Chemists pay range in Indianapolis
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $58,170 a year or less, while the top 10% make $133,140 or more. The middle half of chemists in Indianapolis earn between $65,140 and $99,870.
- $58K10th
- $65K25th
- $79KMedian
- $100K75th
- $133K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $88,560 | $7,380 | $42.58 |
| Median | $78,770 | $6,564 | $37.87 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $65,140 | $5,428 | $31.32 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $99,870 | $8,322 | $48.01 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Chemists pay in Indianapolis vs. Indiana and the U.S.
Chemists in Indianapolis earn about the same as the Indiana average ($88,080) and 12% less than the U.S. average ($100,450). At the median the gap is -14% against the U.S. median of $91,240.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Indianapolis | $88,560 | $78,770 | $58,170 | $133,140 | 1,310 |
| Indiana | $88,080 | $78,770 | $56,960 | $133,140 | 2,480 |
| United States | $100,450 | $91,240 | $58,460 | $160,830 | 82,770 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Chemists salary after taxes in Indianapolis
On the average salary of $88,560, a single filer in Indianapolis takes home about $66,736 a year, or $5,561 a month and $2,567 every two weeks. Taxes take 25% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules). Includes Indianapolis's local income tax (2.02%).
Is Indianapolis a good place for chemists? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Indianapolis area are 4% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 95.7), so the average $88,560 buys what about $92,543 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.6 times the median wage of all jobs in Indianapolis ($49,340). A typical home costs $295,921, or 3.3 years of this average salary before tax.
Chemists salary in other Indiana cities
Indianapolis ranks 2nd of 8 Indiana metro areas for this job; Evansville pays the most ($111,000).
- Evansville$111,000
- Indianapolis$88,560
- Elkhart$88,160
- Terre Haute$85,010
- Fort Wayne$82,980
- Bloomington$82,810
- South Bend$80,280
- Lafayette$73,960
Highest-paying cities for chemists
Washington, DC pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($144,550).
- Washington, DC$144,550
- Bay City, MI$139,910
- Lexington Park, MD$132,480
- San Francisco, CA$130,870
- Boston, MA$130,520
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Chemists salary in Indianapolis: questions
How much do chemists make an hour in Indianapolis?
$42.58 an hour on average, and $37.87 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level chemists salary in Indianapolis?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $58,170 a year and the 25th percentile is $65,140, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the chemists take-home pay in Indianapolis?
About $66,736 a year ($5,561 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $88,560. Includes Indianapolis's local income tax (2.02%).
Do chemists earn more in Indianapolis than elsewhere?
The average here is 12% less than the U.S. average for this job ($100,450).
Sources and how to read this page
- Wages: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates for metropolitan areas. SOC code 19-2031; area Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood, IN (26900). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 4.6%.
- U.S. and statewide figures: BLS OEWS national and state estimates, May 2025, every employer including rural areas.
- Cost of living: Bureau of Economic Analysis regional price parities (RPP), 2024; 100 = U.S. average.
- Home value: Zillow Home Value Index. Typical-wage figure: OEWS all occupations, same metro.
- Take-home pay: Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules). Includes Indianapolis's local income tax (2.02%).
- Job concentration: location quotient 2.23, this job is 2.2 times as concentrated as in the U.S. overall.
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