Indianapolis Employment

Employment and Industries in the Indianapolis, Indiana Area

As might be expected of a city that is both the capital of the State of Indiana, as well as the county seat for Marion County, government plays a very large role in the economy of the Indianapolis area. While government is a large employer in the Indianapolis area, and manufacturing was historically another major driver of the Indianapolis economy, the economy is much more diverse and includes:

  • Advanced manufacturing
  • Agriculture
  • Information technology
  • Insurance and financial services
  • Life sciences
  • Retailing
  • Services
  • Sports/motor sports
  • Tourism
  • Transportation

The Indianapolis-Carmel metropolitan area is home to many Fortune 1000 company headquarters. The largest company based in the area is Wellpoint. The most famous based in the area is Eli Lilly. All Fortune 1000 companies in the area include:

  • Conseco
  • Eli Lilly
  • Guidant
  • Marsh Supermarkets
  • Simon Property Group
  • Wellpoint

Other notable companies with a presence in the area include:

  • The world headquarters of Dow AgroSciences
  • The US headquarters of Roche Diagnostics
  • The US headquarters of Thomson SA

Providing an impetus behind the Indianapolis economy is a well educated work force. According to U.S. Census Bureau data, over 27% of the Indianapolis population has a bachelor degree or higher. According to a 2005 Central Connecticut State University study, Indianapolis was ranked as the 23rd most literate city in the U.S.

Business honors awarded to the Indianapolis-Carmel metropolitan area include:

  • The Indianapolis area was ranked sixteenth among the top 50 large cities/metropolitan areas in the United States on Entrepreneur magazine's 2005 list of "Hot Cities for Entrepreneurs".
  • Forbes magazine ranked Indianapolis as the tenth "Best Place For Business And Careers" on its 2006 survey among the 200 largest metropolitan areas in the United States.
  • The Indianapolis metropolitan area ranked 32nd among large U.S. Cities on Inc. magazine's 2006 list of "Best Cities for Doing Business" (out of 393 population centers across the United States). The 2004 and 2005 editions of the Inc. survey ranked Indianapolis number one for the "Most Balanced Economy and Growth".
  • The Indianapolis metropolitan area was ranked the 104th best performing city in the United States on the Milken Institute's "2005 Best Performing Cities" report studying the 200 largest metropolitan areas in the United States.

For business commuters, four interstate highways intersect in Indianapolis. For air travel, Indianapolis is served by the Indianapolis International Airport (IND) which provides service from 10 major and 19 national passenger airlines.

Business and economic development organizations in the greater Indianapolis metropolitan area include:

The Indianapolis Business Journal, Indiana Business Review, Inside Indiana Business, and the "Business Section" of the Indianapolis Star are all excellent sources of information on the Indianapolis area economy and business community.

