Expert Data Scientist salary in Indianapolis, IN
Based on 88 certified H-1B filings at DOL wage level IV 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 | $110,165 |
| 25th | $114,082 |
| 50th (median) | $125,000 |
| 75th | $150,144 |
| 90th | $178,600 |
Salary by year
Median salary
Filings per year
Show as table
| Fiscal year | Median | P25 | P75 | Filings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FY2020 | – | – | – | 3 |
| FY2021 | – | – | – | 0 |
| FY2022 | – | – | – | 4 |
| FY2023 | $125,000 | $107,500 | $150,000 | 27 |
| FY2024 | $121,095 | $103,235 | $141,269 | 24 |
| FY2025 | $125,000 | $111,100 | $150,419 | 51 |
| FY2026 | $122,470 | $115,000 | $135,200 | 37 |
Cost of living
Indianapolis's median expert Data Scientist salary of $125,000 is worth about $130,600 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 $125,000, 26% 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 | $120,000 | 35 |
| Lilly | $134,480 | 10 |
| Corteva Agriscience | too few | 8 |
| GXO Logistics Supply Chain | too few | 3 |
| Centene Management Company | too few | 2 |
| International Medical Group | too few | 2 |
| Outreach | 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.