Jobs that actually got a raise in Indiana

Consumer prices rose about 26% between May 2019 and May 2025, so a wage that grew less than that lost ground while appearing to rise. The column on the right is the inflation-adjusted change; the nominal figure beneath it is what a paycheck comparison would have shown. Limited to occupations employing at least 50,000 people, so the ranking is not dominated by tiny, noisy ones.

Cost of living: prices in Indiana run 6.7% below the national average (2024), so a Indiana salary is worth about 1.07× its face value in national terms. That scales every wage here by the same factor — it changes what the numbers mean, not their order. To see where a job pays a real premium, use jobs that pay more in Indiana.

Wages: BLS OEWS, May 2025 · Cost of living: BEA regional price parities, 2024

Find high paying jobs in Indiana

OccupationMedian, Indiana · Real change since 2019

1Chief Executives$254,180
Bachelor's degree
$97,340 – $494,080+52.0%+91.4% nominal
2Skincare Specialists$44,450
Postsecondary nondegree award
$24,440 – $66,670+50.7%+89.7% nominal
3Broadcast Announcers and Radio Disc Jockeys$61,760
Bachelor's degree
$28,360 – $107,210+44.4%+81.8% nominal
4Engineers, All Other$120,880
Bachelor's degree
$62,710 – $163,380+40.0%+76.3% nominal
5Order Clerks$44,340
Some college, no degree
$36,390 – $62,380+36.5%+71.9% nominal
6Labor Relations Specialists$77,190
Bachelor's degree
$30,550 – $106,450+35.6%+70.7% nominal
7Driver/Sales Workers$36,250
High school diploma or equivalent
$21,360 – $59,020+33.6%+68.3% nominal
8Weighers, Measurers, Checkers, and Samplers, Recordkeeping$57,210
High school diploma or equivalent
$39,760 – $59,750+29.2%+62.7% nominal
9Psychiatric Aides$44,860
High school diploma or equivalent
$37,050 – $72,800+28.9%+62.4% nominal
10Coaches and Scouts$44,480
Bachelor's degree
$25,270 – $100,180+28.4%+61.7% nominal
11Structural Metal Fabricators and Fitters$60,180
High school diploma or equivalent
$40,680 – $68,580+27.5%+60.6% nominal
12Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors$58,900
No formal educational credential
$36,000 – $64,680+27.3%+60.3% nominal
13Power Plant Operators$107,000
High school diploma or equivalent
$76,700 – $123,540+24.7%+57.0% nominal
14Substitute Teachers, Short-Term$36,360
Bachelor's degree
$28,540 – $56,330+23.6%+55.7% nominal
15Paper Goods Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders$48,780
High school diploma or equivalent
$36,070 – $60,800+22.2%+53.9% nominal
16Production Workers, All Other$48,260
High school diploma or equivalent
$35,560 – $77,620+21.4%+52.8% nominal
17Locomotive Engineers$92,790
High school diploma or equivalent
$62,830 – $129,020+21.4%+52.9% nominal
18Hotel, Motel, and Resort Desk Clerks$33,280
High school diploma or equivalent
$28,460 – $37,280+19.5%+50.5% nominal
19Meat, Poultry, and Fish Cutters and Trimmers$42,450
No formal educational credential
$36,680 – $45,000+19.0%+49.8% nominal
20Biological Technicians$58,790
Bachelor's degree
$45,140 – $84,900+18.9%+49.7% nominal
21Home Health and Personal Care Aides$35,060
High school diploma or equivalent
$29,390 – $39,480+18.3%+49.0% nominal
22Cooks, Fast Food$29,870
No formal educational credential
$24,050 – $37,310+18.3%+49.0% nominal
23Property Appraisers and Assessors$60,350
