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
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 #105 of 115 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Baton Rouge, LA | $67,700 | $54,812 | $60,379 |
| 2 | New Orleans, LA | $66,990 | $54,334 | $58,678 |
| 3 | St. Cloud, MN | $62,230 | $49,474 | $56,456 |
| 4 | Kingsport, TN | $57,890 | $48,695 | $56,329 |
| 5 | Davenport, IA | $61,710 | $50,071 | $56,209 |
| 6 | Lafayette, LA | $59,830 | $48,845 | $56,009 |
| 7 | Toledo, OH | $62,190 | $51,222 | $56,008 |
| 8 | Beaumont, TX | $59,800 | $50,229 | $55,782 |
| 105 | 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 115 metros →
Machinist salaries elsewhere in Indiana
- Lafayette, IN — $62,220
- Columbus, IN — $61,230
- Fort Wayne, IN — $53,770
- South Bend, IN — $51,990
- Elkhart, IN — $49,910
- Bloomington, IN — $47,850
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 #105 of 115 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%.
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
- 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
- Cabinetmaker and Bench Carpenter — $47,140