Civil Engineer Salary in Indianapolis, IN
Civil Engineers in the Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood, IN metro area earn a median $101,830 a year — 1% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $77,493 take-home, or $6,458 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median civil engineer salary in Indianapolis, IN. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$13,573
- Social Security (6.2%)$6,313
- Medicare (1.45%)$1,477
- Indiana income tax$2,974
- Take-home pay$77,493
Marginal rate: 22% federal + 2.95% state
Civil Engineer pay by experience in Indianapolis, IN
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $71,380 | $34.32 | $56,970 | $4,747 |
| 25th percentile | $79,500 | $38.22 | $62,443 | $5,204 |
| Median (50th) | $101,830 | $48.96 | $77,493 | $6,458 |
| 75th percentile | $125,440 | $60.31 | $93,333 | $7,778 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $156,170 | $75.08 | $113,431 | $9,453 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Indiana resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $101,830 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 civil engineer's $77,493 take-home pay has the buying power of $80,978 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Civil Engineer jobs are less concentrated in Indianapolis, IN than nationally (location quotient 0.76), so openings may be scarcer.
Best-paying cities for civil engineers, adjusted for cost of living
Indianapolis, IN ranks #37 of 125 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kennewick, WA | $121,370 | $94,214 | $94,139 |
| 2 | Baton Rouge, LA | $112,430 | $84,938 | $93,565 |
| 3 | Mobile, AL | $107,810 | $79,549 | $90,296 |
| 4 | New Orleans, LA | $108,240 | $82,116 | $88,681 |
| 5 | Sioux Falls, SD | $99,700 | $78,969 | $87,132 |
| 6 | Tulsa, OK | $102,080 | $76,595 | $85,856 |
| 7 | Sacramento, CA | $130,150 | $90,657 | $84,988 |
| 8 | Beaumont, TX | $95,510 | $76,021 | $84,425 |
| 37 | Indianapolis, IN | $101,830 | $77,493 | $80,978 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 125 metros →
Frequently asked questions
How much does a civil engineer make in Indianapolis, IN?
The median civil engineer salary in the Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood, IN metro area is $101,830 a year, or about $48.96 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $79,500 and $125,440.
What is a civil engineer’s take-home pay in Indianapolis, IN?
On the median $101,830 salary, a single filer living in Indiana takes home about $77,493 a year ($6,458 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $2,974 in Indiana taxes in 2026.
Is Indianapolis, IN a good place to work as a civil engineer?
Pay here is 1% above the national median of $100,840. Local prices are 4.3% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $80,978 would in a typical U.S. city. Indianapolis, IN ranks #37 of 125 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a civil engineer 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) — 19% of a median civil engineer’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Indianapolis, IN
- Electrical Engineer — $104,210
- Architects, Except Landscape and Naval — $103,050
- Industrial Engineer — $100,730
- Mechanical Engineer — $98,680
- Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologist and Technician — $71,240
- Civil Engineering Technologist and Technician — $66,650
- Architectural and Civil Drafter — $62,330
- Industrial Engineering Technologist and Technician — $59,840