Machinist Salary in Indianapolis, IN
Machinists in the Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood, IN metro area earn a median $50,610 a year — 14% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $41,382 take-home, or $3,448 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median machinist salary in Indianapolis, IN. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$3,893
- Social Security (6.2%)$3,138
- Medicare (1.45%)$734
- Indiana income tax$1,463
- Take-home pay$41,382
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 2.95% state
Living in Indianapolis (Marion County)? City residents also pay Indianapolis (Marion County)’s County income tax — about $1,002 a year on this salary — which lowers take-home pay to $40,380 ($3,365 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 →
Machinist pay by experience in Indianapolis, IN
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $42,440 | $20.40 | $35,058 | $2,922 |
| 25th percentile | $48,030 | $23.09 | $39,385 | $3,282 |
| Median (50th) | $50,610 | $24.33 | $41,382 | $3,448 |
| 75th percentile | $64,680 | $31.10 | $52,272 | $4,356 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $72,140 | $34.68 | $57,482 | $4,790 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Indiana resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $50,610 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 machinist's $41,382 take-home pay has the buying power of $43,243 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Indianapolis, IN has 1.7× the national concentration of machinist jobs — a strong local market for this occupation.
Best-paying cities for machinists, adjusted for cost of living
Indianapolis, IN ranks #20 of 22 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Seattle, WA | $74,560 | $61,283 | $55,144 |
| 2 | St. Louis, MO | $62,210 | $50,179 | $52,771 |
| 3 | Houston, TX | $61,280 | $51,418 | $52,133 |
| 4 | Boston, MA | $72,060 | $56,141 | $51,855 |
| 5 | Cleveland, OH | $58,240 | $48,157 | $51,272 |
| 6 | Virginia Beach, VA | $62,900 | $49,918 | $50,967 |
| 7 | Hartford, CT | $64,320 | $51,892 | $50,505 |
| 8 | Milwaukee, WI | $60,320 | $48,774 | $50,315 |
| 20 | Indianapolis, IN | $50,610 | $41,382 | $43,243 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 22 metros →
About the job: machinists
Set up and operate a variety of machine tools to produce precision parts and instruments out of metal. May also fabricate and modify parts to make or repair machine tools or maintain industrial machines, applying knowledge of mechanics, mathematics, metal properties, layout, and machining procedures. Machinists who primarily program or operate computer numerically controlled (CNC) equipment are classified in "Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Operators and Programmers" (51-9160).
- Typical education
- High school diploma or equivalent
- Work experience
- None required
- On-the-job training
- Long-term on-the-job training
- Job outlook, 2025–35
- +1.0% (slower than average)
Source: BLS Standard Occupational Classification and Employment Projections, 2025–35.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a machinist make in Indianapolis, IN?
The median machinist salary in the Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood, IN metro area is $50,610 a year, or about $24.33 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $48,030 and $64,680.
What is a machinist’s take-home pay in Indianapolis, IN?
On the median $50,610 salary, a single filer living in Indiana takes home about $41,382 a year ($3,448 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $1,463 in Indiana taxes in 2026.
Is Indianapolis, IN a good place to work as a machinist?
Pay here is 14% below the national median of $58,750. Local prices are 4.3% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $43,243 would in a typical U.S. city. Indianapolis, IN ranks #20 of 22 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a machinist 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) — 36% of a median machinist’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.