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Jobs in Indianapolis

RankTitleTotal EmployeesLocal Mean Salary (Per Year)Local Mean Salary (Per hour)National Growth % 2014-2024
1All Occupations1057780$51,060$24.55100
2Office and Administrative Support Occupations136440$40,400$19.4213.75
3Transportation and Material Moving Occupations122840$34,900$16.786.7
4Sales and Related Occupations99020$47,090$22.649.5
5Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations93370$24,320$11.698.7
6Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Occupations76190$83,480$40.135.85
7Production Occupations70020$38,120$18.335.6
8Management Occupations61710$108,870$52.346.35
9Business and Financial Operations Occupations59170$70,500$33.95.35
10Educational Instruction and Library Occupations50820$51,680$24.856
11Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand47490$30,330$14.581.8
12Construction and Extraction Occupations42030$50,710$24.384.6
13Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Occupations40200$47,690$22.933.75
14Healthcare Support Occupations36920$31,430$15.112.85
15Computer and Mathematical Occupations35340$82,440$39.633
16Fast Food and Counter Workers32710$20,940$10.072.45
17Retail Salespersons30660$29,520$14.192.7
18Building and Grounds Cleaning and Maintenance Occupations27640$29,730$14.293.6
19Registered Nurses26670$70,960$34.111.95
20Customer Service Representatives24940$38,250$18.391.75
21Office Clerks, General24500$36,050$17.331.9
22Protective Service Occupations23730$43,980$21.142.2
23General and Operations Managers20240$122,500$58.91.5
24Personal Care and Service Occupations18800$27,570$13.264.65
25Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers18440$45,830$22.031.2
26Cashiers18410$22,700$10.912.2
27Waiters and Waitresses16370$25,470$12.241.65
28Stockers and Order Fillers16270$28,520$13.711.25
29Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media Occupations15770$53,100$25.531.8
30Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators15690$32,740$15.740.8
31Architecture and Engineering Occupations15270$79,360$38.151.7
32Community and Social Service Occupations14150$47,800$22.981.75
33Home Health and Personal Care Aides13730$24,300$11.680
34Janitors and Cleaners, Except Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners12660$27,960$13.441.5
35Software Developers and Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers11000$93,370$44.890.65
36Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products10760$84,060$40.410.85
37First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support Workers10510$62,200$29.90.95
38Life, Physical, and Social Science Occupations10140$78,240$37.610.8
39Maintenance and Repair Workers, General10130$41,150$19.790.9
40Cooks, Restaurant9750$26,630$12.80.9
41Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks9360$42,790$20.571.05
42Accountants and Auditors9140$76,930$36.980.9
43Nursing Assistants8860$29,790$14.320.95
44Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and Travel8490$70,790$34.030.7
45Security Guards8250$30,700$14.760.7
46First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers7790$34,970$16.810.6
47Legal Occupations7740$88,810$42.70.8
48Construction Laborers7700$38,490$18.50.9
49First-Line Supervisors of Retail Sales Workers7360$41,380$19.890.95
50Industrial Truck and Tractor Operators7260$36,500$17.550.4
51Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive6850$36,960$17.771.4
52Light Truck Drivers6400$38,170$18.350.6
53Landscaping and Groundskeeping Workers6380$32,250$15.510.75
54Project Management Specialists and Business Operations Specialists, All Other6370$69,430$33.380.7
55Management Analysts6020$82,400$39.610.55
56Shipping, Receiving, and Inventory Clerks5720$33,800$16.250.4
57Computer Systems Analysts5630$84,390$40.570.4
58Human Resources Specialists5630$60,630$29.150.4
59Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners5580$23,680$11.380.9
60Medical Assistants5480$35,720$17.170.45
61Market Research Analysts and Marketing Specialists5380$60,250$28.970.45
62Medical Secretaries and Administrative Assistants5290$38,390$18.460.4
63Food Preparation Workers5250$24,920$11.980.5
64Passenger Vehicle Drivers, Except Bus Drivers, Transit and Intercity5190$32,420$15.580.3
65Receptionists and Information Clerks5160$30,490$14.660.7
66Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics5140$43,830$21.070.5
67Electricians5080$58,870$28.310.45
68First-Line Supervisors of Transportation and Material Moving Workers, Except Aircraft Cargo Handling Supervisors5020$55,370$26.620.3
69Substitute Teachers, Short-Term4920$24,440$11.750.4
70Machinists4860$46,430$22.320.2
71Computer User Support Specialists4810$49,110$23.610.4
72Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers4770$40,950$19.690.35
73Helpers--Production Workers4750$29,220$14.050.2
74Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses4730$47,330$22.750.5
75Personal Service Managers, All Other; Entertainment and Recreation Managers, Except Gambling; and Managers, All Other4670$72,310$34.760.7
76Carpenters4610$50,700$24.370.6
77Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters4410$55,470$26.670.3
78Lawyers4380$112,070$53.880.5
79Physicians, All Other; and Ophthalmologists, Except Pediatric4300$246,120$118.330.3
80Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers4260$62,340$29.970.4
81First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers4200$65,600$31.540.4
82First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers4180$63,280$30.420.4
83Insurance Sales Agents4090$65,950$31.710.3
84Bartenders4010$25,890$12.450.4
85Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop3930$20,790$9.990.3
86Financial Managers3690$133,200$64.040.4
87Pharmacy Technicians3580$33,780$16.240.3
88Billing and Posting Clerks3530$38,780$18.650.3
89Cleaners of Vehicles and Equipment3470$25,440$12.230.3
90Clinical Laboratory Technologists and Technicians3470$47,550$22.860.2
91Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Technical and Scientific Products3440$104,940$50.450.2
92Financial and Investment Analysts, Financial Risk Specialists, and Financial Specialists, All Other3430$75,590$36.340.2
93First-Line Supervisors of Mechanics, Installers, and Repairers3380$65,250$31.370.3
94Driver/Sales Workers3370$29,730$14.290.3
95Packers and Packagers, Hand3300$27,650$13.290.4
96Firefighters3160$55,740$26.80.2
97Medical and Health Services Managers3160$108,200$52.020.3
98Network and Computer Systems Administrators3140$87,280$41.960.2
99Counter and Rental Clerks3110$30,010$14.430.3
100Securities, Commodities, and Financial Services Sales Agents3060$93,710$45.050.3
Source: 2019 Occupational Employment Statistics and 2018-28 Employment Projections, Bureau of Labor Statistics, BLS.gov
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Additional Details

Indianapolis Colleges
Indianapolis colleges and trade schools.

