Gary Hourly Wage & Salary 2026
Gary, IN: $26.31/hr median hourly wage, $54,720 median annual salary, cost of living index 87.4, and $7.25/hr minimum wage. Calculate take-home pay with federal and Indiana taxes.
Gary Hourly Wage Quick Answer
The median hourly wage in Gary, IN is $26.31/hr,and the median annual wage is $54,720. Entry-level pay estimates around $16.31/hr, senior-level pay estimates around $37.36/hr, and the local minimum wage is $7.25/hr.
Median figures: BLS OEWS May 2025, all occupations, Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metropolitan statistical area (4,513,280 jobs). BLS publishes wages by metro area, not by city, so Gary shares this figure with the rest of its metro. Entry and senior levels are Salario estimates.
Median Salary
$54,720
$26.31/hr
Cost of Living
87.4
US avg = 100
Minimum Wage
$7.25
per hour
Unemployment
3.8%
rate
Gary, IN Overview
Population
69,093
Median Salary
$54,720
Average Salary
$73,380
Avg Commute
20 min
Median Home Price
$231,000
Median Rent
$959/mo
Job Growth
+0.8%
Sales Tax
7%
Gary is located in Indiana with a population of 69,093. The median annual wage across all occupations is $54,720 ($26.31/hour, BLS OEWS May 2025, Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro), which is $3,740 above the national median of $50,980. The national median is the BLS OEWS May 2025 all-occupations median annual wage. The average commute time is 20 minutes, and the city has a job growth rate of +0.8%.
Gary Salary by Experience Level (2026)
Wage distribution in Gary, IN built around the $54,720 median salary (BLS OEWS May 2025, all occupations, Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro). Entry-level represents 10th–25th percentile; mid-level is the median; senior-level represents 75th–90th percentile. The non-median rows are Salario estimates.
| Experience Level | Annual Salary | Hourly Wage | Years Exp |
|---|---|---|---|
| Entry-Level | $33,926 | $16.31/hr | 0–2 years |
| Mid-Level (Median) | $54,720 | $26.31/hr | 3–7 years |
| Senior-Level | $77,702 | $37.36/hr | 8–15 years |
| Top 10% (90th Percentile) | $97,402 | $46.83/hr | 15+ years / leadership |
Percentile multipliers (62%, 100%, 142%, 178%) are Salario approximations of the typical all-occupations wage spread in BLS OEWS metro tables; only the median row is a published BLS value. Specific roles vary; see jobs by city for role-specific data.
Gary Paycheck Calculator
Enter your annual salary to see your estimated take-home pay in Gary, IN, after federal, state, and local taxes.
Estimated Annual Take-Home Pay
$43,795
$3,649.55/month · $1,684.41/biweekly · Effective Rate: 20.0%
Biweekly paycheck estimate: this salary equals about $1,684.41 take-home per paycheck after estimated Indiana and federal taxes. For the 26-paycheck formula, three-paycheck months, and withholding examples, see the Biweekly Paycheck Calculator.
Gross Pay
$54,720
Federal Tax
-$4,386
State Tax
-$1,614
Local Tax
-$739
FICA
-$4,186
Net Pay
$43,795
Pay Breakdown
| Item | Monthly | Annual |
|---|---|---|
| Gross Salary | $4,560.00 | $54,720.00 |
| Federal Income Tax | -$365.53 | -$4,386.40 |
| Indiana State Tax (2.95% eff.) | -$134.52 | -$1,614.24 |
| Local Tax (1.35%) | -$61.56 | -$738.72 |
| Social Security (6.2%) | -$282.72 | -$3,392.64 |
| Medicare (1.45%) | -$66.12 | -$793.44 |
| Net Take-Home Pay | $3,649.55 | $43,794.56 |
Salary Comparison: Gary vs Other Cities
See how Gary's median salary and cost of living compare to the national average and similar cities.
| City | Median Salary | COL Index | Adj. Salary |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gary, IN | $54,720 | 87.4 | $62,609 |
| National Average | $50,980 | 100 | $50,980 |
| Chicago, IL | $54,720 | 107 | $51,140 |
| Aurora, IL | $54,720 | 95 | $57,600 |
| Joliet, IL | $54,720 | 90 | $60,800 |
| Naperville, IL | $54,720 | 118 | $46,373 |
Adjusted salary reflects purchasing power when cost of living is factored in. A higher adjusted salary means your money goes further.
Cost of Living in Gary
Gary's cost of living index is 87.4 (national average = 100). Living in Gary is 12.599999999999994% less expensive than the national average.
