SOC 19-2031 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Chemists — Indianapolis
Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood, IN · 7 metro areas compared
The median wage for Chemists in Indianapolis, IN is $78,770 per year, 13.7% below the national median of $91,240.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
The median wage for Chemists in Indianapolis, IN is $78,770 per year, 13.7% below the national median of $91,240. Pay ranges from under $58,170 at the tenth percentile to more than $133,140 at the ninetieth, with the interquartile range running from $65,140 to $99,870.
The area has 1,310 jobs in this occupation, which works out to 1.2 of every thousand jobs. Evansville leads the state's metro areas for this occupation, at $95,210. Set against every other occupation measured in the same area, it ranks 163rd of 621 by median pay.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $58,170 | −36.2% |
| 25th | $65,140 | −28.6% |
| Median (50th) | $78,770 | −13.7% |
| 75th | $99,870 | +9.5% |
| 90th | $133,140 | +45.9% |
| Mean | $88,560 | −2.9% |
Other metro areas in Indiana
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Evansville | $95,210 | 140 | |
| 2 | Fort Wayne | $78,860 | 60 | |
| 3 | Elkhart | $77,830 | 80 | |
| 4 | Bloomington | $77,080 | 190 | |
| 5 | Terre Haute | $76,290 | 50 | |
| 6 | South Bend | $74,890 | 70 | |
| 7 | Lafayette | $52,140 | 120 |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in Indianapolis run 6.7% below the national average, so the median of $78,770 goes as far as $84,427 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way it compares to the national median at 7.5% below the national median in real terms.
Published median
$78,770as reported by BLSLocal price level
93.3US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$84,427US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $78,770 a year, 13.7% below the national median.
- Published pay spans $58,170 to $133,140 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 1,310 jobs in this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is Evansville, at $95,210.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Chemists in Indianapolis, IN?
The median annual wage is $78,770, or $37.87 per hour, as of May 2025. Half of the workers in this occupation earn more than that and half earn less.
Is that higher than the national average?
The national median for this occupation is $91,240, so pay in Indianapolis, IN is 13.7% lower. These figures are medians, not averages: half of workers fall on each side.
What do the top earners make?
The top tenth of this occupation in Indianapolis, IN earns more than $133,140 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $58,170 per year. The survey measures wages actually paid rather than experience level, so this reflects the lowest-paid tenth rather than entry-level pay specifically.
Which area nearby pays the most?
The highest median for this occupation among the metro areas covered is in Evansville, at $95,210 per year.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 1,310 jobs in this occupation in Indianapolis, IN. Self-employed workers are not included.
Source and methodology
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 Wages are for wage-and-salary workers; self-employed workers are not included. Salary Explorer is an independent project. It is not affiliated with, or endorsed by, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics or any government agency. Full methodology.
Explore related data