Bachelor's degree
$37,220 – $104,970+18.2%+48.9% nominal
24Bus Drivers, Transit and Intercity$58,410
High school diploma or equivalent
$45,380 – $62,970+17.8%+48.4% nominal
25Dishwashers$29,480
No formal educational credential
$21,840 – $36,660+17.6%+48.1% nominal
26Veterinary Technologists and Technicians$48,720
Associate's degree
$37,820 – $59,490+17.6%+48.1% nominal
27Bakers$36,150
No formal educational credential
$22,880 – $47,360+17.3%+47.7% nominal
28Funeral Attendants$34,420
High school diploma or equivalent
$29,770 – $46,730+17.1%+47.4% nominal
29Hairdressers, Hairstylists, and Cosmetologists$32,830
Postsecondary nondegree award
$23,890 – $58,620+17.0%+47.4% nominal
30Cutting and Slicing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders$46,150
High school diploma or equivalent
$37,430 – $61,470+17.0%+47.4% nominal
31Waiters and Waitresses$28,480
No formal educational credential
$17,640 – $48,350+16.9%+47.2% nominal
32First-Line Supervisors of Correctional Officers$61,460
High school diploma or equivalent
$49,390 – $84,810+16.8%+47.1% nominal
33Automotive and Watercraft Service Attendants$35,700
No formal educational credential
$28,680 – $44,660+16.7%+46.9% nominal
34Telecommunications Line Installers and Repairers$58,920
High school diploma or equivalent
$41,600 – $80,440+16.0%+46.1% nominal
35Cooks, Restaurant$35,170
No formal educational credential
$26,000 – $44,190+15.9%+45.9% nominal
36Fast Food and Counter Workers$28,790
No formal educational credential
$22,110 – $35,820+15.9%+45.9% nominal
37Information and Record Clerks, All Other$56,310
High school diploma or equivalent
$35,090 – $84,990+15.5%+45.5% nominal
38Lifeguards, Ski Patrol, and Other Recreational Protective Service Workers$28,640
No formal educational credential
$22,690 – $33,280+15.3%+45.2% nominal
39First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers$44,880
High school diploma or equivalent
$31,010 – $63,340+15.3%+45.2% nominal
40Social and Human Service Assistants$44,550
High school diploma or equivalent
$31,200 – $58,640+15.2%+45.1% nominal
41Extruding, Forming, Pressing, and Compacting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders$46,790
High school diploma or equivalent
$37,480 – $59,580+14.9%+44.6% nominal
42Food Servers, Nonrestaurant$31,840
No formal educational credential
$26,360 – $38,350+14.5%+44.1% nominal
43Parking Attendants$31,360
No formal educational credential
$23,380 – $41,360+14.5%+44.2% nominal
44Metal-Refining Furnace Operators and Tenders$58,300
High school diploma or equivalent
$42,190 – $65,420+14.1%+43.7% nominal
45Commercial and Industrial Designers$88,040
Bachelor's degree
$56,850 – $117,750+14.1%+43.7% nominal
46Surveying and Mapping Technicians$56,440
High school diploma or equivalent
$37,470 – $75,110+13.6%+43.1% nominal
47Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers$28,320
No formal educational credential
$20,610 – $37,280+13.6%+43.1% nominal
48Cleaners of Vehicles and Equipment$34,940
No formal educational credential
$26,980 – $47,920+13.5%+43.0% nominal
49Helpers--Production Workers$42,210
High school diploma or equivalent
$31,270 – $50,740+13.4%+42.8% nominal
50Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses$65,720
Postsecondary nondegree award
$50,550 – $77,220+13.4%+42.8% nominal

