Indianapolis Hourly Wage & Salary 2026
Indianapolis, IN: $23.72/hr median hourly wage, $49,340 median annual salary, cost of living index 91, and $7.25/hr minimum wage. Calculate take-home pay with federal and Indiana taxes.
Indianapolis Hourly Wage Quick Answer
The median hourly wage in Indianapolis, IN is $23.72/hr,and the median annual wage is $49,340. Entry-level pay estimates around $14.71/hr, senior-level pay estimates around $33.68/hr, and the local minimum wage is $7.25/hr.
Median figures: BLS OEWS May 2025, all occupations, Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood, IN metropolitan statistical area (1,105,170 jobs). BLS publishes wages by metro area, not by city, so Indianapolis shares this figure with the rest of its metro. Entry and senior levels are Salario estimates.
Median Salary
$49,340
$23.72/hr
Cost of Living
91
US avg = 100
Minimum Wage
$7.25
per hour
Unemployment
3.2%
rate
Indianapolis, IN Overview
Population
887,642
Median Salary
$49,340
Average Salary
$65,180
Avg Commute
25 min
Median Home Price
$230,000
Median Rent
$1,100/mo
Job Growth
+1.8%
Sales Tax
7%
Indianapolis is located in Indiana with a population of 887,642. The median annual wage across all occupations is $49,340 ($23.72/hour, BLS OEWS May 2025, Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood, IN metro), which is $1,640 below 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 25 minutes, and the city has a job growth rate of +1.8%.
Indianapolis Salary by Experience Level (2026)
Wage distribution in Indianapolis, IN built around the $49,340 median salary (BLS OEWS May 2025, all occupations, Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood, 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 | $30,591 | $14.71/hr | 0–2 years |
| Mid-Level (Median) | $49,340 | $23.72/hr | 3–7 years |
| Senior-Level | $70,063 | $33.68/hr | 8–15 years |
| Top 10% (90th Percentile) | $87,825 | $42.22/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.
Indianapolis Paycheck Calculator
Enter your annual salary to see your estimated take-home pay in Indianapolis, IN, after federal, state, and local taxes.
Estimated Annual Take-Home Pay
$40,369
$3,364.10/month · $1,552.66/biweekly · Effective Rate: 18.2%
Biweekly paycheck estimate: this salary equals about $1,552.66 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
$49,340
Federal Tax
-$3,741
State Tax
-$1,456
Local Tax
$0
FICA
-$3,775
Net Pay
$40,369
Pay Breakdown
| Item | Monthly | Annual |
|---|---|---|
| Gross Salary | $4,111.67 | $49,340.00 |
| Federal Income Tax | -$311.73 | -$3,740.80 |
| Indiana State Tax (2.95% eff.) | -$121.29 | -$1,455.53 |
| Social Security (6.2%) | -$254.92 | -$3,059.08 |
| Medicare (1.45%) | -$59.62 | -$715.43 |
| Net Take-Home Pay | $3,364.10 | $40,369.16 |
Salary Comparison: Indianapolis vs Other Cities
See how Indianapolis's median salary and cost of living compare to the national average and similar cities.
| City | Median Salary | COL Index | Adj. Salary |
|---|---|---|---|
| Indianapolis, IN | $49,340 | 91 | $54,220 |
| National Average | $50,980 | 100 | $50,980 |
| Carmel, IN | $49,340 | 110 | $44,855 |
| Fishers, IN | $49,340 | 105 | $46,990 |
| Noblesville, IN | $49,340 | 95.2 | $51,828 |
| Greenwood, IN | $49,340 | 90.8 | $54,339 |
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 Indianapolis
Indianapolis's cost of living index is 91 (national average = 100). Living in Indianapolis is 9% less expensive than the national average.
Median Home Price
$230,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,100
Annual Rent Cost
$13,200
Your Salary's Purchasing Power
Your $40,369 annual take-home pay in Indianapolis has the purchasing power of approximately $44,362 in an average-cost US area. Your $49,340 salary stretches further here than in most US cities.
Top Industries in Indianapolis
Indianapolis's economy is driven by these key industries. Workers in top industries often earn significantly above the median salary of $49,340.
Salary Tips for Indianapolis Workers
- Research top industries. Indianapolis's top industries include Healthcare, Logistics, Finance. Targeting roles in these sectors can help you earn above the $49,340 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.
Job Salaries in Indianapolis, IN
Browse occupation-specific salaries for Indianapolis. Figures marked BLS are the BLS OEWS May 2025 median annual wage for that occupation in the Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood, IN metro area (75 of 338); the rest are Salario estimates adjusted for Indianapolis's cost of living. Each page connects the benchmark with local take-home pay and market context.
Other Cities in Indiana
Jeffersonville
Kokomo
Lafayette
Lawrence
Merrillville
Michigan City
Mishawaka
Muncie
New Albany
Noblesville
Plainfield
Portage
Methodology & Local Economy Data Sources
How we calculate Indianapolis salary data: The median annual wage, median hourly wage and mean wage are the official BLS OEWS May 2025 all-occupations values for the Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood, 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 Indianapolis indexed at 91.
- Median salary: $49,340 annual, $23.72 hourly, BLS OEWS May 2025, all occupations, Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood, IN MSA (1,105,170 jobs surveyed). Mean wage $65,180 (BLS). Salario's previous modeled median for Indianapolis was $58,000.
- Tax burden reflects Indiana 2026 state income tax brackets and standard deduction (top rate 2.95%) (no local income tax), sales tax (7%), and federal taxes per IRS 2026 brackets.
- Unemployment rate for Indianapolis: 3.2%, sourced from BLS Local Area Unemployment Statistics (LAUS).
- Top industries: Healthcare, Logistics, Finance, based on QCEW employment concentration data.
- Job growth: 1.8% projected through 2034, derived from BLS Employment Projections program for Indiana.
- Housing context: median home price $230,000, median rent $1,100/mo, sourced from Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates.
Authoritative US data sources for Indianapolis, IN:
- BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), metropolitan area salary data
- BLS Local Area Unemployment Statistics, Indianapolis unemployment rate
- U.S. Census Bureau, Indianapolis 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. Indianapolis'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 Indianapolis, IN?
The median hourly wage in Indianapolis, IN is $23.72 per hour, the BLS OEWS May 2025 median for all occupations in the Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood, IN metropolitan area, and the BLS median annual wage is $49,340. Entry-level workers are estimated around $14.71/hr, while senior-level workers are estimated around $33.68/hr before overtime, bonuses, or benefits (Salario estimates, not BLS percentiles).
What is the median salary in Indianapolis, IN?
The median salary in Indianapolis, IN is $49,340 per year, or $23.72 per hour (BLS OEWS May 2025, all occupations, Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood, IN metro area). The BLS mean salary is $65,180. This is $1,640 below the BLS national median of $50,980.
What is the cost of living in Indianapolis, IN?
Indianapolis's cost of living index is 91 (national average = 100), meaning it is 9% less expensive compared to the national average. The median home price is $230,000 and the median monthly rent is $1,100.
What are the best industries in Indianapolis?
The top industries in Indianapolis, IN include Healthcare, Logistics, Finance. The city has a job growth rate of 1.8% and an unemployment rate of 3.2%. Workers in these industries often earn above the city's median salary of $49,340.
How does Indianapolis's salary compare to other cities?
Indianapolis's median salary of $49,340 is 3.2% below the national median of $50,980. However, when adjusted for cost of living (index: 91), the real purchasing power is approximately $54,220.
What is the minimum wage in Indianapolis, IN?
The minimum wage in Indianapolis, 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.