SOC 53-7063 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Machine Feeders and Offbearers — Indiana
Indiana · 7 metro areas compared
The median wage for Machine Feeders and Offbearers in Indiana is $37,850 per year, 8.2% below the national median of $41,220.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
The median wage for Machine Feeders and Offbearers in Indiana is $37,850 per year, 8.2% below the national median of $41,220. Pay ranges from under $31,270 at the tenth percentile to more than $52,090 at the ninetieth, with the interquartile range running from $35,290 to $44,180.
Employment stands at 2,800, or 0.9 jobs per thousand held locally. Among the 43 states with published data for this occupation, Indiana ranks 35th by median wage. Columbus leads the state's metro areas for this occupation, at $45,700. Set against every other occupation measured in the same area, it ranks 659th of 753 by median pay.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $31,270 | −24.1% |
| 25th | $35,290 | −14.4% |
| Median (50th) | $37,850 | −8.2% |
| 75th | $44,180 | +7.2% |
| 90th | $52,090 | +26.4% |
| Mean | $39,970 | −3.0% |
Highest-paying metro areas in Indiana
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Columbus | $45,700 | 80 | |
| 2 | Lafayette | $45,680 | 60 | |
| 3 | Elkhart | $38,220 | 230 | |
| 4 | Indianapolis | $37,820 | 600 | |
| 5 | South Bend | $37,780 | 100 | |
| 6 | Fort Wayne | $37,410 | 230 | |
| 7 | Evansville | $36,600 | 150 |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in Indiana run 6.7% below the national average, so the median of $37,850 goes as far as $40,568 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way it compares to the national median at 1.6% below the national median in real terms.
Published median
$37,850as reported by BLSLocal price level
93.3US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$40,568US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $37,850 a year, 8.2% below the national median.
- Published pay spans $31,270 to $52,090 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 2,800 jobs in this occupation.
- It ranks 35th of 43 states for this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is Columbus, at $45,700.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Machine Feeders and Offbearers in Indiana?
The median annual wage is $37,850, or $18.20 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 $41,220, so pay in Indiana is 8.2% 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 Indiana earns more than $52,090 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $31,270 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 Columbus, at $45,700 per year.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 2,800 jobs in this occupation in Indiana. 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.
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