Baker Salary in Indianapolis, IN
Bakers in the Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood, IN metro area earn a median $36,870 a year — 1% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $30,747 take-home, or $2,562 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median baker salary in Indianapolis, IN. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$2,244
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,286
- Medicare (1.45%)$535
- Indiana income tax$1,058
- Take-home pay$30,747
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 2.95% state
Baker pay by experience in Indianapolis, IN
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $22,880 | $11.00 | $19,806 | $1,651 |
| 25th percentile | $31,350 | $15.07 | $26,474 | $2,206 |
| Median (50th) | $36,870 | $17.73 | $30,747 | $2,562 |
| 75th percentile | $42,480 | $20.42 | $35,089 | $2,924 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $47,840 | $23.00 | $39,238 | $3,270 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Indiana resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $36,870 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 baker's $30,747 take-home pay has the buying power of $32,130 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Baker jobs are less concentrated in Indianapolis, IN than nationally (location quotient 0.68), so openings may be scarcer.
Best-paying cities for bakers, adjusted for cost of living
Indianapolis, IN ranks #29 of 98 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Chattanooga, TN | $40,880 | $35,027 | $38,296 |
| 2 | Seattle, WA | $48,180 | $40,893 | $36,796 |
| 3 | Spokane, WA | $42,770 | $36,546 | $36,420 |
| 4 | Bakersfield, CA | $42,470 | $35,064 | $34,756 |
| 5 | Des Moines, IA | $37,680 | $31,676 | $34,543 |
| 6 | Stockton, CA | $43,760 | $36,033 | $34,288 |
| 7 | Urban Honolulu, HI | $47,150 | $37,986 | $34,234 |
| 8 | Las Vegas, NV | $39,890 | $34,232 | $34,158 |
| 29 | Indianapolis, IN | $36,870 | $30,747 | $32,130 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 98 metros →
Frequently asked questions
How much does a baker make in Indianapolis, IN?
The median baker salary in the Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood, IN metro area is $36,870 a year, or about $17.73 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $31,350 and $42,480.
What is a baker’s take-home pay in Indianapolis, IN?
On the median $36,870 salary, a single filer living in Indiana takes home about $30,747 a year ($2,562 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $1,058 in Indiana taxes in 2026.
Is Indianapolis, IN a good place to work as a baker?
Pay here is 1% below the national median of $37,160. Local prices are 4.3% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $32,130 would in a typical U.S. city. Indianapolis, IN ranks #29 of 98 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a baker 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) — 48% of a median baker’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
- Tool and Die Maker — $62,040
- Chemical Equipment Operator and Tender — $61,020
- Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operator — $58,530
- Separating, Filtering, Clarifying, Precipitating, and Still Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders — $57,890
- Structural Metal Fabricator and Fitter — $55,750
- Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers — $51,070
- Machinist — $50,610
- Paper Goods Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders — $49,120
- Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers — $47,980
- Grinding, Lapping, Polishing, and Buffing Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic — $47,680
- Coating, Painting, and Spraying Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders — $47,230