Entry-level Data Scientist salary in Indianapolis, IN
Based on 54 certified H-1B filings at DOL wage level I in the Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood, IN metro area, FY2025–FY2026. Includes Carmel, Fishers, Westfield, Whitestown, Zionsville.
Also listed as: Machine Learning Scientist
Salary range
| Percentile | Salary |
|---|---|
| 10th | $58,650 |
| 25th | $62,754 |
| 50th (median) | $65,000 |
| 75th | $79,914 |
| 90th | $95,355 |
Salary by year
Median salary
Filings per year
Show as table
| Fiscal year | Median | P25 | P75 | Filings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FY2020 | – | – | – | 2 |
| FY2021 | – | – | – | 1 |
| FY2022 | $50,939 | $50,939 | $50,939 | 14 |
| FY2023 | – | – | – | 6 |
| FY2024 | $58,500 | $54,267 | $68,642 | 16 |
| FY2025 | $65,000 | $60,000 | $74,880 | 29 |
| FY2026 | $70,474 | $62,800 | $82,500 | 25 |
Cost of living
Indianapolis's median entry-level Data Scientist salary of $65,000 is worth about $67,900 at national average prices.
Source: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024 (U.S. = 100; Indianapolis = 95.7).
Compared with all workers here
All Data Scientists in the Indianapolis, IN area earned a median of $99,110 in May 2025 (1,880 employed). The H-1B median here is $65,000, 34% lower.
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Rad Cube | too few | 5 |
| Exel | too few | 3 |
| Group 1001 Resources | too few | 3 |
| Indiana University Indianapolis | too few | 3 |
| Upper Hand | too few | 3 |
| Astir It Solutions | too few | 2 |
| Regenstrief Institute | too few | 2 |
| Sentara Health | too few | 2 |
| Smb It | too few | 2 |
| TA Dispatch | too few | 2 |
Employers with at least 2 filings here. Median shown at 10+ filings.
By experience level
| Wage level | Median | Filings |
|---|---|---|
| Entry-level · Level I | $65,000 | 54 |
| Mid-level · Level II | $81,360 | 96 |
| Senior · Level III | $98,824 | 43 |
| Expert · Level IV | $125,000 | 88 |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Entry-level · Level I | $62,754 | $65,000 | 54 |
| Mid-level · Level II | $79,206 | $81,360 | 96 |
| Senior · Level III | $95,638 | $98,824 | 43 |
| Expert · Level IV | $105,560 | $125,000 | 88 |
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.