Median Home Price
$231,000
Median Monthly Rent
$959
Annual Rent Cost
$11,508
Your Salary's Purchasing Power
Your $43,795 annual take-home pay in Gary has the purchasing power of approximately $50,108 in an average-cost US area. Your $54,720 salary stretches further here than in most US cities.
Top Industries in Gary
Gary's economy is driven by these key industries. Workers in top industries often earn significantly above the median salary of $54,720.
Salary Tips for Gary Workers
- Your salary goes further here. Gary has a cost of living 12.599999999999994% below the national average. A salary of $54,720 here has the purchasing power of about $62,609 in an average-cost area.
- Research top industries. Gary's top industries include Manufacturing, Logistics, Life Sciences. Targeting roles in these sectors can help you earn above the $54,720 median salary.
- Review your W-4 withholding. If you regularly receive large tax refunds, adjust your W-4 to increase your per-paycheck take-home pay instead of giving the government an interest-free loan.
Methodology & Local Economy Data Sources
How we calculate Gary salary data: The median annual wage, median hourly wage and mean wage are the official BLS OEWS May 2025 all-occupations values for the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metropolitan statistical area, retrieved from the BLS Public Data API on September 17, 2026. BLS does not publish city-level wages, so every city inside that metro shows the same figure. The entry/senior/top-10% rows, the paycheck estimate and the purchasing-power conversion are Salario calculations built on that median. Cost-of-living adjustments use the C2ER Cost of Living Index baseline of 100 (national average), with Gary indexed at 87.4.
- Median salary: $54,720 annual, $26.31 hourly, BLS OEWS May 2025, all occupations, Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN MSA (4,513,280 jobs surveyed). Mean wage $73,380 (BLS). Salario's previous modeled median for Gary was $50,954.
- Tax burden reflects Indiana 2026 state income tax brackets and standard deduction (top rate 2.95%), plus Gary local tax of 1.35%, sales tax (7%), and federal taxes per IRS 2026 brackets.
- Unemployment rate for Gary: 3.8%, sourced from BLS Local Area Unemployment Statistics (LAUS).
- Top industries: Manufacturing, Logistics, Life Sciences, based on QCEW employment concentration data.
- Job growth: 0.8% projected through 2034, derived from BLS Employment Projections program for Indiana.
- Housing context: median home price $231,000, median rent $959/mo, sourced from Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates.
Authoritative US data sources for Gary, IN:
- BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), metropolitan area salary data
- BLS Local Area Unemployment Statistics, Gary unemployment rate
- U.S. Census Bureau, Gary QuickFacts, population, housing, demographics
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages (QCEW), county-level industry employment
- BLS Economy at a Glance, Indiana, state economic indicators
- U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA), local GDP and personal income data
- BLS Consumer Price Index (CPI-U), regional inflation tracking
Disclaimer: Salary and cost data are estimates for general guidance. Individual compensation varies by employer, experience, education, negotiation, and skills. Gary's rapidly changing economy can shift these baselines, always verify with current job listings, employer offers, and recent Indiana labor market reports for the most current figures.
Reviewed by Harlan Voss · Last updated September 17, 2026 · Wage figures: BLS OEWS May 2025 release (published May 2026) · Census data current as of latest releases
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the hourly wage in Gary, IN?
The median hourly wage in Gary, IN is $26.31 per hour, the BLS OEWS May 2025 median for all occupations in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metropolitan area, and the BLS median annual wage is $54,720. Entry-level workers are estimated around $16.31/hr, while senior-level workers are estimated around $37.36/hr before overtime, bonuses, or benefits (Salario estimates, not BLS percentiles).
What is the median salary in Gary, IN?
The median salary in Gary, IN is $54,720 per year, or $26.31 per hour (BLS OEWS May 2025, all occupations, Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area). The BLS mean salary is $73,380. This is $3,740 above the BLS national median of $50,980.
What is the cost of living in Gary, IN?
Gary's cost of living index is 87.4 (national average = 100), meaning it is 12.599999999999994% less expensive compared to the national average. The median home price is $231,000 and the median monthly rent is $959.
What are the best industries in Gary?
The top industries in Gary, IN include Manufacturing, Logistics, Life Sciences. The city has a job growth rate of 0.8% and an unemployment rate of 3.8%. Workers in these industries often earn above the city's median salary of $54,720.
How does Gary's salary compare to other cities?
Gary's median salary of $54,720 is 7.3% above the national median of $50,980. However, when adjusted for cost of living (index: 87.4), the real purchasing power is approximately $62,609.
What is the minimum wage in Gary, IN?
The minimum wage in Gary, IN is $7.25 per hour. This equals approximately $15,080 per year for a full-time worker (40 hours/week). This matches the federal minimum wage of $7.25/hour.