Pressmaster // Shutterstock
1 / 50#50. Public relations managers
- Median annual wage: $110,200
- Median hourly wage: $52.98
- Total employment: Not available
Highest-paying jobs in Indianapolis
Despite recession fears and falling consumer confidence, the job market in the United States has remained relatively stable in 2025 thus far. According to May 2025 Bureau of Labor Statistics data, around 177,000 new jobs were added in April, a slight decrease from the 185,000 new jobs added in the month before, but an extension of the country's 52-month streak of job growth. Unemployment rates also held relatively steady between April 2024 and April 2025, coming in at around 4%.
Of course, that doesn't necessarily mean Americans have it easy in the workplace. A December 2024 Payscale report found that nearly half (47%) of business organizations struggle to balance fair pay practices with spend optimization, and 18% plan to reduce pay increases in 2025 as a result.
For context, median weekly earnings across all employees in the U.S. stood at $1,194 in the first quarter of 2025. This represents an increase of 4.8% from a year prior and exceeds the Consumer Price Index's 2.7% increase in the same time period. However, there's one caveat: Earnings go much further in some places than in others.
In fact, the very definition of a "high-paying" job varies by location, as well as other factors such as industry and benefits. Even a six-figure salary may be considered low-income in places with an unusually high cost of living. Meanwhile, technology, finance, and health care jobs lead in terms of salary, but benefits like remote work can make other lower-paying jobs more desirable.
Regardless, anyone seeking a high-paying job should start by looking at the numbers. Stacker used BLS data to find the 50 highest-paying jobs in Indianapolis. Jobs are ranked by their median annual pay as of May 2024, so any jobs without annual compensation figures available were excluded from this analysis.
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2 / 50#49. Compensation and benefits managers
- Median annual wage: $110,310
- Median hourly wage: $53.03
- Total employment: 70 people (0.06 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Taty77 // Shutterstock
3 / 50#48. Mining and geological engineers, including mining safety engineers
- Median annual wage: $110,590
- Median hourly wage: $53.17
- Total employment: Not available
Suwin // Shutterstock
4 / 50#47. Electrical and electronics repairers, powerhouse, substation, and relay
- Median annual wage: $111,190
- Median hourly wage: $53.46
- Total employment: 90 people (0.08 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
creativemarc // Shutterstock
5 / 50#46. Administrative services managers
- Median annual wage: $111,910
- Median hourly wage: $53.80
- Total employment: 2,430 people (2.22 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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6 / 50#45. Elevator and escalator installers and repairers
- Median annual wage: $113,710
- Median hourly wage: $54.67
- Total employment: 80 people (0.08 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Petekub // Shutterstock
7 / 50#44. Economists
- Median annual wage: $114,070
- Median hourly wage: $54.84
- Total employment: 40 people (0.03 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock
8 / 50#43. Engineers, all other
- Median annual wage: $114,770
- Median hourly wage: $55.18
- Total employment: 640 people (0.58 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
wavebreakmedia // Shutterstock
9 / 50#42. Psychologists, all other
- Median annual wage: $116,980
- Median hourly wage: $56.24
- Total employment: 70 people (0.06 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
PanuShot // Shutterstock
10 / 50#41. Advertising and promotions managers
- Median annual wage: $117,330
- Median hourly wage: $56.41
- Total employment: 80 people (0.07 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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11 / 50#40. Nurse midwives
- Median annual wage: $120,510
- Median hourly wage: $57.94
- Total employment: 60 people (0.06 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Sunshine Seeds // Shutterstock
12 / 50#39. Industrial production managers
- Median annual wage: $120,810
- Median hourly wage: $58.08
- Total employment: 1,940 people (1.77 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Pheelings media // Shutterstock
13 / 50#38. Statisticians
- Median annual wage: $123,100
- Median hourly wage: $59.19
- Total employment: 120 people (0.11 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
fizkes // Shutterstock
14 / 50#37. General and operations managers
- Median annual wage: $123,580
- Median hourly wage: $59.41
- Total employment: 16,750 people (15.28 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock
15 / 50#36. Computer network architects
- Median annual wage: $123,770
- Median hourly wage: $59.51
- Total employment: 960 people (0.88 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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Zivica Kerkez // Shutterstock
16 / 50#35. Veterinarians
- Median annual wage: $126,490
- Median hourly wage: $60.81
- Total employment: 530 people (0.48 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Tonhom1009 // Shutterstock
17 / 50#34. Bioengineers and biomedical engineers
- Median annual wage: $127,650
- Median hourly wage: $61.37
- Total employment: 500 people (0.46 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
fizkes // Shutterstock
18 / 50#33. Marketing managers
- Median annual wage: $127,770
- Median hourly wage: $61.43
- Total employment: 1,920 people (1.75 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Kzenon // Shutterstock
19 / 50#32. Optometrists
- Median annual wage: $128,810
- Median hourly wage: $61.93
- Total employment: 270 people (0.25 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Ground Picture // Shutterstock
20 / 50#31. Law teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $129,880
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 110 people (0.1 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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Stokkete // Shutterstock
21 / 50#30. Physician assistants
- Median annual wage: $130,930
- Median hourly wage: $62.95
- Total employment: 640 people (0.59 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
22 / 50#29. Nurse practitioners
- Median annual wage: $130,950
- Median hourly wage: $62.96
- Total employment: 2,800 people (2.55 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
