Mechanical Engineers pay range in Indianapolis
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $68,550 a year or less, while the top 10% make $154,450 or more. The middle half of mechanical engineers in Indianapolis earn between $79,880 and $128,660.
- $69K10th
- $80K25th
- $99KMedian
- $129K75th
- $154K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $105,190 | $8,766 | $50.57 |
| Median | $98,680 | $8,223 | $47.44 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $79,880 | $6,657 | $38.40 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $128,660 | $10,722 | $61.86 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Mechanical Engineers pay in Indianapolis vs. Indiana and the U.S.
Mechanical engineers in Indianapolis earn about the same as the Indiana average ($104,670) and 7% less than the U.S. average ($113,610). At the median the gap is -5% against the U.S. median of $104,110.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Indianapolis | $105,190 | $98,680 | $68,550 | $154,450 | 2,140 |
| Indiana | $104,670 | $99,590 | $66,330 | $143,090 | 8,690 |
| United States | $113,610 | $104,110 | $73,990 | $164,340 | 296,810 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Mechanical Engineers salary after taxes in Indianapolis
On the average salary of $105,190, a single filer in Indianapolis takes home about $77,601 a year, or $6,467 a month and $2,985 every two weeks. Taxes take 26% 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 mechanical engineers? 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 $105,190 buys what about $109,921 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 2.0 times the median wage of all jobs in Indianapolis ($49,340). A typical home costs $295,921, or 2.8 years of this average salary before tax.
Mechanical Engineers salary in other Indiana cities
Indianapolis ranks 4th of 12 Indiana metro areas for this job; Columbus pays the most ($121,030).
- Columbus$121,030
- Kokomo$113,720
- Lafayette$106,010
- Indianapolis$105,190
- Bloomington$103,970
- Evansville$101,170
- Fort Wayne$99,110
- Michigan City$98,430
- Elkhart$96,280
- South Bend$94,250
Highest-paying cities for mechanical engineers
San Jose, CA pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($165,920).
- San Jose, CA$165,920
- San Francisco, CA$158,690
- Santa Cruz, CA$139,810
- Augusta, GA$137,040
- Baton Rouge, LA$136,970
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Mechanical Engineers salary in Indianapolis: questions
How much do mechanical engineers make an hour in Indianapolis?
$50.57 an hour on average, and $47.44 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level mechanical engineers salary in Indianapolis?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $68,550 a year and the 25th percentile is $79,880, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the mechanical engineers take-home pay in Indianapolis?
About $77,601 a year ($6,467 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $105,190. Includes Indianapolis's local income tax (2.02%).
Do mechanical engineers earn more in Indianapolis than elsewhere?
The average here is 7% less than the U.S. average for this job ($113,610).
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 17-2141; area Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood, IN (26900). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 1.6%.
- 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 1.02, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.
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