Jobs More Common Near Indianapolis Than Most Other Cities

* Average job popularity for metro areas = 1.0

TitleMean Local SalaryLocal Jobs
All Occupations$51,0601,057,780
Office and Administrative Support Occupations$40,400136,440
Transportation and Material Moving Occupations$34,900122,840
Sales and Related Occupations$47,09099,020
Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations$24,32093,370
Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Occupations$83,48076,190
Production Occupations$38,12070,020
Management Occupations$108,87061,710
Business and Financial Operations Occupations$70,50059,170
Educational Instruction and Library Occupations$51,68050,820
Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand$30,33047,490
Construction and Extraction Occupations$50,71042,030
Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Occupations$47,69040,200
Healthcare Support Occupations$31,43036,920
Computer and Mathematical Occupations$82,44035,340
Fast Food and Counter Workers$20,94032,710
Retail Salespersons$29,52030,660
Building and Grounds Cleaning and Maintenance Occupations$29,73027,640
Registered Nurses$70,96026,670
Customer Service Representatives$38,25024,940
Office Clerks, General$36,05024,500
Protective Service Occupations$43,98023,730
General and Operations Managers$122,50020,240
Personal Care and Service Occupations$27,57018,800
Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers$45,83018,440
Cashiers$22,70018,410
Waiters and Waitresses$25,47016,370
Stockers and Order Fillers$28,52016,270
Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media Occupations$53,10015,770
Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators$32,74015,690
Architecture and Engineering Occupations$79,36015,270
Community and Social Service Occupations$47,80014,150
Home Health and Personal Care Aides$24,30013,730
Janitors and Cleaners, Except Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners$27,96012,660
Software Developers and Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers$93,37011,000
Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products$84,06010,760
First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support Workers$62,20010,510
Life, Physical, and Social Science Occupations$78,24010,140
Maintenance and Repair Workers, General$41,15010,130
Cooks, Restaurant$26,6309,750
Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks$42,7909,360
Accountants and Auditors$76,9309,140
Nursing Assistants$29,7908,860
Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and Travel$70,7908,490
Security Guards$30,7008,250
First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers$34,9707,790
Legal Occupations$88,8107,740
Construction Laborers$38,4907,700
First-Line Supervisors of Retail Sales Workers$41,3807,360
Industrial Truck and Tractor Operators$36,5007,260

Work Paying Relatively Well in the Indianapolis, Indiana Metro Area (2008 data)

* Average Salary Index for metro areas = 1.0

TitleMean Local SalaryLocal Jobs
All Occupations$51,0601,057,780
Office and Administrative Support Occupations$40,400136,440
Transportation and Material Moving Occupations$34,900122,840
Sales and Related Occupations$47,09099,020
Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Occupations$83,48076,190
Production Occupations$38,12070,020
Management Occupations$108,87061,710
Business and Financial Operations Occupations$70,50059,170
Educational Instruction and Library Occupations$51,68050,820
Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand$30,33047,490
Construction and Extraction Occupations$50,71042,030
Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Occupations$47,69040,200
Healthcare Support Occupations$31,43036,920
Computer and Mathematical Occupations$82,44035,340
Retail Salespersons$29,52030,660
Building and Grounds Cleaning and Maintenance Occupations$29,73027,640
Registered Nurses$70,96026,670
Customer Service Representatives$38,25024,940
Office Clerks, General$36,05024,500
Protective Service Occupations$43,98023,730
General and Operations Managers$122,50020,240
Personal Care and Service Occupations$27,57018,800
Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers$45,83018,440
Waiters and Waitresses$25,47016,370
Stockers and Order Fillers$28,52016,270
Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media Occupations$53,10015,770
Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators$32,74015,690
Architecture and Engineering Occupations$79,36015,270
Community and Social Service Occupations$47,80014,150
Janitors and Cleaners, Except Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners$27,96012,660
Software Developers and Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers$93,37011,000
Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products$84,06010,760
First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support Workers$62,20010,510
Life, Physical, and Social Science Occupations$78,24010,140
Maintenance and Repair Workers, General$41,15010,130
Cooks, Restaurant$26,6309,750
Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks$42,7909,360
Accountants and Auditors$76,9309,140
Nursing Assistants$29,7908,860
Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and Travel$70,7908,490
Security Guards$30,7008,250
First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers$34,9707,790
Legal Occupations$88,8107,740
Construction Laborers$38,4907,700
First-Line Supervisors of Retail Sales Workers$41,3807,360
Industrial Truck and Tractor Operators$36,5007,260
Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive$36,9606,850
Light Truck Drivers$38,1706,400
Landscaping and Groundskeeping Workers$32,2506,380
Project Management Specialists and Business Operations Specialists, All Other$69,4306,370

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