Childcare Workers pay range in Indianapolis
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $24,340 a year or less, while the top 10% make $39,490 or more. The middle half of childcare workers in Indianapolis earn between $29,170 and $35,380.
- $24K10th
- $29K25th
- $31KMedian
- $35K75th
- $39K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $32,070 | $2,672 | $15.42 |
| Median | $30,650 | $2,554 | $14.74 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $29,170 | $2,431 | $14.02 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $35,380 | $2,948 | $17.01 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Childcare Workers pay in Indianapolis vs. Indiana and the U.S.
Childcare workers in Indianapolis earn about the same as the Indiana average ($31,330) and 8% less than the U.S. average ($35,030). At the median the gap is -12% against the U.S. median of $34,980.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Indianapolis | $32,070 | $30,650 | $24,340 | $39,490 | 2,760 |
| Indiana | $31,330 | $30,180 | $23,880 | $38,250 | 8,280 |
| United States | $35,030 | $34,980 | $24,260 | $46,010 | 518,910 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Childcare Workers salary after taxes in Indianapolis
On the average salary of $32,070, a single filer in Indianapolis takes home about $26,389 a year, or $2,199 a month and $1,015 every two weeks. Taxes take 18% 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 childcare workers? 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 $32,070 buys what about $33,512 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.6 times the median wage of all jobs in Indianapolis ($49,340). A typical home costs $295,921, or 9.2 years of this average salary before tax.
Childcare Workers salary in other Indiana cities
Indianapolis ranks 3rd of 11 Indiana metro areas for this job; Muncie pays the most ($32,590).
- Muncie$32,590
- Evansville$32,240
- Indianapolis$32,070
- Lafayette$31,330
- Fort Wayne$30,900
- Elkhart$30,800
- South Bend$30,300
- Kokomo$29,970
- Michigan City$29,650
- Bloomington$29,630
Highest-paying cities for childcare workers
Sarasota, FL pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($52,680).
- Sarasota, FL$52,680
- San Jose, CA$48,450
- San Francisco, CA$46,100
- Seattle, WA$44,390
- Boulder, CO$44,280
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Childcare Workers salary in Indianapolis: questions
How much do childcare workers make an hour in Indianapolis?
$15.42 an hour on average, and $14.73 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level childcare workers salary in Indianapolis?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $24,340 a year and the 25th percentile is $29,170, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the childcare workers take-home pay in Indianapolis?
About $26,389 a year ($2,199 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $32,070. Includes Indianapolis's local income tax (2.02%).
Do childcare workers earn more in Indianapolis than elsewhere?
The average here is 8% less than the U.S. average for this job ($35,030).
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 39-9011; area Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood, IN (26900). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 2.2%.
- 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 0.75, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.75).
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