HOURLY WAGE INDEX

Let’s talk wages in Indianapolis

$13

What is the minimum wage in Indianapolis?

The current minimum wage in Indianapolis is $13 per hour, effective July 1, 2023. This is an increase of $1.75 from the previous minimum wage of $11.25 per hour, which was set in 2021. The minimum wage in Indianapolis is higher than the federal minimum wage of $7.25 per hour, but it is lower than the minimum wage in some other major cities, such as New York City ($15 per hour) and San Francisco ($16.32 per hour).

The minimum wage in Indianapolis is adjusted annually based on the Consumer Price Index. The next scheduled increase in the minimum wage is in July 2024, when it will increase to $13.75 per hour.

The livable wage in Indianapolis is estimated to be $15.24 per hour for a single adult with no children. This means that an individual working full-time at the livable wage would be able to afford basic necessities such as housing, food, transportation, and healthcare.

There are an estimated 100,000 workers in Indianapolis who make minimum wage. This represents about 10% of the workforce in the city.

$26

What is the average wage in Indianapolis?

The average wage in Indianapolis is $52,000 per year, which is about $26 per hour.

$15.24

What is the living wage in Indianapolis?

The livable wage in Indianapolis is estimated to be $15.24 per hour for a single adult with no children. This means that an individual working full-time at the livable wage would be able to afford basic necessities such as housing, food, transportation, and healthcare. The livable wage in Indianapolis is higher than the minimum wage, but it is still lower than the average wage in the city. The average wage in Indianapolis is $52,000 per year, which is about $26 per hour.

Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between gross wages and net wages?

It's important to remember that the Hourly Wage Index data above reflects gross wages, or the amount of money an employee earns before accounting for payroll deductions like taxes, benefits, or wage garnishments. Due to variability in tax rates across locations, slightly lower gross wages in a certain location might result in higher take home pay, or vice versa.

What is a good hourly wage?

This question is a difficult one to answer, as a "good hourly wage" is highly subjective according to experience, work responsibilities, cost of living, and other factors. We recommend using Hourly Wage Index data as a starting point. Once you have established a baseline for certain positions, do further research into similar businesses in your area. Lastly, consider surveying your employees. They're the best resource to help you know what is a good hourly wage, what competitive pay looks like in your location, and how competitive wages change in your industry over time.

Offering competitive pay is one of my top priorities—what other resources do you have that might help?

We know that getting applicants to pay attention to your business can be extremely challenging, and that offering competitive pay is a huge part of that. Wages aren’t everything, however! Applicant experience is another important factor that can help set you apart from your competition. A few examples include:

Short, easy to understand job descriptions
Mobile-friendliness
Quick communication
Streamlined interview stages

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A Workstream hiring specialist can help you identify high impact ways to improve your applicant experience, and even help you determine what is a good hourly wage for your location and business.