Bars run from the 10th to the 90th percentile; the middle half is shaded darker, and the tick is the median.

#	Occupation	MedianIndiana	10th–90th percentilemiddle half shaded darker	Real change since 2019
1	Chief ExecutivesBachelor's degree	$254,180	$97,340 – $494,080	+52.0%+91.4% nominal
2	Skincare SpecialistsPostsecondary nondegree award	$44,450	$24,440 – $66,670	+50.7%+89.7% nominal
3	Broadcast Announcers and Radio Disc JockeysBachelor's degree	$61,760	$28,360 – $107,210	+44.4%+81.8% nominal
4	Engineers, All OtherBachelor's degree	$120,880	$62,710 – $163,380	+40.0%+76.3% nominal
5	Order ClerksSome college, no degree	$44,340	$36,390 – $62,380	+36.5%+71.9% nominal
6	Labor Relations SpecialistsBachelor's degree	$77,190	$30,550 – $106,450	+35.6%+70.7% nominal
7	Driver/Sales WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$36,250	$21,360 – $59,020	+33.6%+68.3% nominal
8	Weighers, Measurers, Checkers, and Samplers, RecordkeepingHigh school diploma or equivalent	$57,210	$39,760 – $59,750	+29.2%+62.7% nominal
9	Psychiatric AidesHigh school diploma or equivalent	$44,860	$37,050 – $72,800	+28.9%+62.4% nominal
10	Coaches and ScoutsBachelor's degree	$44,480	$25,270 – $100,180	+28.4%+61.7% nominal
11	Structural Metal Fabricators and FittersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$60,180	$40,680 – $68,580	+27.5%+60.6% nominal
12	Refuse and Recyclable Material CollectorsNo formal educational credential	$58,900	$36,000 – $64,680	+27.3%+60.3% nominal
13	Power Plant OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$107,000	$76,700 – $123,540	+24.7%+57.0% nominal
14	Substitute Teachers, Short-TermBachelor's degree	$36,360	$28,540 – $56,330	+23.6%+55.7% nominal
15	Paper Goods Machine Setters, Operators, and TendersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$48,780	$36,070 – $60,800	+22.2%+53.9% nominal
16	Production Workers, All OtherHigh school diploma or equivalent	$48,260	$35,560 – $77,620	+21.4%+52.8% nominal
17	Locomotive EngineersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$92,790	$62,830 – $129,020	+21.4%+52.9% nominal
18	Hotel, Motel, and Resort Desk ClerksHigh school diploma or equivalent	$33,280	$28,460 – $37,280	+19.5%+50.5% nominal
19	Meat, Poultry, and Fish Cutters and TrimmersNo formal educational credential	$42,450	$36,680 – $45,000	+19.0%+49.8% nominal
20	Biological TechniciansBachelor's degree	$58,790	$45,140 – $84,900	+18.9%+49.7% nominal
21	Home Health and Personal Care AidesHigh school diploma or equivalent	$35,060	$29,390 – $39,480	+18.3%+49.0% nominal
22	Cooks, Fast FoodNo formal educational credential	$29,870	$24,050 – $37,310	+18.3%+49.0% nominal
23	Property Appraisers and AssessorsBachelor's degree	$60,350	$37,220 – $104,970	+18.2%+48.9% nominal
24	Bus Drivers, Transit and IntercityHigh school diploma or equivalent	$58,410	$45,380 – $62,970	+17.8%+48.4% nominal
25	DishwashersNo formal educational credential	$29,480	$21,840 – $36,660	+17.6%+48.1% nominal
26	Veterinary Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$48,720	$37,820 – $59,490	+17.6%+48.1% nominal
27	BakersNo formal educational credential	$36,150	$22,880 – $47,360	+17.3%+47.7% nominal
28	Funeral AttendantsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$34,420	$29,770 – $46,730	+17.1%+47.4% nominal
29	Hairdressers, Hairstylists, and CosmetologistsPostsecondary nondegree award	$32,830	$23,890 – $58,620	+17.0%+47.4% nominal
30	Cutting and Slicing Machine Setters, Operators, and TendersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$46,150	$37,430 – $61,470	+17.0%+47.4% nominal
31	Waiters and WaitressesNo formal educational credential	$28,480	$17,640 – $48,350	+16.9%+47.2% nominal
32	First-Line Supervisors of Correctional OfficersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$61,460	$49,390 – $84,810	+16.8%+47.1% nominal
33	Automotive and Watercraft Service AttendantsNo formal educational credential	$35,700	$28,680 – $44,660	+16.7%+46.9% nominal
34	Telecommunications Line Installers and RepairersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$58,920	$41,600 – $80,440	+16.0%+46.1% nominal
35	Cooks, RestaurantNo formal educational credential	$35,170	$26,000 – $44,190	+15.9%+45.9% nominal
36	Fast Food and Counter WorkersNo formal educational credential	$28,790	$22,110 – $35,820	+15.9%+45.9% nominal
37	Information and Record Clerks, All OtherHigh school diploma or equivalent	$56,310	$35,090 – $84,990	+15.5%+45.5% nominal
38	Lifeguards, Ski Patrol, and Other Recreational Protective Service WorkersNo formal educational credential	$28,640	$22,690 – $33,280	+15.3%+45.2% nominal
39	First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$44,880	$31,010 – $63,340	+15.3%+45.2% nominal
40	Social and Human Service AssistantsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$44,550	$31,200 – $58,640	+15.2%+45.1% nominal
41	Extruding, Forming, Pressing, and Compacting Machine Setters, Operators, and TendersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$46,790	$37,480 – $59,580	+14.9%+44.6% nominal
42	Food Servers, NonrestaurantNo formal educational credential	$31,840	$26,360 – $38,350	+14.5%+44.1% nominal
43	Parking AttendantsNo formal educational credential	$31,360	$23,380 – $41,360	+14.5%+44.2% nominal
44	Metal-Refining Furnace Operators and TendersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$58,300	$42,190 – $65,420	+14.1%+43.7% nominal
45	Commercial and Industrial DesignersBachelor's degree	$88,040	$56,850 – $117,750	+14.1%+43.7% nominal
46	Surveying and Mapping TechniciansHigh school diploma or equivalent	$56,440	$37,470 – $75,110	+13.6%+43.1% nominal
47	Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender HelpersNo formal educational credential	$28,320	$20,610 – $37,280	+13.6%+43.1% nominal
48	Cleaners of Vehicles and EquipmentNo formal educational credential	$34,940	$26,980 – $47,920	+13.5%+43.0% nominal
49	Helpers--Production WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$42,210	$31,270 – $50,740	+13.4%+42.8% nominal
50	Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational NursesPostsecondary nondegree award	$65,720	$50,550 – $77,220	+13.4%+42.8% nominal

More for Indiana

Metro areas in Indiana

Pay varies more between metros than between states — the spread inside one state is often wider than the gap between two.

By field in Indiana

Without a degree

The same fields, narrowed to what you can enter without one. Fields missing here have too few such occupations in Indiana to rank honestly.

Jobs that actually got a raise in Indiana

More for Indiana

Metro areas in Indiana

By field in Indiana

Without a degree

Jobs that actually got a raise in each state