Expert Chemist salary in Indianapolis, IN
Based on 48 certified H-1B filings at DOL wage level IV in the Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood, IN metro area, FY2025–FY2026. Includes Carmel, Lebanon, Greenfield, Westfield.
Also listed as: Quality Control Chemist, Analytical Chemist
Salary range
| Percentile | Salary |
|---|---|
| 10th | $101,000 |
| 25th | $114,498 |
| 50th (median) | $140,549 |
| 75th | $168,057 |
| 90th | $185,390 |
Salary by year
Median salary
Filings per year
Show as table
| Fiscal year | Median | P25 | P75 | Filings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FY2020 | $82,826 | $82,826 | $124,449 | 11 |
| FY2021 | $85,197 | $85,197 | $91,799 | 10 |
| FY2022 | – | – | – | 8 |
| FY2023 | – | – | – | 9 |
| FY2024 | $100,000 | $93,686 | $135,000 | 15 |
| FY2025 | $141,402 | $132,000 | $162,500 | 31 |
| FY2026 | $105,000 | $102,000 | $185,000 | 17 |
Cost of living
Indianapolis's median expert Chemist salary of $140,549 is worth about $146,900 at national average prices.
Source: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024 (U.S. = 100; Indianapolis = 95.7).
Compared with all workers here
All Chemists in the Indianapolis, IN area earned a median of $78,770 in May 2025 (1,310 employed). The H-1B median here is $140,549, 78% higher.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS metropolitan area estimates. BLS wages include some incentive pay; H-1B figures are base salary.
Employers filing at this level
| Employer | Median | Filings |
|---|---|---|
| Eli Lilly and Company | $149,375 | 39 |
| Corteva Agriscience | too few | 7 |
Employers with at least 2 filings here. Median shown at 10+ filings.
By experience level
| Wage level | Median | Filings |
|---|---|---|
| Entry-level · Level I | – | 0 |
| Mid-level · Level II | too few | 2 |
| Senior · Level III | too few | 5 |
| Expert · Level IV | $140,549 | 48 |
Median shown when a level has at least 10 filings.
Minimum H-1B salary by level
| Wage level | Prevailing wage (most common) | Median offered salary | Filings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Expert · Level IV | $97,781 | $140,549 | 48 |
The prevailing wage is the minimum an employer must pay for this job and area. Amounts vary by county within a metro and by wage source.