Childcare Worker Salary in Indianapolis, IN
Childcare Workers in the Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood, IN metro area earn a median $30,650 a year — 12% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $25,933 take-home, or $2,161 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median childcare worker salary in Indianapolis, IN. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$1,498
- Social Security (6.2%)$1,900
- Medicare (1.45%)$444
- Indiana income tax$875
- Take-home pay$25,933
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 2.95% state
Living in Indianapolis (Marion County)? City residents also pay Indianapolis (Marion County)’s County income tax — about $599 a year on this salary — which lowers take-home pay to $25,334 ($2,111 a month). Choose “Indianapolis (Marion County)” under City income tax in the calculator. Suburban residents usually don’t pay it.
Got an offer somewhere else? Compare it with this one after taxes and rent →
Childcare Worker pay by experience in Indianapolis, IN
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $24,340 | $11.70 | $20,965 | $1,747 |
| 25th percentile | $29,170 | $14.02 | $24,787 | $2,066 |
| Median (50th) | $30,650 | $14.74 | $25,933 | $2,161 |
| 75th percentile | $35,380 | $17.01 | $29,594 | $2,466 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $39,490 | $18.99 | $32,775 | $2,731 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Indiana resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $30,650 buys in Indianapolis, IN
Prices in Indianapolis, IN are 4.3% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 11% below the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median childcare worker's $25,933 take-home pay has the buying power of $27,099 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Childcare Worker jobs are less concentrated in Indianapolis, IN than nationally (location quotient 0.75), so openings may be scarcer.
Best-paying cities for childcare workers, adjusted for cost of living
Indianapolis, IN ranks #34 of 46 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Denver, CO | $44,320 | $36,549 | $34,552 |
| 2 | San Jose, CA | $45,720 | $37,504 | $33,964 |
| 3 | Seattle, WA | $43,710 | $37,301 | $33,564 |
| 4 | San Francisco, CA | $44,540 | $36,618 | $31,673 |
| 5 | Riverside, CA | $40,210 | $33,368 | $31,349 |
| 6 | Boston, MA | $41,590 | $33,738 | $31,162 |
| 7 | Nashville, TN | $34,450 | $29,861 | $30,996 |
| 8 | Providence, RI | $37,230 | $31,315 | $30,770 |
| 34 | Indianapolis, IN | $30,650 | $25,933 | $27,099 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 46 metros →
About the job: childcare workers
Attend to children at schools, businesses, private households, and childcare institutions. Perform a variety of tasks, such as dressing, feeding, bathing, and overseeing play.
- Typical education
- High school diploma or equivalent
- Work experience
- None required
- On-the-job training
- Short-term on-the-job training
- Job outlook, 2025–35
- -2.0% (declining)
Source: BLS Standard Occupational Classification and Employment Projections, 2025–35.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a childcare worker make in Indianapolis, IN?
The median childcare worker salary in the Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood, IN metro area is $30,650 a year, or about $14.74 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $29,170 and $35,380.
What is a childcare worker’s take-home pay in Indianapolis, IN?
On the median $30,650 salary, a single filer living in Indiana takes home about $25,933 a year ($2,161 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $875 in Indiana taxes in 2026.
Is Indianapolis, IN a good place to work as a childcare worker?
Pay here is 12% below the national median of $34,980. Local prices are 4.3% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $27,099 would in a typical U.S. city. Indianapolis, IN ranks #34 of 46 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a childcare worker afford rent in Indianapolis, IN?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Indianapolis, IN is $1,242 a month ($1,454 for two bedrooms) — 57% of a median childcare worker’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
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