Jobs that lost the most to inflation in Indiana

Every occupation here is paid more in dollars than it was in 2019 and less in what those dollars buy. Prices rose about 26% over the period; these wages did not keep up. Limited to occupations employing at least 50,000 people.

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

1Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists$81,110
Doctoral or professional degree
$63,510 – $151,510-37.9%-21.8% nominal
2Physical Scientists, All Other$68,670
Bachelor's degree
$52,600 – $105,510-33.9%-16.8% nominal
3Crane and Tower Operators$52,950
High school diploma or equivalent
$38,830 – $87,640-26.5%-7.4% nominal
4Personal Financial Advisors$87,710
Bachelor's degree
$44,150 – $319,330-25.2%-5.8% nominal
5Pediatricians, General$177,300
Doctoral or professional degree
$140,450 – $277,150-24.6%-5.0% nominal
6Teaching Assistants, Postsecondary$34,910
Bachelor's degree
$20,850 – $62,290-23.7%-3.9% nominal
7Nursing Instructors and Teachers, Postsecondary$76,080
Doctoral or professional degree
$48,740 – $107,420-21.6%-1.3% nominal
8Biological Science Teachers, Postsecondary$83,130
Doctoral or professional degree
$56,070 – $163,900-21.0%-0.6% nominal
9Maintenance Workers, Machinery$48,760
High school diploma or equivalent
$44,230 – $72,550-20.3%+0.3% nominal
10Business Teachers, Postsecondary$86,640
Doctoral or professional degree
$48,720 – $181,340-19.9%+0.9% nominal
11Career/Technical Education Teachers, Secondary School$56,390
Bachelor's degree
$44,020 – $77,880-19.4%+1.5% nominal
12Rolling Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic$45,430
High school diploma or equivalent
$36,860 – $64,240-18.9%+2.1% nominal
13Insurance Underwriters$77,440
Bachelor's degree
$48,160 – $104,580-18.4%+2.8% nominal
14Postal Service Mail Sorters, Processors, and Processing Machine Operators$48,880
No formal educational credential
$39,560 – $75,030-17.9%+3.4% nominal
15Education Teachers, Postsecondary$66,150
Doctoral or professional degree
$40,180 – $104,380-17.8%+3.5% nominal
16Health Education Specialists$58,170
Bachelor's degree
$36,130 – $96,010-16.4%+5.2% nominal
17Health Specialties Teachers, Postsecondary$98,170
Doctoral or professional degree
$61,710 – $224,740-16.0%+5.7% nominal
18Self-Enrichment Teachers$36,980
High school diploma or equivalent
$23,880 – $62,350-15.4%+6.6% nominal
19Chefs and Head Cooks$52,190
High school diploma or equivalent
$30,930 – $82,430-15.4%+6.5% nominal
20Pest Control Workers$38,600
High school diploma or equivalent
$35,290 – $60,920-15.2%+6.8% nominal
21Dentists, General$166,650
Doctoral or professional degree
$81,370 – $327,980-14.6%+7.5% nominal
22Architectural and Civil Drafters$60,000
Associate's degree
$43,430 – $93,560-14.0%+8.3% nominal
23Career/Technical Education Teachers, Postsecondary$57,820
Bachelor's degree
$39,210 – $95,170-13.7%+8.7% nominal
24Engineering Teachers, Postsecondary$106,010
Doctoral or professional degree
$66,800 – $178,570-13.4%+9.0% nominal
25First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detectives$81,540
High school diploma or equivalent
$60,120 – $127,700-13.1%+9.5% nominal
26Real Estate Sales Agents$46,880
High school diploma or equivalent
$27,550 – $82,270-12.4%+10.3% nominal
27Education Administrators, Postsecondary$98,000
Master's degree
$61,030 – $213,580-12.2%+10.6% nominal
28Cooks, Short Order$21,940
No formal educational credential
$20,760 – $36,260-12.1%+10.7% nominal
29Training and Development Specialists$61,050
Bachelor's degree
$39,060 – $101,520-11.9%+10.9% nominal
30Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health$64,700
Bachelor's degree
$46,830 – $124,380-11.3%+11.7% nominal
31Education Administrators, Kindergarten through Secondary$98,770
Master's degree
$66,440 – $132,400-10.7%+12.4% nominal
32Executive Secretaries and Executive Administrative Assistants$59,080
High school diploma or equivalent
$41,930 – $92,280-9.9%+13.5% nominal
33Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and Technicians$70,540
Associate's degree
$47,200 – $115,210-9.8%+13.6% nominal
34Exercise Trainers and Group Fitness Instructors$34,960
High school diploma or equivalent
$22,410 – $56,720-9.5%+14.0% nominal
35Logisticians$77,670
Bachelor's degree
$49,310 – $122,910-9.5%+14.0% nominal
36Sales Managers$131,470
Bachelor's degree
$69,570 – $231,350-9.4%+14.0% nominal
37Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and Travel$63,960
High school diploma or equivalent
$37,320 – $124,000-9.1%+14.5% nominal
38Home Appliance Repairers$47,080
High school diploma or equivalent
$29,920 – $63,930-9.0%+14.6% nominal
39Medical and Health Services Managers$104,140
Bachelor's degree
$67,820 – $194,980-8.8%+14.9% nominal
40Speech-Language Pathologists$87,360
Master's degree
$60,990 – $122,930-8.6%+15.0% nominal
41Network and Computer Systems Administrators$84,550
Bachelor's degree
$58,630 – $128,670-8.6%+15.1% nominal
42Bartenders$22,770
No formal educational credential
$17,050 – $45,000-8.3%+15.5% nominal
43Meeting, Convention, and Event Planners$50,090
Bachelor's degree
$34,860 – $82,920-8.3%+15.5% nominal
44Cargo and Freight Agents$50,020
High school diploma or equivalent
$37,710 – $85,130-8.1%+15.7% nominal
45Multiple Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic$45,100
High school diploma or equivalent
$36,530 – $60,090-8.0%+15.9% nominal
46Pharmacists$144,290
Doctoral or professional degree
$107,050 – $169,360-7.9%+16.0% nominal
47Civil Engineering Technologists and Technicians$64,390
Associate's degree
$43,880 – $87,350-7.8%+16.1% nominal
48Detectives and Criminal Investigators$70,340
High school diploma or equivalent
$45,480 – $127,790-7.8%+16.1% nominal
49Phlebotomists$39,250
Postsecondary nondegree award
$35,870 – $48,290-7.8%+16.1% nominal
50Physical Therapist Assistants$65,280
Associate's degree
$46,410 – $80,060-7.7%+16.2% 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	Medical Scientists, Except EpidemiologistsDoctoral or professional degree	$81,110	$63,510 – $151,510	-37.9%-21.8% nominal
2	Physical Scientists, All OtherBachelor's degree	$68,670	$52,600 – $105,510	-33.9%-16.8% nominal
3	Crane and Tower OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$52,950	$38,830 – $87,640	-26.5%-7.4% nominal
4	Personal Financial AdvisorsBachelor's degree	$87,710	$44,150 – $319,330	-25.2%-5.8% nominal
5	Pediatricians, GeneralDoctoral or professional degree	$177,300	$140,450 – $277,150	-24.6%-5.0% nominal
6	Teaching Assistants, PostsecondaryBachelor's degree	$34,910	$20,850 – $62,290	-23.7%-3.9% nominal
7	Nursing Instructors and Teachers, PostsecondaryDoctoral or professional degree	$76,080	$48,740 – $107,420	-21.6%-1.3% nominal
8	Biological Science Teachers, PostsecondaryDoctoral or professional degree	$83,130	$56,070 – $163,900	-21.0%-0.6% nominal
9	Maintenance Workers, MachineryHigh school diploma or equivalent	$48,760	$44,230 – $72,550	-20.3%+0.3% nominal
10	Business Teachers, PostsecondaryDoctoral or professional degree	$86,640	$48,720 – $181,340	-19.9%+0.9% nominal
11	Career/Technical Education Teachers, Secondary SchoolBachelor's degree	$56,390	$44,020 – $77,880	-19.4%+1.5% nominal
12	Rolling Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and PlasticHigh school diploma or equivalent	$45,430	$36,860 – $64,240	-18.9%+2.1% nominal
13	Insurance UnderwritersBachelor's degree	$77,440	$48,160 – $104,580	-18.4%+2.8% nominal
14	Postal Service Mail Sorters, Processors, and Processing Machine OperatorsNo formal educational credential	$48,880	$39,560 – $75,030	-17.9%+3.4% nominal
15	Education Teachers, PostsecondaryDoctoral or professional degree	$66,150	$40,180 – $104,380	-17.8%+3.5% nominal
16	Health Education SpecialistsBachelor's degree	$58,170	$36,130 – $96,010	-16.4%+5.2% nominal
17	Health Specialties Teachers, PostsecondaryDoctoral or professional degree	$98,170	$61,710 – $224,740	-16.0%+5.7% nominal
