Physicists pay range in Indianapolis
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $98,840 a year or less, while the top 10% make $220,430 or more. The middle half of physicists in Indianapolis earn between $105,320 and $176,030.
- $99K10th
- $105K25th
- $106KMedian
- $176K75th
- $220K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $141,380 | $11,782 | $67.97 |
| Median | $105,940 | $8,828 | $50.93 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $105,320 | $8,777 | $50.63 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $176,030 | $14,669 | $84.63 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year.
Physicists salary after taxes in Indianapolis
On the average salary of $141,380, a single filer in Indianapolis takes home about $100,852 a year, or $8,404 a month and $3,879 every two weeks. Taxes take 29% 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 physicists? 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 $141,380 buys what about $147,739 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 2.1 times the median wage of all jobs in Indianapolis ($49,340). A typical home costs $295,921, or 2.1 years of this average salary before tax.
Physicists salary in nearby metro areas
- Cincinnati, OH$145,800
- Dayton, OH$150,240
- Chicago, IL$138,950
- Columbus, OH$168,330
- Ann Arbor, MI$100,460
- Lansing, MI$92,920
Highest-paying cities for physicists
Miami, FL pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($245,010).
- Miami, FL$245,010
- Tampa, FL$244,380
- Pittsburgh, PA$211,220
- Portland, OR$210,060
- Cleveland, OH$209,480
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Physicists salary in Indianapolis: questions
How much do physicists make an hour in Indianapolis?
$67.97 an hour on average, and $50.93 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level physicists salary in Indianapolis?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $98,840 a year and the 25th percentile is $105,320, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the physicists take-home pay in Indianapolis?
About $100,852 a year ($8,404 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $141,380. Includes Indianapolis's local income tax (2.02%).
Do physicists earn more in Indianapolis than elsewhere?
The average here is 11% less than the U.S. metro average for this job ($158,709).
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 19-2012; area Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood, IN (26900). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 12.5%.
- 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 0.55, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.55).
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