Nursing Assistant Salary in Indianapolis, IN
Nursing Assistants in the Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood, IN metro area earn a median $38,880 a year — 8% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $32,303 take-home, or $2,692 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median nursing assistant salary in Indianapolis, IN. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$2,486
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,411
- Medicare (1.45%)$564
- Indiana income tax$1,117
- Take-home pay$32,303
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 2.95% state
Living in Indianapolis (Marion County)? City residents also pay Indianapolis (Marion County)’s County income tax — about $765 a year on this salary — which lowers take-home pay to $31,537 ($2,628 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 →
Nursing Assistant pay by experience in Indianapolis, IN
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $36,430 | $17.51 | $30,406 | $2,534 |
| 25th percentile | $37,500 | $18.03 | $31,235 | $2,603 |
| Median (50th) | $38,880 | $18.69 | $32,303 | $2,692 |
| 75th percentile | $45,010 | $21.64 | $37,047 | $3,087 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $47,230 | $22.71 | $38,766 | $3,230 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Indiana resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $38,880 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 nursing assistant's $32,303 take-home pay has the buying power of $33,755 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Nursing Assistant jobs are about as common in Indianapolis, IN as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.94).
Best-paying cities for nursing assistants, adjusted for cost of living
Indianapolis, IN ranks #75 of 113 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Jose, CA | $56,840 | $45,652 | $41,343 |
| 2 | Spokane, WA | $47,240 | $40,137 | $39,999 |
| 3 | Des Moines, IA | $43,940 | $36,468 | $39,768 |
| 4 | Seattle, WA | $51,990 | $43,954 | $39,551 |
| 5 | San Francisco, CA | $56,080 | $45,097 | $39,007 |
| 6 | Milwaukee, WI | $45,690 | $37,663 | $38,853 |
| 7 | Scranton, PA | $43,980 | $36,168 | $38,659 |
| 8 | Las Vegas, NV | $45,350 | $38,619 | $38,536 |
| 75 | Indianapolis, IN | $38,880 | $32,303 | $33,755 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 113 metros →
About the job: nursing assistants
Provide or assist with basic care or support under the direction of onsite licensed nursing staff. Perform duties such as monitoring of health status, feeding, bathing, dressing, grooming, toileting, or ambulation of patients in a health or nursing facility. May include medication administration and other health-related tasks.
- Typical education
- Postsecondary nondegree award
- Work experience
- None required
- On-the-job training
- None
- Job outlook, 2025–35
- +2.6% (about average)
Source: BLS Standard Occupational Classification and Employment Projections, 2025–35.
Nursing Assistant salaries elsewhere in Indiana
- Fort Wayne, IN — $37,210
Frequently asked questions
How much does a nursing assistant make in Indianapolis, IN?
The median nursing assistant salary in the Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood, IN metro area is $38,880 a year, or about $18.69 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $37,500 and $45,010.
What is a nursing assistant’s take-home pay in Indianapolis, IN?
On the median $38,880 salary, a single filer living in Indiana takes home about $32,303 a year ($2,692 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $1,117 in Indiana taxes in 2026.
Is Indianapolis, IN a good place to work as a nursing assistant?
Pay here is 8% below the national median of $42,260. Local prices are 4.3% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $33,755 would in a typical U.S. city. Indianapolis, IN ranks #75 of 113 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a nursing assistant 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) — 46% of a median nursing assistant’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Indianapolis, IN
- Medical Assistant — $46,900
- Home Health and Personal Care Aide — $35,060