18	Self-Enrichment TeachersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$36,980	$23,880 – $62,350	-15.4%+6.6% nominal
19	Chefs and Head CooksHigh school diploma or equivalent	$52,190	$30,930 – $82,430	-15.4%+6.5% nominal
20	Pest Control WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$38,600	$35,290 – $60,920	-15.2%+6.8% nominal
21	Dentists, GeneralDoctoral or professional degree	$166,650	$81,370 – $327,980	-14.6%+7.5% nominal
22	Architectural and Civil DraftersAssociate's degree	$60,000	$43,430 – $93,560	-14.0%+8.3% nominal
23	Career/Technical Education Teachers, PostsecondaryBachelor's degree	$57,820	$39,210 – $95,170	-13.7%+8.7% nominal
24	Engineering Teachers, PostsecondaryDoctoral or professional degree	$106,010	$66,800 – $178,570	-13.4%+9.0% nominal
25	First-Line Supervisors of Police and DetectivesHigh school diploma or equivalent	$81,540	$60,120 – $127,700	-13.1%+9.5% nominal
26	Real Estate Sales AgentsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$46,880	$27,550 – $82,270	-12.4%+10.3% nominal
27	Education Administrators, PostsecondaryMaster's degree	$98,000	$61,030 – $213,580	-12.2%+10.6% nominal
28	Cooks, Short OrderNo formal educational credential	$21,940	$20,760 – $36,260	-12.1%+10.7% nominal
29	Training and Development SpecialistsBachelor's degree	$61,050	$39,060 – $101,520	-11.9%+10.9% nominal
30	Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including HealthBachelor's degree	$64,700	$46,830 – $124,380	-11.3%+11.7% nominal
31	Education Administrators, Kindergarten through SecondaryMaster's degree	$98,770	$66,440 – $132,400	-10.7%+12.4% nominal
32	Executive Secretaries and Executive Administrative AssistantsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$59,080	$41,930 – $92,280	-9.9%+13.5% nominal
33	Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$70,540	$47,200 – $115,210	-9.8%+13.6% nominal
34	Exercise Trainers and Group Fitness InstructorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$34,960	$22,410 – $56,720	-9.5%+14.0% nominal
35	LogisticiansBachelor's degree	$77,670	$49,310 – $122,910	-9.5%+14.0% nominal
36	Sales ManagersBachelor's degree	$131,470	$69,570 – $231,350	-9.4%+14.0% nominal
37	Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and TravelHigh school diploma or equivalent	$63,960	$37,320 – $124,000	-9.1%+14.5% nominal
38	Home Appliance RepairersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$47,080	$29,920 – $63,930	-9.0%+14.6% nominal
39	Medical and Health Services ManagersBachelor's degree	$104,140	$67,820 – $194,980	-8.8%+14.9% nominal
40	Speech-Language PathologistsMaster's degree	$87,360	$60,990 – $122,930	-8.6%+15.0% nominal
41	Network and Computer Systems AdministratorsBachelor's degree	$84,550	$58,630 – $128,670	-8.6%+15.1% nominal
42	BartendersNo formal educational credential	$22,770	$17,050 – $45,000	-8.3%+15.5% nominal
43	Meeting, Convention, and Event PlannersBachelor's degree	$50,090	$34,860 – $82,920	-8.3%+15.5% nominal
44	Cargo and Freight AgentsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$50,020	$37,710 – $85,130	-8.1%+15.7% nominal
45	Multiple Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and PlasticHigh school diploma or equivalent	$45,100	$36,530 – $60,090	-8.0%+15.9% nominal
46	PharmacistsDoctoral or professional degree	$144,290	$107,050 – $169,360	-7.9%+16.0% nominal
47	Civil Engineering Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$64,390	$43,880 – $87,350	-7.8%+16.1% nominal
48	Detectives and Criminal InvestigatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$70,340	$45,480 – $127,790	-7.8%+16.1% nominal
49	PhlebotomistsPostsecondary nondegree award	$39,250	$35,870 – $48,290	-7.8%+16.1% nominal
50	Physical Therapist AssistantsAssociate's degree	$65,280	$46,410 – $80,060	-7.7%+16.2% 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 lost the most to inflation in Indiana

More for Indiana

Metro areas in Indiana

By field in Indiana

Without a degree

Jobs that lost the most to inflation in each state