dokurose // Shutterstock
23 / 50#28. Sales managers
- Median annual wage: $131,110
- Median hourly wage: $63.03
- Total employment: 3,880 people (3.54 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Jacob Lund // Shutterstock
24 / 50#27. Human resources managers
- Median annual wage: $131,480
- Median hourly wage: $63.21
- Total employment: 1,240 people (1.13 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
rawpixel.com // Shutterstock
25 / 50#26. Purchasing managers
- Median annual wage: $131,610
- Median hourly wage: $63.27
- Total employment: 460 people (0.42 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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Jacob Lund // Shutterstock
26 / 50#25. Database architects
- Median annual wage: $133,790
- Median hourly wage: $64.32
- Total employment: 410 people (0.37 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Lovely Bird // Shutterstock
27 / 50#24. Power distributors and dispatchers
- Median annual wage: $134,130
- Median hourly wage: $64.49
- Total employment: 60 people (0.06 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Nicola Forenza // Shutterstock
28 / 50#22. Lawyers (tie)
- Median annual wage: $135,660
- Median hourly wage: $65.22
- Total employment: 4,060 people (3.71 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Worawee Meepian // Shutterstock
29 / 50#22. Administrative law judges, adjudicators, and hearing officers (tie)
- Median annual wage: $135,660
- Median hourly wage: $65.22
- Total employment: 40 people (0.04 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Frame Stock Footage // Shutterstock
30 / 50#21. Computer and information systems managers
- Median annual wage: $138,920
- Median hourly wage: $66.79
- Total employment: 3,870 people (3.53 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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Drazen Zigic // Shutterstock
31 / 50#20. Pharmacists
- Median annual wage: $139,640
- Median hourly wage: $67.14
- Total employment: 2,320 people (2.11 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Kanghophoto // Shutterstock
32 / 50#19. Financial managers
- Median annual wage: $139,660
- Median hourly wage: $67.15
- Total employment: 4,750 people (4.33 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
BOY ANTHONY // Shutterstock
33 / 50#18. Architectural and engineering managers
- Median annual wage: $156,820
- Median hourly wage: $75.39
- Total employment: 1,660 people (1.52 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Prostock-studio // Shutterstock
34 / 50#17. Dentists, general
- Median annual wage: $161,730
- Median hourly wage: $77.75
- Total employment: 1,010 people (0.92 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
YAKOBCHUK VIACHESLAV // Shutterstock
35 / 50#16. Airline pilots, copilots, and flight engineers
- Median annual wage: $171,050
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: Not available
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Elnur // Shutterstock
36 / 50#15. Podiatrists
- Median annual wage: $175,510
- Median hourly wage: $84.38
- Total employment: 70 people (0.07 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Sebastian Duda // Shutterstock
37 / 50#14. Judges, magistrate judges, and magistrates
- Median annual wage: $177,180
- Median hourly wage: $85.18
- Total employment: 210 people (0.19 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
LightField Studios // Shutterstock
38 / 50#13. Nurse anesthetists
- Median annual wage: $178,020
- Median hourly wage: $85.59
- Total employment: 120 people (0.1 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Jacob Lund // Shutterstock
39 / 50#12. Pediatricians, general
- Median annual wage: $180,260
- Median hourly wage: $86.66
- Total employment: 540 people (0.49 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Neale Cousland // Shutterstock
40 / 50#11. Athletes and sports competitors
- Median annual wage: $210,860
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 70 people (0.07 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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41 / 50#10. Chief executives
- Median annual wage: $214,170
- Median hourly wage: $102.97
- Total employment: 920 people (0.83 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Prostock-studio // Shutterstock
42 / 50#9. Orthodontists
- Median annual wage: $234,170
- Median hourly wage: $112.58
- Total employment: Not available
PeopleImages.com - Yuri A // Shutterstock
43 / 50#1. Family medicine physicians (tie)
- Median annual wage: At least $239,200
- Median hourly wage: At least $115.00
- Total employment: 850 people (0.77 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
BlurryMe // Shutterstock
44 / 50#1. General internal medicine physicians (tie)
- Median annual wage: At least $239,200
- Median hourly wage: At least $115.00
- Total employment: 750 people (0.69 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
45 / 50#1. Anesthesiologists (tie)
- Median annual wage: At least $239,200
- Median hourly wage: At least $115.00
- Total employment: 390 people (0.36 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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Natee K Jindakum // Shutterstock
46 / 50#1. Physicians, pathologists (tie)
- Median annual wage: At least $239,200
- Median hourly wage: At least $115.00
- Total employment: 170 people (0.16 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
wutzkohphoto // Shutterstock
47 / 50#1. Physicians, all other (tie)
- Median annual wage: At least $239,200
- Median hourly wage: At least $115.00
- Total employment: 2,160 people (1.97 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
4 PM production // Shutterstock
48 / 50#1. Ophthalmologists, except pediatric (tie)
- Median annual wage: At least $239,200
- Median hourly wage: At least $115.00
- Total employment: 50 people (0.05 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Roman Zaiets // Shutterstock
49 / 50#1. Orthopedic surgeons, except pediatric (tie)
- Median annual wage: At least $239,200
- Median hourly wage: At least $115.00
- Total employment: Not available
Photoroyalty // Shutterstock
50 / 50#1. Surgeons, all other (tie)
- Median annual wage: At least $239,200
- Median hourly wage: At least $115.00
- Total employment: 350 people (0.32 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
This story features data reporting by Wade Zhou, writing by Cu Fleshman, and is part of a series utilizing data automation across 364 metros.
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