.7US = 100 · BEA 2024
The spread
What workers in Indianapolis earn
| Percentile | Indianapolis area | Indiana | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | $29,790 | $29,120 | $31,200 |
| 25th | $37,200 | $36,500 | $37,590 |
| 50th (median) | $49,340 | $47,860 | $50,980 |
| 75th | $77,110 | $72,000 | $80,520 |
| 90th | $107,270 | $101,160 | $128,560 |
| Mean | $65,180 | $60,840 | $69,770 |
Prices
Cost of living in Indianapolis
BEA Regional Price Parities put the Indianapolis area at 95.7 against a US average of 100. Matching a $100,000 national-average lifestyle takes about $95,700 here. Compare with another city.
US = 100
- All items95.7
- Housing (rents)88.9
- Goods94.3
- Utilities86.4
- Other services99.1
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| All items | 95.7 |
| Housing (rents) | 88.9 |
| Goods | 94.3 |
| Utilities | 86.4 |
| Other services | 99.1 |
Source: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024
Common jobs
What common jobs pay in Indianapolis
Mean annual wage in the Indianapolis area against the national mean for the same occupation (BLS OEWS, May 2025).
| Occupation | Indianapolis area | US mean | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Registered Nurse | $89,630 | $101,420 | -12% |
| Software Developer | $114,130 | $148,100 | -23% |
| Elementary School Teacher | $62,940 | $72,650 | -13% |
| Accountant | $86,920 | $94,750 | -8% |
| Electrician | $69,220 | $71,490 | -3% |
| Truck Driver | $63,150 | $59,710 | +6% |
| Customer Service Representative | $46,280 | $46,590 | -1% |
| Retail Salesperson | $35,530 | $37,310 | -5% |
| Nursing Assistant | $40,910 | $42,700 | -4% |
| General and Operations Manager | $145,870 | $134,940 | +8% |
| Maintenance and Repair Worker, General | $53,120 | $53,780 | -1% |
| Cook, Restaurant | $35,550 | $38,730 | -8% |
The jobs
Best-paying jobs in Indianapolis
BLS publishes estimates for 599 occupations in this metro. Highest mean pay, and the large occupations this area pays furthest above their national average.
Highest-paying jobs
Mean annual wage
- 1Nurse Anesthetist$223,180
- 2Airline Pilot$207,730
- 3Pediatrician, General$186,200
- 4Dentist$182,640
- 5Financial Advisor$162,800
- 6Financial Manager$162,640
- 7Architectural and Engineering Manager$161,200
- 8Air Traffic Controller$160,990
- 9IT Manager$157,330
- 10Sales Manager$157,080
Jobs Indianapolis pays above the national average
Occupations with 100,000+ US workers
- 1Operating Engineer and Other Construction Equipment Operator$77,670 · +17%
- 2Farmworker and Laborer, Crop, Nursery, and Greenhouse$41,290 · +10%
- 3Architect$116,460 · +10%
- 4First-Line Supervisor of Personal Service Workers$57,160 · +9%
- 5Light Truck Driver$52,980 · +9%
- 6General and Operations Manager$145,870 · +8%
- 7Packer and Packager, Hand$40,520 · +8%
- 8Speech-Language Pathology Assistant$54,640 · +8%
- 9Shipping, Receiving, and Inventory Clerk$49,840 · +6%
- 10Insurance Sales Agent$86,610 · +6%
Compare
Other metro areas in Indiana
Method
About these numbers
- All-occupations wages for the metro are BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics May 2025 estimates (api.bls.gov). Wage and salary workers only; excludes the self-employed.
- Pay by occupation is the OEWS May 2025 mean for that occupation in this metro, as published in the Department of Labor’s 2026–27 prevailing-wage file. Only figures BLS estimated for this metro itself are used, never state or national fallbacks.
- Price levels are BEA Regional Price Parities for 2024. Price-adjusted pay is a NueCareer calculation (wage ÷ RPP/100).
Questions
Average salary in Indianapolis: FAQ
What is the average salary in Indianapolis?
Across all occupations in the Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood, IN metro area, the average (mean) annual wage is $65,180 and the median is $49,340, 3% below the US median (BLS OEWS, May 2025). That covers 1,105,170 wage and salary jobs.
What is a good salary in Indianapolis?
Above $49,340 out-earns half of workers in the Indianapolis area; the top 25% start at $77,110 and the top 10% at $107,270. Prices run 4% below the national average (BEA, 2024), so matching a $100,000 national-average lifestyle takes about $95,700 here.
Is Indianapolis expensive to live in?
BEA's price level for the Indianapolis metro is 95.7 (US = 100, 2024). Housing rents are 88.9, goods 94.3, utilities 86.4. At local prices the median wage is worth $51,560, 172nd of 387 metros.
What are the highest-paying jobs in Indianapolis?
By mean annual wage: Nurse Anesthetist ($223,180), Airline Pilot ($207,730), Pediatrician, General ($186,200), Dentist ($182,640), Financial Advisor ($162,800) (BLS OEWS May 2025, via the DOL wage file).