Packaging and Filling Machine Operator and Tender Salary in Indianapolis, IN
Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders in the Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood, IN metro area earn a median $45,290 a year — 5% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $37,264 take-home, or $3,105 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median packaging and filling machine operator and tender salary in Indianapolis, IN. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$3,255
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,808
- Medicare (1.45%)$657
- Indiana income tax$1,307
- Take-home pay$37,264
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 2.95% state
Living in Indianapolis (Marion County)? City residents also pay Indianapolis (Marion County)’s County income tax — about $895 a year on this salary — which lowers take-home pay to $36,369 ($3,031 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 →
Packaging and Filling Machine Operator and Tender pay by experience in Indianapolis, IN
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $33,960 | $16.33 | $28,495 | $2,375 |
| 25th percentile | $34,750 | $16.71 | $29,106 | $2,426 |
| Median (50th) | $45,290 | $21.77 | $37,264 | $3,105 |
| 75th percentile | $50,410 | $24.24 | $41,227 | $3,436 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $59,070 | $28.40 | $47,930 | $3,994 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Indiana resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $45,290 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 packaging and filling machine operator and tender's $37,264 take-home pay has the buying power of $38,940 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 1.3× the national concentration of packaging and filling machine operator and tender jobs — a strong local market for this occupation.
Best-paying cities for packaging and filling machine operators and tenders, adjusted for cost of living
Indianapolis, IN ranks #6 of 28 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Louisville, KY | $48,590 | $39,639 | $42,589 |
| 2 | Kansas City, MO | $47,530 | $39,074 | $42,222 |
| 3 | St. Louis, MO | $47,460 | $39,021 | $41,037 |
| 4 | Cincinnati, OH | $45,570 | $38,325 | $40,185 |
| 5 | Columbus, OH | $45,600 | $38,348 | $40,168 |
| 6 | Indianapolis, IN | $45,290 | $37,264 | $38,940 |
| 7 | Charlotte, NC | $44,330 | $36,539 | $37,535 |
| 8 | Grand Rapids, MI | $41,890 | $34,309 | $35,908 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 28 metros →
About the job: packaging and filling machine operators and tenders
Operate or tend machines to prepare industrial or consumer products for storage or shipment.
- Typical education
- High school diploma or equivalent
- Work experience
- None required
- On-the-job training
- Moderate-term on-the-job training
- Job outlook, 2025–35
- +4.1% (about average)
Source: BLS Standard Occupational Classification and Employment Projections, 2025–35.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a packaging and filling machine operator and tender make in Indianapolis, IN?
The median packaging and filling machine operator and tender salary in the Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood, IN metro area is $45,290 a year, or about $21.77 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $34,750 and $50,410.
What is a packaging and filling machine operator and tender’s take-home pay in Indianapolis, IN?
On the median $45,290 salary, a single filer living in Indiana takes home about $37,264 a year ($3,105 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $1,307 in Indiana taxes in 2026.
Is Indianapolis, IN a good place to work as a packaging and filling machine operator and tender?
Pay here is 5% above the national median of $43,220. Local prices are 4.3% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $38,940 would in a typical U.S. city. Indianapolis, IN ranks #6 of 28 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a packaging and filling machine operator and tender 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) — 40% of a median packaging and filling machine operator and tender’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Indianapolis, IN
- First-Line Supervisor of Production and Operating Workers — $76,080
- Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers — $51,070
- Machinist — $50,610
- Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers — $47,980
- Miscellaneous Assembler and Fabricator — $41,390